Baby Polar

November 9, 2009
A baby polar bear finds refuge underneath the warm body and four legs of his mother, Mama Polar: “He didn’t feel the icy wind there. And he could hear the beating of his mother’s heart.” Playing in the snow before a big storm, Baby Polar tastes snowflakes, makes a Snow Goose, and skates across the ice before realizing he’s lost. Balouch’s (The Ghost Catcher
) digitally created polar bears and their surroundings are shown in flat, collage-like compositions. The polar bear bodies, the hail of driving snow, the swirl of gale winds and Mama Polar’s visible pink and red heart are crisply outlined, and their interactions generate drama, as the massive Mama Polar looms over her tiny offspring or, when he is lost, spiraling winds and snow assail him. Murphy’s (Ahwoooooooo!
) skillful pacing creates just enough suspense before Baby Polar is safe again. Mama Polar’s reassuring, offhand manner provides an additional smile of relief: “Yes, I’m Mama Polar. But who are you? Are you a little snowball that has rolled into me?” Despite the Arctic chill, it’s a cozy vision of family. Ages 3–5.

November 1, 2009
PreSBaby -Polar is playing in the snow, even though his mama warns him of the coming storm. Caught when the snow and wind hit, the cub loses his way and cannot see his mother. He finally manages to dig his way to a nice, warm cave for shelterone that he eventually discovers has the warm, beating heart of his own mama. The illustrations are digitally produced and beautifully designed. Stylized white snowflakes and polar bear figures set against a blue gray background convey well the icy coldness of the storm. Although the text is slight, momentarily losing one's mother is a major concern for preschoolers. The book's reassuring conclusion offers a satisfying story for that audience, as well as an introduction to polar bears and their Arctic world."Judith Constantinides, formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA"

Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 15, 2009
Preschool-K As a snowstorm approaches, an indulgent mama polar bear lets her cub pretend her enormous body is a warm cave. Baby Polar catches snowflakes on his tongue, lies down and swishes his limbs in the fallen snow, and skates around on the ice. Suddenly lost in the storm, he makes his way to a white hill and burrows into it for shelter. He hears a heartbeat in the hill, which shakes off its snow and becomes his mother once again. In mildly amusing conversations, the mother bear reassures her cub of her affection and protection. Cool grays, blues, greens, and white predominate in the digital illustrations, which are subtly textured and patterned and have the look of collage. The rounded forms of the bears and their landscape are highly simplified, though when the storm begins, snowflakes crowd the scenes. Even preschoolers who have never seen snow can appreciate this nicely cadenced story of a mother lost and found.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)