Meet the Bears: An around the world adventure by Kate Peridot illustrated by Becca Hall

"So, you love bears? Fantastic! You have great taste. Bears are smart. Bears are curious. Bears are strong. And they can smell you coming from miles away."

A father gifts his daughter eight tickets to see the bears of the world. They pack their bear spotting kit with maps, a torch, water bottle, camera, warm clothes and most important of all the young girl takes along her teddy bear. She wants to find out which bear family he belongs to.

Arctic - travel by icebreaker - the polar bear fur white and pale and translucent.
Match - no - her teddy bear does not have white fur.

Alaska - travel by fast plane - the brown bear has brown fur with flecks of blond or black

Match - no - her teddy bear is not brown

Appalachian Mountains - you will need a trail pass - the black bear has short fur

Match - no - her teddy has a long black fur coat

Andes - travel by lama - the spectacled bear looks though she is wearing glasses

Match - no - he has no spectacles

Sri Lanka - take a jeep safari - the sloth bear has very long claws for digging up termites and ants

Match - no - her teddy does not have long claws

Borneo - canoe ride - the sun bear has a very long tongue

Match - no - as you have guessed her teddy bear does not have a long tongue

Tibet - another trail hike - meet the giant panda

Match - no - teddy does have a white face

So who does her teddy belong with? There is one more bear to meet - the Moon Bear from Japan, Korea, Siberia, Pakistan, Taiwan, and China.

On the final pages of this very enjoyable book, written for children aged 4+, there is a double spread explaining the animals that are NOT bears - the red panda; our koala; and a creature called a bearcat which I had not heard of. The bearcat is related to the civet and mongoose. He has a long tail for balancing in trees and white whiskers to help him feel his way around the forest at night. There is also a world map showing all the places the various bears are found. And a bear size chart. And finally some helpful information about staying safe if you are exploring an area where bears live.

This book is the perfect combination of a fiction narrative and nonfiction content. Unfortunately, it is another very expensive book - here in Australia it is listed at over AUS$40. It is published by Welbeck Children's Books from the UK [9781804535110].  If you ever see this book for a price you can afford it would be a good addition to a school library or perhaps you will see a copy to borrow from your own local or school library. Here is the webpage for the author Kate Peridot. Read the Kirkus review.

In your library head to the bear books in the nonfiction section [599.78]. Even though this is a fiction book I would read this one alongside Meet the Bears:

Five Bears

Lost by Mariajo Ilustrajo

 

"I am not sure how I got here ... everything looks so different."

A huge polar bear finds himself in the city. Everything is so confusing. There are long queues, coffee shops - in fact our bear is given a soy latte! He does not like the taste at all. Then he heads to the help desk at the station and that is where he is given the tube map. On the train no one notices the huge while polar bear except for one young girl. She takes him home but this home is nothing like his real home. The clothes are strange, the food is strange, and the sea (bath) is very small. Luckily this girl has a terrific book collection and one of books is entitled North Pole. She quickly works out the problem and makes a plan. She organises to lift him in a huge blanket attached to a wire under the helicopter. Arriving home the other polar bears are so happy to see their friend.

"I felt lost at first. But then someone found me."

Now turn to the final end paper - the little girl has given her new friend a truly special gift. 

There are some interesting design features to notice with this book. The title in Fluro orange is embossed. The front-end paper has the polar bear on one side striding into the story and a map on the other side which appears to have been tossed down or dropped. Over the page the huge polar bear has now picked up his map. It looks a little like a London underground train map. On the imprint page I read that the font for this book is called Marajo so I am guessing it is an invention of the author/illustrator. This hardcover book is not too expensive here in Australia so it is one you could add to your school library wish list.

See pages from Lost here. I am not entirely sure but the polar bear in Lost might be the same polar bear from Flooded?

Companion books:

Lost and Found

Little Bear

Blown Away

Mariajo Ilustrajo is a Spanish illustrator based in the UK. Her real name is Mariajose Gajate Molina. Flooded was her first book and it went on to win the Klaus Flugge Prize for Illustration 2023.

Her new books due in 2024 areHelp we Need a story and I love books:

A Letter for Bear by David Lucas

"Bear was a postman. There were always lots of letters to deliver. 

But there were never any letters for Bear."

So what do we now know about Bear? Read the words and look closely at the illustrations. He is a hard worker. He delivers the letters no matter what the weather is like. And he is so lonely. On this day the weather is very cold and windy and all the precious letters fall into the snow.  Bear cannot read the address labels so he is forced to visit every home but this makes for the perfect turning point in this story because, in a wonderful scene, he finally meets all his customers.

It has been a day filled with conversations but, arriving home, alone again, Bear feels even more lonely. Luckily Bear is not a guy who wallows in his sorrow. He is a problem solver!

Dear Friends,

Please come to my Christmas party.

Yours sincerely the Postman.

This book has perfectly paced page turns. On the next page we see Bear decorating his cave. On the next page we see him waiting and waiting and waiting. Oh dear no one is coming.

