1. Animals
2. Anthropomorphism
3. Book design
4. Collage
5. Courage
6. Cruelty
7. Death
8. Emotions
9. Endpapers
10. Fathers
11. Food
12. Freedom
13. Greed
14. Perspectives (Art)
15. Resilience
16. Self-reliance
17. Slavery
18. Social justice
19. Trauma
20. Visual literacy

The cover of this book belies the very deep issues that are explored in this text. Themes of murder, power, slavery, forced labour, attempted suicide and justice. The power differential is evident right from the front cover where we see a tiny brown bear overshadowed by an enormous angry-faced white bear.

Little Bear has a happy life with his father in the forest that is filled with bright colours. The opening double page spread is a visual shock after seeing the snow filled cover and ice shards on the end papers. Little bear loves to catch fish with her father and her delight is echoed in the way the fish glitter like falling stars. Following a horrific battle between the father bear and the White Bear, Little Bear is taken captive and forced to undertake the long journey to the polar lands. Once there she is ordered to dive into the frozen waters to catch fish for the tyrannical White Bear.

Finally, Little Bear cannot take this suffering and so she dives deep into the ocean hoping to end her life. She is saved by a vision of her loved father telling her to stay strong and find a way to leave. Little Bear swims back to the surface and sets out to trick her captor. Each day she places tempting fish closer and closer to the edge of the ice. Finally, the White Bear steps onto an ice floe and he plumets to the ocean floor. Little Bear is now free to find her way home.

This story is presented as a fable, and it is designed to draw attention to the injustices of slavery not just from the past but also the reality and Injustices of modern slavery. This is a passion topic of the author and formed the basis of his PhD study. The deliberate choice to make the Bear with power white and Little Bear brown and female are significant and worthy discussion topics.

The illustrations depict vast, lonely landscapes. Layers of blue are used to show the depth and freezing temperatures of the polar waters. The danger is amplified by the silhouettes of fierce sea creatures following Little Bear as she tries to catch fish for the insatiable appetite of the white bear.

A sentence from the opening of the story is repeated at the end giving the story a satisfying conclusion.

1. Dirt Lane Press. ‘Winter of the White Bear book trailer https://dirtlanepress.com/winter-of-the-white-bear/
2. World of Chatterton ‘Winter of the White Bear’ Shortlisted in Prime Miniter’s Awards and the NSW Premier’s Awards – Judges comments https://www.worldofchatterton.com/winter-of-the-white-bear.html
3. Feathers of the Firebird Sophie Masson Blog 18 February 2019. ‘Winter of the White Bear’ a forthcoming picture book by Martin Ed Chatterton. https://www.worldofchatterton.com/winter-of-the-white-bear.html
4. Martin Chatterton website https://www.worldofchatterton.com/
5. The Freedom Hub -Ending modern slavery https://thefreedomhub.org/
6. Kickstarter fundraising for ‘Winter of the White Bear’ includes images of the artwork https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/foxandbear/winter-of-the-white-bear