Review by Booklist Review
Gr. 2-4, younger for reading aloud. Gibbons follows her trademark format of colored sketches and simple, informative text in this solid introduction to polar bears. An introductory spread about the polar region includes a map and examples of the few other animals that live there. Gibbons goes on to describe the bear's body size and features, including interesting facts such as why the bears have no eyelashes (they would collect ice). Explanations of the bear's life cycle pair with cozy pictures of the mother bear in her snug den nursing her cubs. Warnings about environmental hazards affecting the bears and a "Paw Prints" section of fast facts conclude. Written in brief, engaging sentences with facts that inform but don't overwhelm, this is a good selection for beginning report writers; it will also work well as nonfiction read-aloud for young ones. --Gillian Engberg
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 3-Gibbons's nonfiction picture books are brought to life complete with sound effects in these charming read-alongs. Each book focuses on one animal, with detailed descriptions of habitats, food, and life cycles along with definitions and occasional pronunciations of terms associated with the animals. Along with this abundance of information, there are colorful illustrations to accompany the text. Employing a different narrator for each title adds variety. During Polar Bears, for example, narrator Dion Graham leaves time for the listener to look at a map. The narrators also read all the captions for the pictures, which can become tedious on some pages, but the occasional background music adds to the atmosphere. These will be a welcome addition to any library collection.-Elizabeth Elsbree, Krug Elementary School, Aurora, IL (c) Copyright 2014. 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
Gibbons shares facts about polar bearsÆ habits, life cycles, and relationship to the environment. A few overgeneralizations (Ice covers the water most of the year); vague terms (Bears belong to the family called Ursidae); and teleological captions (Small ears so they wonÆt freeze) mar the overall presentation. Illustrated with Gibbons's signature art, the account concludes with a plea to protect these creatures. From HORN BOOK Spring 2002, (c) Copyright 2010. 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
Largest of the bears, the familiar white polar bear inhabits the ice and waters of the Arctic Circle catching seals, caribou, seabirds, and when meat cannot be found, berries, mushrooms, and seaweed. Gibbons describes how polar bears are adapted to the harsh climate where temperatures can fall to minus-30 degrees Fahrenheit, explaining how the white guard hairs trap warm air near the bear's body, the black skin absorbs sunlight, and a thick layer of fat keeps the bear warm. Handsome watercolor paintings show big and baby bears hunting, eating, swimming, and sleeping. She is especially facile at capturing the many shades of white in the bear's fur, and the blue white texture of the ice flows. Gibbons also captures the dignity of the bears, almost hunted to extinction in the 1970s and now making a comeback in the wild, while including the details children so enjoy. For example, a bear can eat 150 pounds of seal at one meal, but only eats the blubber and skin. She concludes with a warning about pollution and other dangers for polar bears, and brief bear facts. Another fine science title by a prolific author of books for young readers. (Nonfiction. 6-9)
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
