The Polar Bears Are Hungry

October 21, 2002
A mother bear emerges from her den with two new cubs by her side in The Polar Bears Are Hungry by Carol Carrick, illus. by her son, Paul Carrick. Dramatic acrylics, such as one of the threesome against an Arctic sunset in lavender and tangerine, accompany a straightforward presentation of the facts (e.g., "Mother Bear is hungry. She hasn't eaten for months"). An author's note elucidates the details and explains the effect of global warming on the animal's way of life.

November 1, 2002
PreS-Gr 2-In the spring, a polar bear emerges from hibernation and hunts for seal. As the weather warms, she has difficulty finding food for her two cubs and ends up scavenging in a village. Carrick presents the facts of the story in simple, realistic terms. Tension builds as the bears are captured and detained by wildlife officers but, unfortunately, a visual jump in the story line at the height of conflict may have readers checking to be sure they didn't miss a page. Small technical blip aside, the concept of this book is important and timely, and the author's deliberately spare, graceful text is excellent, as are Paul Carrick's acrylic paint renderings. In several breathtaking scenes, the illustrator outlines his subjects in luminous electric blue, capturing the waning northern sun reflecting the cool water and sky in the whiteness of landscape and animal. The answer to the title's intrinsic question (Why are the polar bears hungry?) is provided in the author's note at the end of the story where readers learn of the effects of global warming and other undue human interferences on the lives, and ultimately the future, of the polar-bear population. An excellent discussion starter.-Carol L. MacKay, Camrose Public Library, Alberta, Canada

Copyright 2002 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 15, 2002
PreS-Gr. 2. Deep in the Arctic winter, under a snowbank, a mother polar bear warms her two newborn cubs. Months later, mother bear needs food, and a search that will encompass the seasons starts. First, the bears journey to the sea for seal meat. In spring, they ride ice floes on the same quest. Mother bear teaches the cubs how to hunt seals, flattening herself on the ice, scrambling forward, and making surprise attacks. Summer is the harshest time of the year, forcing the bears to break into a village for food. The emphasis throughout is on hunger, how it dictates the bears' movements and puts them in conflict with humans. However, no violence is depicted, and the break-in is resolved humanely, with the bears being temporarily confined and released back into their habitat. Acrylic paints portray the vibrant colors of the Arctic as the story takes readers from snowbank to sea to land. An intriguing slice of polar life.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2002, American Library Association.)