Pady – Dieckmannová Sandra (2018)

This Czech-language children’s book is a beautifully illustrated parable about understanding and tolerance, the power of words, and the fact that being different does not mean being bad. When a young polar bear reaches the shore on his melting ice floe, he causes panic among the wild animals. Unlike anything they have ever seen, he is white, enormous and makes frightening sounds when he runs. He also collects brightly coloured leaves and covers his fur with them, so the animals call him Pady, partly because some wish he would leave and return to wherever he came from. No one realizes that he does not want to be there but must be, and that all he wants is to return to his bear family in the land of eternal ice. After several unsuccessful attempts to swim back, the animals understand that they must talk to him. Through their shared efforts, they may help Pady find his way home. Referring to the difficulties polar bears face in a changing climate, Sandra Dieckmann tells an honest story about helping strangers and shows that individuals should not be treated differently, in the animal world or the human world.