Synopsis
That night Cindy took the tiny cubs home with her. She didn't sleep at all-she was too busy feeding milk to the twins, cleaning them, and checking on every little cry.
When dawn came, the small bears were still clinging to life.
Children learn about fractions while following the Denver Zoo's baby polar bears, Klondike and Snow
Early one morning at the Denver Zoo, a polar bear gives birth to two tiny babies, then abandons them.
The zoo staff must raise the babies, but there are many things they don't know. What foods are best? How much should the cubs eat? Once they figure out the answers, the cubs quickly become healthy, happy young bears.
Young readers follow Klondike and Snow as they grow from fragile newborns to large, lively bears, and along the way they'll learn about fractions.
Sylvia Firth - Children's Literature
Though in picture book format, this enlightening, beautifully photographed book will also appeal to older children and adults. It is a factual account of two polar bear cubs abandoned by their mother right after birth at the Denver, Colorado Zoo. The zoo employees were determined to save the cubs they named Snowball and Klondike. All the odd numbered pages relate the Herculean effort to raise the cubs. Veterinary technician Cindy Bickel took the animals home with her and spent the entire first night struggling to keep them alive. Two other staff members joined the team and took turns taking the cubs home each night. Despite obstacles and setbacks, the cubs survived and soon after turning a year old they took up residence at Sea World in Orlando, Florida. On an entirely different tack, the even numbered pages present lessons to teach fractions. Most of the lessons revolve around creating polar bear milk so that the babies could thrive and grow. This endeavor succeeds on both levels and should be strongly considered for purchase. 2004, Henry Holt, Ages all.