Nanuk the Ice Bear

November 2, 2015
Winter (Mr. Cornell’s Dream Boxes) examines the life of Nanuk, a polar bear (or “ice bear,” as she refers to her), against a changing polar landscape. She tints flat, folk-art-style images, set in small rectangular boxes, with the pale blues and greens of glaciers and ocean waters; the white backgrounds are slowly engulfed by ever-rising waves, an ominous visual indicator of the threats facing Nanuk and her fellow animals. Winter explores the geography of Nanuk’s Arctic surroundings, following the bear as she hunts for food, meets a male bear, digs a den, sleeps, and gives birth to two cubs. She teaches the cubs to hunt; after a few years, they leave, and she is left alone once more. “The ice is melting. The sea is rising,” Winter writes. “Soon there will be no place to hunt.” Winter closes with a description of Nanuk dreaming “of snow falling and falling and freezing into ice.” The story is a memorable introduction to the issue of climate change for primary-school audiences, one that carries a distinct undercurrent of sadness. Ages 4–8.

Starred review from November 15, 2015
The story of a female polar bear provides an overview of the species' life cycle and includes the mention of environmental changes that threaten their existence. Clear, soft illustrations in Winter's characteristic style accompany her straightforward text. She starts with several pages that describe the Arctic landscape, offering a sense of place and placement. Similarly simple sentences cover feeding, mating ("a dance of courtship"), and the raising of cubs. A touch of sentiment appears in the forlorn expression on Nanuk's face when her young are old enough to strike out on their own, but overall both narrative and pictures focus on conveying an accurate picture of typical experiences and behaviors. Illustrations are centered on each page, bordered in white, while behind them a rising sea changes color and height in successive spreads, eventually engulfing the white space entirely. In the final pages the author mentions the changes that have been implied throughout by this changing background. Although she softens the grim prospect by ending with the positive future envisioned in Nanuk's dreams, the reality, however lightly limned, ultimately gives the story a melancholy tone. As in other books by the author, big issues are presented in an accessible manner and subtly enough that adults can guide children to an age-appropriate understanding of them. (Picture book. 5-8)

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January 1, 2016

PreS-Gr 1-Unassuming yet captivating illustrations set the mood in this picture book about a polar bear's life. Each page is adorned with a bottom border of waves, which incrementally rise as the story continues, and the color scheme changes from pale blues to varying shades of purples and pinks. The action of the story takes place in center frames bordered in white and captures the isolation and beauty of this harsh environment. The story chronicles Nanuk's life and her becoming a mother to two cubs. With interesting details about hunting habits and the creation of winter dens, the book is sure to please curious young readers. The ending includes a definite warning about climate change and offers some further reading on the topic. Winter has created a restful and beautifully illustrated book about polar bears. VERDICT A sweet and mellow read that will have a large audience with its spare text and simple yet endearing illustrations.-Amy Nolan, St. Joseph Public Library, St. Joseph, MI

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 15, 2015
Preschool-G In this quiet story, polar bear Nanuk searches for food, finds a mate, gives birth to cubs, and watches them grow up and go off on their own. What starts as a gentle tale about the life cycle of these bears turns somber, however, as the final spreads indicate that the ice is melting, the sea is rising, and soon there will be no place for Nanuk to hunt. The arctic environment is a perfect fit for Winter's signature style, encompassing spare scenes and minimal color; the use of blank space effectively creates a series of portraits of Nanuk in her world. A strip of color, which starts at the bottom of the first page, rises higher as the text continues, eventually covering the entire background and implying the encroaching sea. The final pages do offer a glimmer of hope, suggesting the possibility of the return of the ice. Still, the brief text leaves many questions, and inquisitive children will want answersone of several reasons to share this often.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)