Review by Booklist Review
Using a format similar to that in The Blue Whale (2015), Desmond adopts the conceit of a story (Once upon a time, a child took a book from the shelf and started to read) to explain polar bear particulars. Listeners learn about the habitats, physical features, sizes, behaviors, food preferences, and life cycles of this threatened species. The text successfully combines information with lyric prose (Winter temperatures are so low that breath freezes instantly), and gorgeous mixed-media illustrations depict these animals in their natural environment, often accompanied by the red-crowned child who is reading this story. The artwork uses some nonfiction conventions (diagrams and captions within the spreads) as well as some unusual perspectives (aerial and cutaway views) that enhance the text. Meanwhile, the fictional story framework makes the content more relatable to young readers. Report writers may be disappointed by the lack of informational text features and back matter, but those who appreciate these vulnerable creatures will be well pleased with this enlightening and beautiful offering.--Weisman, Kay Copyright 2016 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 1-4-From the author/illustrator of The Blue Whale comes another enchanting and informative title about a threatened species. With a touch of metafictional flair, a young girl pulls this very book down from the shelf to read about polar bears and is immediately immersed in their fascinating world. She learns about their habitat, physical characteristics and adaptations, and feeding and hunting habits. The writing is engaging, and facts come at a fairly quick pace. The mixed-media artwork is charming; broad washes of color are balanced by lovely details of polar bears as they go about the business of their lives. The young girl turns up as a witness in many of the scenes; an especially sweet one depicts the bear and the girl peering into a hole in the ice as they wait for a seal to pop up for air. Perspectives vary from high overhead to up close and personal with the bear. The thick pages only add to the lush feel and quality of the work. VERDICT With beautiful, creative illustrations, this is a must-have for elementary nonfiction collections everywhere.-Jody Kopple, Shady Hill School, Cambridge, MA © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
A young girl absorbed in reading the same book we are also holding enters the narrative, discovering many facts about polar bears as she begins to follow one bear across the frozen Arctic. The enumerative text is clear and informative, but the mixed-media collages steal the show here, with each double-page-spread illustration adding detail and depth to the text. (c) Copyright 2017. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
In this companion to The Blue Whale (2015), Desmond introduces the polar bears habitat, physical characteristics, life cycle, and food sources.The pithy text clearly explains such adaptations as the bears two layers of fur and extraordinary sense of hearing. Details about hunting for food, raising young, and the crucial role played by sea ice in the bears range are smoothly delivered. The digitally finished illustrations, combining paint, pencil, crayon, and printmaking techniques, are lovely when texturally evoking ice, sea, and fur. Threading throughout, though, are fanciful depictions of a black-haired, brown-skinned childperhaps intended to appear Inuit. Wearing a red crown, fur-trimmed parka, striped tights, and boots, she plays in various scenes (often toting this very book). A spread likening the polar bears weight to that of 7-year-olds depicts 20 cavorting children. Most appear to be Inuit or at least First Nations, but the white child from The Blue Whale is shown, sharing that book. The penultimate spread shows the girl sleeping, entwined with a bear and cubs. The juxtaposition of fantasy and realism is confusing and undermines the books informative aspects, and no cultural context is provided for the Inuit depictions. Environmental threats to the polar bears habitat are relegated to a brief authors note; there are no resources for further information. An uneven effort. (Informational picture book. 5-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
