A Bear Far from Home

This picture book draws on history to tell the story of a polar bear gifted to King Henry III for his Tower of London menagerie, asking readers to envision the creature's experiences and emotions as she voyages from her Norway birthplace to England. "Imagine/ how the world/ must have seemed to her," prompts the narrative as it traces the bear's early life, capture by trappers, and subsequent journey to court. "Did she look back/ to search the horizon, / longing for a glimpse of home?" read empathic musings about the creature's presumed transport via ship. While it's unclear whether the bear encountered Henry III ("We'll never know for sure"), records show she was eventually allowed to fish in the River Thames, where Fletcher questionably suggests she found a new "home" as a captive. Presenting varied human skin tones throughout, Green's stylized gouache and pencil renderings complement through their use of ornate, medieval-inspired borders and floral flourishes. Together, text and image offer a unique combination of sympathetic speculation and historical grounding. Ages 4-8. (Sept.)