Polar Bears

Children's Literature - Beverley Fahey

Emerging readers who want to stretch their reading muscle with nonfiction will find this new series, "Amazing Animals," informative. There are many revealing facts presented in an easy-to-understand approach. To put the size of a polar bear in perspective readers are told that, standing upright, a polar bear can touch the rim of a basketball hoop. The information is presented simply, and the large font makes it very accessible. Readers will learn about the animal's physical appearance, its natural habitat, and its behaviors. Well-composed, captioned color photographs that are often dramatic are on every page and directly link to the text. New words appear in bold, and the definition is at the bottom of the page on which the word first appears. The book concludes with a retelling of a Native American pourquoi tale that explains why polar bears have a stubby tale. This crossover element will appeal to teachers who seek to illustrate the link between cultural beliefs expressed through storytelling and scientific fact. This is an excellent choice for public, school, and home libraries. Reviewer: Beverley Fahey