Inside: Book review of Snow Bear, video link to polar bears and a round-up of some fabulous polar bear art activities.
Hi Everybody!
Brrr…it’s actually starting to get cold now in my part of the world. I was half-expecting to see snow on the Malahat. We can see the tippy-top of the small mountain range from our kitchen window. But nope! Not yet.
It’s also Perfect Picture Book Friday! Susanna hosts this fun linky once a week. You can find TONS of other books on her blog.
Title: Snow Bear
Author: Jean Craighead George
Illustrator: Wendell Minor
Publisher: Scholastic, 2000
Intended Audience: 4 to 8
Theme/Topic: Inuit, Polar Bears, Family
Summary from Amazon: When Bessie decides to explore a frozen ice ship one morning, she finds a new playmate—a baby polar bear. Snow Bear and Bessie are instant friends, but Bessie’s brother and Snow Bear’s mother are worried. The grown-ups wait and watch the little ones play until something happens that will break up the happy pair. With simple text and lavish illustrations, this Arctic picture book will warm readers’ hearts.
Why I Like It: This book totally reminds me of Blueberries for Sal. While the story is improbable (a child playing with a real live polar cub), it’s still charming, winsome and full of drama. The paintings are exquisite and realistic. It also leads to great discussions about the similarities between bears and people (i.e., the love and desire to protect).
LINKS TO RESOURCES:
1. A very cute polar bear video.
Click image above to watch youtube video
The pics below are from the video. It’s definitely worth showing to your class.
2. Fabulous Snow Bear Art Works
These beautiful chalk and pastel bears come from ARTventurous. If you click on over the blog author gives you complete and detailed instructions.
This little cutie is actually a polar bear mask and comes from i heart CRAFTY THINGS. They look pretty easy to put together and you can find complete directions on Rachel’s blog.
This masterpiece, with complete directions, can be found on the blog that artist woman.
This beauty, created with oil pastels and watercolours was created in Mrs. Stacey’s art room! Go to her blog, Elements of the Art Room, for complete instructions.
Enjoy!
Check out all my book reviews for kids!
That Blinkie is adorable! Thank you!
I love polar bears and am so very concerned that we may truly be too late to save their habitat, which we have so rapidly destroyed these last couple of decades. this story looks adorable, Barbara!
Love that cover — very engaging. What a wonderful story. Watched the video and it made me smile. You are right — great for the classroom and to get kids interested in polar bears. I also love polar bears and share Joanna's concern.Side note, our grandson is an engineer and designed oversaw the construction of the new Polar Bear tank/exhibit at the Columbus Zoo. It is amazing. But, hate to see them in captivity.
Thanks Barbara! I LOVE the penguin blinkie!!!
That penguin blinkie is too adorable for words! (I love penguins…)Great book, too, and such fun to watch that video. Thanks, Barbara!
Jean Craighead George + Wendell Minor = WOW! I love this book and your blinkies…Thanks for sharing!Jenny
Funny polar bear story: We lived up in the Canadian Arctic before moving here 20 years ago. When we moved down, an Inuit girl came and lived with us for a couple of months to have an adventure and babysit our daughter while we were working. She had never seen a polar bear and was very excited that there was one in Stanley Park. So we took an Inuk girl who has polar bears in her \”backyard\” to Vancouver to see a polar bear!sandirubberboots and elf shoes
That's a great story! I love it.What an adventure for you guys to live that far North!
You're welcome, Jennifer:)
Oh, I'm glad you watched the video! I got a real kick out of it, too.
You're welcome:)
I know! It's a real concern, isn't it? I sure hope they learn to adapt … I wonder if that's going to be possible?
Yeah, the video is definitely worth watching. It's fun to see how happy the mom and cub are together:)Your grandson has a very cool job! I hate to see animals in captivity, too, but if it helps people become more aware of polar bears and their plight, then I guess it's okay.
Thank you:)
Love the polar bears! Such cute artwork. Thanks for the blinkies too! :)LoriConversations in Literacy
I love your blinkie!! I absolutely love the polar bear artwork!SarahSarah's First Grade Snippets
Thanks for sharing this wonderful book and all the information about polar bears. I enjoyed reading through the comments, too. I have to save the video for later because I will wake up my husband if I listen now but know I will later! It sounds too good to miss. 🙂
We LOVE Jean Craighead George at our house and have lots of her books. But this one I don't know. I love the cover. We'll have to check this one out!
Cute! I like the cover of the book! 🙂
I love your blinkies! You are so clever, Barbara! And this book looks adorable (if improbable as you say :)) I htought right away of Blueberries for Sal. And now of course I have to know how the book ends, so I guess I'd better go out and find it somewhere 🙂 Thanks so much for adding this one to our list!