Surviving the Wild: Rainbow the Koala, by Remy Lai. Henry Holt and Company, Macmillan. Raincoast, 2022. $18.99 ages 6 and up

"I'm sorry, Mom. 
I'm not strong enough 
to be on my own. 

OH NO! 
OH NO!

It's just sitting there. 

Be careful. Don't get 
too close to it,

Where am I? 
What happened?"

The above exchange happens when Rainbow, a young koala fleeing the parched bush in need of water slipped into a swimming pool. Rainbow was drowning, and is luckily saved by a young girl and her father. This was not the end of Rainbow's quest for safety. Fearing humans, Rainbow flees and finds solace in a nearby tall tree. 

This is the first of two new graphic novels by Remy Lai that deal with wildlife and survival in the face of climate change and the dangers it has unleashed around the world. This novel lets readers see  Rainbow's first year with his mother learning how to survive in the wild. Too soon, he is sent off to find his own way in the world. It is a challenge, and Rainbow faces many obstacles. He finds a tree to call his own, but has great difficulty finding the water needed to ensure survival. The bush is tinder-dry. 

The scenario in the swimming pool and his ascent into the nearest tree results in messages from passing birds that an approaching fire is huge and heading their way. This is his first hint at real danger. What he learned from his mother is to find the highest tree when danger threatens; it is what he does. Birds continue to issue warnings. Naively, he considers himself safe until ... 

The fire rages, Rainbow hangs on. When he finally crawls down to the ground, he burns his paws and appears to succumb to the ravages of the fire. Luckily, a detection dog finds him and he is transported to safety and healing. After six months, he is returned to a recovering forest and a new start. 

In back matter, the author shares that Rainbow's story is based on an actual happening. I really appreciate that Australian animals (kangaroo, echidna, detector dog) are the ones to convey the events. Final spreads add information about koalas, the eucalyptus trees that provide a home, and the ways readers can help to stem climate change. 

"In 2019-2020, bushfires burned down many forests in Australia.
More than one billion animals, not counting insects, were lost."

That is a sobering thought for all.      

Next up for Ms. Lai is Star the Elephant. I will be watching for it.