Little Polar Bear

by Hans de Beer, Hans de Beer (Illustrator)

Overview

The Little Polar Bear—now available as a paperback! It's a big day for the little polar bear Lars! His father takes him hunting for the very first time, and that night he is so tired from all his lessons that he falls fast asleep. He sleeps so soundly that he doesn't hear the ice crack, doesn't feel himself slowly drift away from his father and the North Pole - he doesn't realize that his adventures have just begun.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780735840522
Publisher:	NorthSouth Books
Publication date:	10/10/2011
Series:	LITTLE POLAR BEAR
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	242,964
Product dimensions:	8.30(w) x 11.10(h) x 0.20(d)
Lexile:	AD590L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Hans de Beer was born in Muiden, near Amsterdam, Holland. After briefly studying history, he finished his studies at the Rietveld Art Academy in Amsterdam. Little Polar Bear, Hans’s art school graduation project, brought him worldwide success and countless awards, and has been translated into thirty languages so far. Today Hans lives and works as a freelance illustrator with his wife, the Italian illustrator Serena Romanelli, in Amsterdam and near Florence, Italy.

Hans de Beer was born in Muiden, near Amsterdam, Holland. After briefly studying history, he finished his studies at the Rietveld Art Academy in Amsterdam. Little Polar Bear, Hans’s art school graduation project, brought him worldwide success and countless awards, and has been translated into thirty languages so far. Today Hans lives and works as a freelance illustrator with his wife, the Italian illustrator Serena Romanelli, in Amsterdam and near Florence, Italy.

Interviews

Muiden, the Netherlands.

Editorial Reviews

"Readers will cheer when Lars is reunited with his father, but will also look forward to traveling with their new friend again in his other adventures."

Celebrate Picture Books Blog

Lars, an endearing young polar bear, wakes up to find that the ice he was sleeping on is floating south. He reaches a tropical land with no snow or ice, but amazing new colors! Though there is much to see and do, Lars gets homesick. His new friends arrange to get Lars back home, where he is happily reunited with his anxious parents.

Barnes & Noble Staff

``It was a big day for Lars''-bigger than he imagined, in fact, as the polar bear cub gets separated from his father and embarks on a fanciful journey. Ages 5-8. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Gr 2-4-- Set at the North Pole, this is a gentle beginning reader about Lars, a polar bear who comes upon a little hare in need of rescue. Hugo has somehow gotten himself stranded at the bottom of a deep hole. Lars kicks down a pile of snow that allows Hugo to climb out, and together the new friends set off to find Hugo's home. When they spot a car (with caterpillarlike ``wheels''), they know that they are near the research station. The two of them explore and Lars soon finds himself inside, having fallen through a hole in the roof. It is now Lars's turn to be rescued, and the pair become life-long friends. Other than the snowy terrain, the story could take place anywhere, and this friendship is not unlike that of Lobel's ``Frog and Toad'' (HarperCollins). The softly colored illustrations will help readers comprehend the plot and the story's fast-moving action. Those who have emerged from the decoding stage will find this predictable story just right for reinforcing their reading skills. --Sharron McElmeel, Cedar Rapids Community Schools, IA

School Library Journal

Little Polar Bear And The Brave Little Hare (32 pp.; PLB Nov. 1; 0-7358-1011-7; PLB 0- 7358-1012-5): Lars (Little Polar Bear, Take Me Home!, 1996, etc.) gains a new friend in his latest adventure. In his trademark pink, purple, and blue pastel-colored arctic landscape, Lars saves Hugo, a nervous hare, from a hole. As fast friends they race, get caught in a storm, snuggle up against one another for warmth, share a picnic, and find their way home, but not before Hugo gets to show his own courage by getting Lars out of a jam. Such teamwork and fond friendship will win readers' hearts while the falling snow and expressive faces will dazzle their eyes. (Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews

"A witty, plaintive book my children adored when they were barely out of diapers."

The New York Times - Dwight Garner

Children's Literature review of The Little Polar Bear in it's original picture book edition:

"This is an endearing picture book, with soft-colored illustrations that help give a very cold place a warm feel.

From the Publisher