Baby Polar

by Yannick Murphy, Kristen Balouch (Illustrator)

Overview

Baby Polar loves cuddling up with Mama Polar--until the snow starts to fall. Then he wants to play! He loves catching the tasty flakes on his tongue and zigzagging across the ice. When the winds begin to gust and the snow becomes a blizzard, though, Baby Polar knows it's time to go back to his mother. But now the whole world is covered in white. Where could Mama Polar be?

Award-winning author Yannick Murphy's tender, lyrical story and acclaimed artist Kristen Balouch's vibrant collage illustrations perfectly capture the excitment and wonder of a young child's first independent adventure.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780547534091
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	11/16/2009
Sold by:	HARPERCOLLINS
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
File size:	23 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	4 - 5 Years

About the Author

Yannick Murphy has received a Whiting Writer's Award, a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship, a MacDowell Artists' Colony Fellowship, a Sewanee Writers' Conference fellowship, and a Chesterfield Writing Program Fellowship. Her first children's book was Ahwoooooooo! (Clarion, spring 2006) and she is also the author of the highly-praised adult novels Here They Come (McSweeney's), The Sea of Trees (Houghton), and Signed, Mata Hari (Little, Brown). She lives in Reading, Vermont, with her husband and three children. You can read more about her at www.yannickmurphy.com.

Kristen Balouch is an award-winning author and illustrator of The Mystery Bottle, The King and the Three Thieves, Ghost Catcher: A Bengali Tale, and Listen to the Storyteller: A Trio of Musical Tales from Around the World. She was a Publishers Weekly Flying Start, has received the Erza Jack Keats New Illustrator Award, and her books have been selected as a Golden Kite Illustration Honor Book, a CCBC Best Book of the Year, a Bank Street College Best Book of the Year, and a Charlotte Zolotow Commended Book. She lives with her family in Brooklyn, New York, and is on the web at www.kristenbalouch.com.

Editorial Reviews

A baby polar bear finds refuge underneath the warm body and four legs of his mother, Mama Polar: “He didn’t feel the icy wind there. And he could hear the beating of his mother’s heart.” Playing in the snow before a big storm, Baby Polar tastes snowflakes, makes a Snow Goose, and skates across the ice before realizing he’s lost. Balouch’s (The Ghost Catcher) digitally created polar bears and their surroundings are shown in flat, collage-like compositions. The polar bear bodies, the hail of driving snow, the swirl of gale winds and Mama Polar’s visible pink and red heart are crisply outlined, and their interactions generate drama, as the massive Mama Polar looms over her tiny offspring or, when he is lost, spiraling winds and snow assail him. Murphy’s (Ahwoooooooo!) skillful pacing creates just enough suspense before Baby Polar is safe again. Mama Polar’s reassuring, offhand manner provides an additional smile of relief: “Yes, I’m Mama Polar. But who are you? Are you a little snowball that has rolled into me?” Despite the Arctic chill, it’s a cozy vision of family. Ages 3–5. (Nov.)

Publishers Weekly

PreS—Baby Polar is playing in the snow, even though his mama warns him of the coming storm. Caught when the snow and wind hit, the cub loses his way and cannot see his mother. He finally manages to dig his way to a nice, warm cave for shelter—one that he eventually discovers has the warm, beating heart of his own mama. The illustrations are digitally produced and beautifully designed. Stylized white snowflakes and polar bear figures set against a blue gray background convey well the icy coldness of the storm. Although the text is slight, momentarily losing one's mother is a major concern for preschoolers. The book's reassuring conclusion offers a satisfying story for that audience, as well as an introduction to polar bears and their Arctic world.—Judith Constantinides, formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA

School Library Journal

A storm is coming, but this baby polar bear wants to play. "Only for a little while. This might be a big storm," says his mother, who has a huge furry body that surrounds him like a warm cave. Balouch's digital art resembles cut paper, creating a vivid winter atmosphere as it shows Baby Polar frolicking merrily in the snow, and playful, nicely descriptive text curves around the page to capture his movements. As the sky grows dark, Baby Polar looks for his mother and can't find her. After searching, he protects himself by digging a hole in the snow for warmth and protection. It's almost like a cave, almost like . . . wait, there's her heartbeat! And in an instant Baby Polar is safe again. This winning tale of mother and child is sweetly circular. The simple text is replete with warmth, humor and gentle suspense; every Baby Polar-or child-will find something to appreciate here. (Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews

"This winning tale of mother and child is sweetly circular. The simple text is replete with warmth, humor and gentle suspense; every Baby Polar or child will find something to appreciate here."—Kirkus Reviews "Despite the Arctic chill, it's a cozy vision of family."—Publishers Weekly —

From the Publisher