A Polar Bear in the Snow
Art by Shawn Harris
Follow a magnificent polar bear through a fantastic world of snow and shockingly blue sea. Over the ice, through the water, past Arctic animals and even a human . . . where is he going? What does he want?
A Bank Street College of Education’s Best Children’s Books of 2021
A Chicago Public Library, New York Public Library, and Amazon Best Book of 2020
★ “Mesmerizing.” —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
★ “A winning must.” —Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review
★ “Perfect.” —School Library Journal, Starred Review
★ “Succinct... yet sophisticated.” —Booklist, Starred Review
“An understated, reflective, and loving portrayal that also serves as a celebration of wonder and wandering.” —The Horn Book Magazine
“Starkly beautiful and clever.” —Inis Magazine
“This is a frosty little whimsy with enough of an edge, between the hint at reality for the seals and the bear’s snarl at a human interloper, to be interesting, and Barnett deftly wields a tidy, P. D. Eastman—esque structure that immediately attracts listeners. The book’s opening visuals draw on the titular joke, with the bear’s black nose and eyes gradually emerging out of solid whiteness, but the art soon resolves into endearingly casual cut and torn paper collage. Layers of rough, grainy paper create snowdrifts as well as simply cut creatures, and touches of shadow and black pigment are almost the only contrast until the bear goes into a literal deep dive and everything, including the bear himself, turns into an inviting sky blue.” —Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