Turn the page again. 

"But then he heard a sweet, and a squeak, and lots of shy little voices saying 'May be come in?"

Everyone enjoys a splendid party but the best surprise of all comes the next day when Bear heads off to work only to discover all of the letter are for him. Can you guess what they say?

Perhaps you are wondering about his arctic friends - they are all included on the back end paper - ptarmigan, robin, arctic fox, snow bunting, ermine, snowy owl, lemming, arctic red poll, arctic hare and waxwing. 

I spied this little book when I was shelving a huge collection of Christmas books in the library I visit each week. It caught my eye because it looked like a different Christmas story, the colours on the cover appealed to me and I like the way the letters of the title have been created with a geometric filler. Inside each page also has a geometric border using these same colours - pink, orange, pale aqua blue and white. 

The illustrations are a marvel to take in with their bold, limited color palette and all the intricate pattern details throughout. I would think that David Lucas has a grand time creating his illustrations. They must cheer just about any heart and I hope they delight yours. Three Books a Night

A wintry, holiday read much like a gingerbread house: ...  poignant, sweet, soul-warming and studded with delicious details that warrant close inspection. Kirkus Star review

This one caught my eye since this rather sweet little bear is on the front cover carrying a large satchel and wearing a smart red peaked cap! I love that Bear is a postman. It seems the right kind of job for him to be doing. But I wasn't entirely prepared for the sad turn the story would take! The Book Bag

Since this book was published in 2013 it is now sadly out of print but I there seem to be plenty of used copies available and as I always say, you might be lucky and find this in a local or school library. Take a look here to see other books by UK author/illustrator David Lucas. See inside this book here.

Here is the perfect companion book:

The Lonely Mailman

I am very keen to read more books by David Lucas:

Little Bear by Richard Jones

 

Many years ago a Kindergarten teacher asked me for books to share with her class that used the days of the week as a story device. I began to collect them, I added "days of the week" as a subject heading in our library database catalogue and I started a Pinterest of these titles. I have now added Little Bear and I do wish I could share this perfect book with that teacher from all those years ago. (perhaps she reads this blog).

Your youngest reading companions are sure to exclaim over the cover of this scrumptious book - little - that bear is not little - the boy is little - the bear is huge.

Turn to the first page and enormous bear fills the whole page in the same way the bear fills the front cover. Turn the page and we see his real size. This change in perception reminded me of "I'm coming to get you" by Tony Ross. (see cover at the bottom of this post)

On Monday, I found a polar bear in the garden.

He was so small, I held him in my hands.

Preschool children love stories with patterns. In this book, alongside the story device which uses days of the week to advance the plot, we also have the issue of a growing bear. At first the boy can hold the bear in his hands, then he moves into a pocket. By Wednesday he has outgrown the pocket and is placed in a comfortable hat. It is now clear this bear needs to go home. 

You are sure to have read a similar heart-warming story involving the journey of an arctic animal in the wonderful book Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers. In that book the pair of friends, penguin and boy, travel to Antarctica but in this one they need to go to the arctic because that's where Polar Bears live.

The boy and the polar bear climb aboard a small sailing boat but each day the bear gets bigger and so eventually the boy climbs onto the bear's back. Their arrival is a joyous one with a partner for the bear and several young polar bear cubs. The boy is sure his friend is now home and so he says goodbye and sails away. Is this a happy ending? Yes but it is also tinged with a layer of sadness. 

This is a large format, hardcover book and I amazed to say it is not very expensive. I highly recommend you add this book to your school library or preschool library/bookshelf shopping list. Don't hesitate - you need this book now!!

There is joy in their friendship and the scenes are playful and happy even when goodbye is inevitable. A Library Lady

As satisfying as a warm blanket or a cup of cocoa. Kirkus  " Joyous art, celebrating freedom and the beauty of the sea, matches the text in tone and quality."

Very strangely in the US this book has a completely different title and cover illustration - I can hardly believe this is the same book!

I have previously talked about three other books illustrated by Richard Jones (I need to add his name to my list of favourite UK illustrators)

The Proper way to Meet a Hedgehog

Whale in a Fishbowl

The Seed of Doubt

When you want a terrific book to talk about or experience perception of size try to find this one (it is very old).

And as I mentioned Lost and Found will be the perfect companion book.

Lost and Found

I have also added two more books illustrated by Richard Jones to my "to read" list:

You're Sung with Me by Chitra Soundar illustrated by Poonam Mistry

Parental love, sound ecological advice, 

and breathtaking illustrations all in one. Kirkus Star review

"She made a den just big enough for her to turn over, and waited for the falling snow to seal it shut."

Two cubs are born - "You're safe with me."

As the pair grow they begin to explore their den and ask their mother questions about the outside world. Their mother explains the season, the oceans, the cosmos, the balance of nature and the wondrous creatures who live on the land and sea. Eventually the day arrives when the cubs can emerge from the den. 

