When their ice floe becomes separated from the mainland, and begins to drift through the sea, three polar bears begin to look for a new home, hopeful to make land before their temporary abode melts altogether. But everywhere they go the current residents are unwelcoming. Will these three ursine refugees ever find a place where they are welcome...?

Inspired by the Syrian refugee crisis in Europe, French artist Barroux created this lovely little picture-book which pairs his colorful artwork with a simple tale of three wanderers looking for a home. Barroux has addressed ecological themes in previous picture-books - Where's the Elephant?, Starfish, Where Are You? - so I thought it was appropriate that he examined a human problem through an ecological lens. Casting his refugees as polar bears - which called to my mind the sub-plot involving the polar bears in Philip Pullman's marvelous fantasy trilogy, His Dark Materials, who flee their arctic home when it can no longer support them - is also an excellent choice, because it allows this story to be interpreted in multiple ways. Read in human terms, it is the tale of refugees who face an unwelcoming world, but read in naturalistic terms, it could be the tale of animals being impacted by climate change. Recommended to all fans of Barroux's artwork, as well as to anyone looking for children's stories that address the refugee experience and/or ecological change. ( )