There is something particularly appealing about polar bears. They are fluffy, they are snuggly (with each other -- do NOT try to snuggle a polar bear), and they are perfectly wintry. There's just something about reading a book with a polar bear that immediately feels like a cozy wintertime experience. Here are some favorite books about polar bears for any other polar bear fans.
By Justin Roberts
Illustrated by Chuck Groenink
New York: G.P. Putman's Sons, 2022. Picture book.
A child and their father step out into a snowy winter night for a walk, and as the snow picks up the father takes the opportunity to express his love for his child. Whether trudging through the snow, gliding on the ice, or snuggling close together -- a parent's love for their child is forever. Beautiful illustrations of their wintry escapades enhance this book. This is a sweet and very cozy picture book to share as a bedtime story or a snuggly read aloud.
By Jenni Desmond
New York: Enchanted Lion, 2016. Informational picture book.
A young girl finds this very book on a shelf and is transported to the magical artic world of the polar bear. Immersed in a lush and snowy landscape, she learns about the habitat, habits, and characteristics of this arctic predator. This is a beautiful informational book with lush white and blue illustrations offset by splashes of bright color. This highly informative and distinctly readable picture book is a perfect atmospheric read for a snowy, wintry day.
By Susan Fletcher
Illustrated by Rebecca Green
New York: Anne Schwartz Books, 2022. Informational picture book.
A long, long time ago, the King of Norway sent a gift to the King of England -- a polar bear. The King of England kept a menagerie with lots of exotic animals in his castle in London, but this polar bear was probably lonely and sad far from home. Eventually, an order from the king comes down -- commanding that the polar bear be allowed to swim in the River Thames. Can you imagine a wild polar bear swimming down the river in a big city today? This is an amazingly true story that is told with the grace of a fairy tale -- matched by the folk inspired illustrations from Rebecca Green.
By Lindsay Moore
New York: Greenwillow Books, 2019. Informational picture book.
A solitary polar bear is our guide to the arctic in this lush and artistic picture book. Each of the polar bear's different habitats are important at different times of year; in the spring, floating ice becomes a platform that bears use to hunt and fish. This year, the ice is thin which makes hunting challenging and more difficult for the bear. This book is a great jumping off point for readers interested in arctic marine biology or on the effects of climate change, but it is still well-suited to read aloud.
By Candace Fleming
Illustrated by Eric Rohmann
New York: Neal Porter Books, 2022. Informational picture book.
This book supplies a different look at the impact of climate change on arctic communities, by showcasing a mother bear and her two polar bear cubs fighting to survive. We follow our polar bear family over the course of a year, watching the polar bear cubs grow, hunt, and learn to be polar bears. As is typical of books from Fleming and Rohmann, the narrative is filled with excitement, immediacy, and danger, matched by intimate, dynamic, and beautiful illustrations. A little heavier in text, this book is still highly readable and perfect to read with the young scientists in your world.
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