A Polar Bear in the Snow

PreS-Gr 1--Against a textured white landscape with the appearance of newly fallen snow, a polar bear awakens from his nap and the omniscient narrator asks: What will he do next? This striking, impressive bear, hardly more than a nose and eyes in early scenes, takes readers along with him as he encounters other arctic animals--seals playing in the snow--and a man who obviously has been visiting the area. And what the polar bear does next is dive into the ocean and swim with fish. The simple text on each page is large and bold, making this ideal for those just beginning to read. The questions the text asks are a great hook for children, who can listen for cues and become part of the storytelling. The effective paper-cut collage scenes of the polar bear contrast with the blue of the ocean, complete with an ebullient underwater view of the bear swimming with fish. VERDICT An engaging, easy-to-read tale, perfect for winter story hours.--Annmarie Braithwaite, New York P.L., New York City