Bear to the Rescue by Romane Cristescu & Nic Gill. Illus. by Sylvia Morris

Bear is a rambunctious and energetic pet. Once full grown, he does not settle in the average family home as an obedient and calm pet and is moved from place to place. Bear though is destined for a more challenging and rewarding life. He is chosen to become a conservation rescue detection dog and undergoes intensive training in becoming familiar with koala smells. When devastating bushfires roar through an area where koalas were inhabiting, Bear is called in to help locate them. Wearing special foot pads to protect his paws, Bear is instrumental in saving many of the local koala species and receives many awards in recognition of his great service.

Bear’s story is based on the true story of Bear, an Australian Koolie, which is a working dog breed. Once these dogs move on from the cute puppy stage they might not always be a good fit as a family pet. Fortunately for Bear, he was chosen to be a koala-dog trainee and excelled at locating koalas. His skills in finding many distressed, burnt and undernourished koalas in the aftermath of the Black Summer bushfires of 2019-2020 saved many from perishing.

Author Romane Cristescu worked with Bear and has told his unique story in an appealing and beautifully illustrated picture book. The colourful and engaging full page illustrations and the perfectly positioned text allow readers to relate to the story and appreciate how Bear became a hero. A very entertaining read with more about the ‘real’ Bear, a table of comparisons and some Did You Know? facts in the final pages.

Teacher notes are available.

Themes: Wildlife Rescue, Bushfires, Conservation, Detection Dogs, Koalas, Habitats.

Kathryn Beilby