  | Nanuk the ice bear Author: Winter, Jeanette | |
| Price: $6.50 | ||
Summary:
At the top of the world, a polar bear hunts, swims, courts, raises cubs, and worries as they go off on their own.
Download a Teacher's Guide
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: LG Reading Level: 3.00 Points: .5 Quiz: 180074 | Reading Counts Information: Interest Level: K-2 Reading Level: 1.50 Points: 1.0 Quiz: 67435 | |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (+) (11/15/15)
School Library Journal (01/01/16)
Booklist (12/15/15)
The Hornbook (00/03/16)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 12/15/2015 In this quiet story, polar bear Nanuk searches for food, finds a mate, gives birth to cubs, and watches them grow up and go off on their own. What starts as a gentle tale about the life cycle of these bears turns somber, however, as the final spreads indicate that the ice is melting, the sea is rising, and soon there will be no place for Nanuk to hunt. The arctic environment is a perfect fit for Winter’s signature style, encompassing spare scenes and minimal color; the use of blank space effectively creates a series of portraits of Nanuk in her world. A strip of color, which starts at the bottom of the first page, rises higher as the text continues, eventually covering the entire background and implying the encroaching sea. The final pages do offer a glimmer of hope, suggesting the possibility of the return of the ice. Still, the brief text leaves many questions, and inquisitive children will want answers—one of several reasons to share this often. - Copyright 2015 Booklist.
School Library Journal - 01/01/2016 PreS-Gr 1—Unassuming yet captivating illustrations set the mood in this picture book about a polar bear's life. Each page is adorned with a bottom border of waves, which incrementally rise as the story continues, and the color scheme changes from pale blues to varying shades of purples and pinks. The action of the story takes place in center frames bordered in white and captures the isolation and beauty of this harsh environment. The story chronicles Nanuk's life and her becoming a mother to two cubs. With interesting details about hunting habits and the creation of winter dens, the book is sure to please curious young readers. The ending includes a definite warning about climate change and offers some further reading on the topic. Winter has created a restful and beautifully illustrated book about polar bears. VERDICT A sweet and mellow read that will have a large audience with its spare text and simple yet endearing illustrations.—Amy Nolan, St. Joseph Public Library, St. Joseph, MI - Copyright 2016 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
