A female koala and her joey survive a forest fire, but burned trees mean no food, so she sets off with her baby on her back in search of something to eat. The long journey brings her to a place of strange and sometimes fearful sights and sounds—a neighborhood of houses and people. Because koalas are rarely seen outside of the bush, the pair are a source of great fascination before they return to the forest once more. Sandra Markle weaves information about koalas into a narrative of quiet tension and occasional moments of high drama. Alan Marks’s illustrations amplify the story’s tone. An author’s note provides information on the koala named Cinders, whose story informed Markle’s narrative. Cinders traveled twelve miles to the edges of a suburb in search of food after her habitat was destroyed in a bushfire. (Ages 5–9)

A remarkable story of survival.
The creators of A MOTHER'S JOURNEY and LITTLE LOST BAT, Sandra Markle and Alan Marks team up again to chronicle the challenges faced by a mother koala: protecting herself and her joey from a raging bushfire, and finding food and a new home after their home range is destroyed. Based on a true story.
Back matter includes facts about koalas, an author's note about Cinders, the real-life koala that survived two bushfires, and resources for learning more about koalas and their habitat.