Elem. – A Bear Far from Home

Fletcher, Susan. A Bear Far from Home. Illustrated by Rebecca Green. Anne Schwarz Books, 2022. 978-0-593-18189-8. Unpaged. $18.99. Grades K-3.

Fletcher has done a lot of research for this creative nonfiction story of a bear who was gifted to a king. Based on true events from the 13th century, this tale is spun from what is known for certain with what can only be imagined.  According to primary sources, the King of Norway gave a white bear to King Henry III of England in 1251 or 1252.  The animal was taken to the Tower of London, where the British King kept a menagerie of exotic animals. Although Henry’s interactions with the presumed polar bear are not documented, records show that he ordered its caretakers to allow it to swim in the Thames. For the gaps in the narrative, the author surmises possible scenarios for the events of bear’s early life, its capture, the voyage to England, and its life in the Tower. The imagined parts are identified by the use of the words “might” or “imagine” in the sentences or by leading with a question like “Did she look back to search the horizon?” This gives the reader insight into the creature’s reactions to its life-changing experiences. The back matter provides details about the “real bear,” the menagerie and the Tower. The illustrator’s drawings in gouache and colored pencil were edited digitally.  The artist explains in her note that she tried to capture the bear’s emotions in the images, which is backed up by the text. On the page depicting the two kings, Green opted for a medieval style, while later images appear more realistic.

THOUGHTS: This team has brought to life this little-known event in history. This appealing anecdote is a good example of fact vs. supposition. Pair this with Zarafa: The Giraffe Who Walked to the King by Judith St. George for an animal themed story time fit for a king. Highly recommended.

599.786 Polar Bears          Denise Medwick, Retired, PSLA Member

Elem. – Polar Animals (Series NF)

Jaycox, Jaclyn. Polar Animals. Pebble, 2020. $20.99 ea. $167.92 set of 8. 32 p. Grades K-3. 

Arctic Foxes Are Awesome. 978-1-977-10814-2.
Caribou Are Awesome. 978-1-977-10819-7.
Killer Whales Are Awesome. 978-1-977-10816-6.
Narwhals Are Awesome. 978-1-977-10817-3.
Penguins Are Awesome. 978-1-977-10815-9.
Polar Bears Are Awesome. 978-1-977-10818-0.
Seals Are Awesome. 978-1-977-10820-3.
Snowy Owls Are Awesome. 978-1-977-10821-0.

Narwhals Are Awesome gives readers a glimpse inside the life of a narwhal, one of the Arctic Ocean’s most interesting creatures. Known as the unicorns of the sea, these animals have a long tooth that sprouts through its lip and looks similar to a unicorn’s horn. People hunt narwhals for this exact reason: their tusks are often sold or used to make jewelry. Like dolphins and other whales, narwhals use echolocation to search for their food which they find on the ocean floor. Narwhals can stay underwater for twenty-five minutes before having to return to the surface to breathe air. This means that climate change can be harmful to them; as rising temperatures cause ice to melt, the ice moves while narwhals swim underneath. Sometimes, they can become trapped under the ice and drown. Currently, there are about 75,000 narwhals in the ocean, but they are hard to study given the very chilly climate of their habitats. But one thing is for sure – no other animal is quite like them.

THOUGHTS: As narwhals become more prominent in books and graphic novels (such as the Narwhal and Jelly series by Ben Clanton), younger students have shown an increased interest in these creatures. Full of facts and written in kid-friendly language, this book shows readers what a narwhal’s life is like in the Arctic Ocean while also addressing current event issues like climate change. Students also will enjoy up close and personal photographs of these creatures. Although the critical thinking questions in the back of the book are lacking, other features, such as the list of other nonfiction narwhal books and websites to explore, are valuable. There is even a website focused on STEM-inspired narwhal activities. This book is a perfect nonfiction addition to any elementary library. 

599.5 Narwhals          Danielle Corrao, Ephrata Area SD