My birthday party was snowed out yesterday. So rather than focus on yet another snowed out birthday (it happens a lot to those of us born in the winter months), here are some books on polar bears to get into the snowy spirit.
Hush Little Polar Bear by Jeff Mack (2008). I’m in love with this book. A lullaby by a little girl to her stuffed polar bear, set to the rhyme “Hush Little Baby.” But the pictures are just gorgeous. They actually are inspiring me (along with Red Sings From the Treetops) to incorporate some of these wonderful childrens’ book illustrations into my sewing projects.
Polar Bear Night by Lauren Thompson, illustrated by Stephen Savage (2004). A really sweet, quiet story about a polar bear cub who wakes up in the night and goes exploring. The simple text is dreamy, and the illustrations are minimal but gorgeous. I’ve read this aloud to pre-k children, and they loved it.
My Little Polar Bear by Claudia Rueda (2009). A nice companion book to read with Polar Bear Night, this story features a polar bear cub leaving home for the first time and worrying about making it in the big world as a polar bear. But its mother is right there watching and protecting. Soothing colors and illustrations, and a nice story of parents and children.
Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? by Bill Martin, Jr., illustrated by Eric Carle (1991). This was the 2nd collaboration between Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle, and it came 24 years after the hugely popular Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? This book focuses on some interesting animals and the sounds they make. It’s not just about arctic animals, but it’s hard to do a list about polar bears without this classic making its way onto the list.
Cold Paws, Warm Heart by Madeleine Floyd (2005). This is a really sweet story about a lonely polar bear trying to make friends. He’s really a very nice bear, but every animal he approaches is terrified because, well…he’s a bear. Until a little girl sees him for who he really is.
Polar Star by Sally Grindley, illustrated by John Butler (1998). Polar Star must protect her cubs and teach them how to survive as polar bears. Fun polar bear facts and some very direct treatment of possibly scary situations (killing a seal for food) make this an interesting choice for slightly older picture book readers.
Bad Bears and a Bunny by Daniel Pinkwater, illustrated by Jill Pinkwater (2005). One in a series of completely goofy books about 2 polar bears (Irving and Muktuk) who have wild adventures while living at a zoo in Bayonne. There is no zoo in Bayonne, but if there was I’m pretty sure it would have a couple of characters like these two. They tease a bunny and then scare themselves silly doing it. Laugh out loud good.