Love Matters Most

March 1, 2017

PreS-A polar bear ventures from her warm cave into the night, searching for something she has lost in the snow. Kelly poses questions about what sort of treasure would lure the creature out on a cold, stormy night, including gold, ruby red berries, and the northern lights (which are described as "the forest's true magic dancing in light"). At last, the polar bear discovers footprints in the snow, giving readers their first clue as to what she is looking for. Soon, she finds her cub, and the two are happily reunited, and the author concludes that out of all the treasures the polar bear could have been seeking, "love matters most." This sweet, sentimental story uses lyrical rhymes to convey the strength and importance of motherly love and engages young children by encouraging them to guess what is happening. Turley's illustrations, which were created by "combining drawing and mark-making on paper with screen printing, and then pieced together digitally," feature bold and dazzling wintry colors on expansive spreads. VERDICT The mix of poetic rhymes and large, sweeping illustrations makes this tender tale a solid choice for sharing during winter-themed storytimes.-Laura J. Giunta, Garden City Public Library, NY

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