I Am Polar Bear by The Creative Company

Description

Fulfilled by our friends at The Creative Company

Known by many names in many languages, the polar bear remains one of the Arctic’s signature species, and as this poem reminds readers, it is “far out on disappearing sea ice, losing hold” in a world affected by climate change.

Reviews

Modest in size, this brilliant book nonetheless captures the majesty of the polar bear. Lewis, a former childrens poet laureate, has the creature tell us what hes called in different cultures, from the Inuit (I am Nanuk) to the Sami, who refuse to speak my name for fear of offending me. Nerloves shimmering illustrations hop effortlessly between styles of dress and the shades of white in the polar bears fur and habitat. The devastating ending shows the polar bear adrift on a shrinking bit of ice, losing hold. Its wonderful to see a call for cross-cultural respect that also demonstrates, heartbreakingly, the interwoven lives of humans and an imposing yet utterly vulnerable species.

Maria Russo, New York Times, 12/30/2019

Rather than simply providing general facts about polar bears, this book focuses on how these animals interact with various ethnic communities including Russians, Inuits, Eastern Greenlanders, and even Norsemen. Lewis mentions the various names that each group has bestowed upon the polar bears, such as Sea Bear, the Ever-wandering One, and Gods Dog. Mythology related to polar bears and the books featured cultures helps explain the names that the animals have been given. The text is lean yet utilizes strong imagery and poetic language such as fount of fierceness and Norsemen, who wear imagination like a garment. The artwork captures the characteristics of the bears icy environment, including the color scheme, and the polar bears are drawn with soulful eyes. Back matter includes a map of their Arctic habitat and information about their endangered species status, how big they can grow to be, and other scientific facts. An additional purchase for elementary collections where polar bears are popular.

Molly Dettmann, School Library Journal, 10/25/2019

Ages 6 – 10

Fiction, 32 pages, 2019

ISBN 978-1-56846-332-2

Also available:I Am Elephant