Blurb: At the start of winter, two bear cubs are born, deep in their den in the frozen north. 'Mama, what lies beyond here?' they ask. "'Above us is a land of ice and snow." "What lies beyond the ice and snow?" they ask. "The ocean, full of ice from long ago." And as they learn the secrets of the earth and their place in it, Mama Bear whispers, "You're snug with me."

Each page is made up of repeating patterns, forming both the animals in the foreground and the whole of the wintry setting making up the background. Illustrator Poonam Mistry uses colour selectively and carefully: all of the illustrations are made up of yellows, oranges, blues and greens and as spring approaches, the pages become brighter. Different snowflakes feature on almost every page and overall the   illustrations throughout the book have a magical quality. Books for Topics

I mentioned Poonam Mistry a couple of days ago when I talked about It's Up to Us: A Children's Terra Carta by Christopher Lloyd and I mentioned Poonan Mistry. Her work is very distinctive and appealing and this book was shortlisted for the 2020 Kate Greenaway medal.

Being brought up surrounded by Indian fabrics, paintings and ornaments have heavily influenced my work. Poonam Mistry.

You can see here You're Snug with me is one book from a set of three - You're Safe with me and You're Strong with me all by author Chitra Soundar.  I wish I could say you should add all of these to your library but here in Australia only schools with very generous budgets will be able to afford these hardcover books which are listed at over $30 each. You could look for How the Stars Came to Be because it is available in paperback for a much lower price. 

Here is the blurb for You're Safe with me: When the moon rises high and the stars twinkle, it is bedtime for the baby animals of the Indian forest. But tonight, when the skies turn dark and the night grows stormy, the little ones can't sleep. SWISH-SWISH! CRACK-TRACK! FLASH-SNAP! goes the storm. Only Mama Elephant with her words of wisdom can reassure them. "You're safe with me." A modern fable that reads like a folktale, this beautifully illustrated tale of motherly love is a perfect bedtime story.

And the blurb for You're Strong with me: The rain clouds are long gone and the dry season scorches the land. Everything is new for the baby giraffe. As she bounds ahead and lags behind, her mother patiently explains the ways of the grasslands. And until she grows a little taller, older, and wiser, her mother reminds her: 'You're strong with me.'

Pearly and Pig and the Great Hairy Beast by Sue Whiting

NO ADVENTURE TOO SMALL

NO CHALLENGE TOO GREAT

ADVENTURE BY STEALTH

LEAVING NO TRACE

Pearly is on her own. Well not quite, she has her pig called Pig. Luckily Pearly has some impressive skills especially with languages even animal languages such as 'pig'. Luckily Pig also has impressive skills with his fined tuned nose which can sniff out trouble in all its forms. Unluckily Pearly has been caught by a very deranged woman who is intent on travelling to Antarctica.

Antarctica?  Why does Emmeline Woods want to go there? 

This book is a rollicking adventure with plenty of twists to keep readers turning the pages. It will appeal to readers aged 10+ or slightly younger as a read-aloud. This book will be released in March 2022. Thanks to Beachside Bookshop for my advance copy. 

Publisher blurb Walker Books: Pearly Woe is a worrier. She worries about everything, especially that she’ll never be brave enough to become a member of the top-secret group of stealth adventurers – The Adventurologists’ Guild. Pearly also has a special talent – she can talk to animals. Her favourite animal to talk to is her pet pig, called Pig. But with her parents missing, Pig pig-napped and Pearly a stowaway on an icebreaker heading for Antarctica, Pearly’s worries just got REAL.

Pearly's parents are members of the Adventurologists' Guild. At the back of the book you can read their Charter; Rules; list of Basics; and ten ways to survive a sticky situation.

Some rules are: 

• Stay Alive
• Tread lightly
• Never answer the Adventure Phone - unless an authorised member of the Adventurologists' Guild

Surviving tricky situations:

• Take initiative
• Think outside the square
• Make the impossible possible
• Don't panic
• Expect the unexpected
• Knowledge is power

Companion reads:

Melt

The Last Bear

The Doldrums

Twitch

The Pearl in the Ice

The Song of Lewis Carmichael by Sofie Laguna illustrated by Marc McBride

"Two days to fly by balloon to the North Pole. Not possible."

In the middle of the night a crow taps on Matthew's window. Matthew actually met this same crow who has a broken wing earlier in the day. Outside Matthew sees a huge hot air balloon. The crow, who introduces him self as Lewis Carmichael, tells Matthew to hurry because it is time to head off to the North Pole. 

Matthew is a lonely kid who feels as though he does not fit in. School is hard, his parents seem over protective and relationships are complicated. Books are his solace and he especially loves to read about the world of the Arctic. He has read about the freezing temperatures, amazing wild creatures and the barren landscape. Could this invitation be part of a dream? Matthew is not sure but he tentatively climbs out of his upstairs bedroom window and climbs aboard the balloon.  

There is a third, unseen character, in the story who has outfitted the balloon with everything Matthew and Lewis Carmichael will need for their journey - warm clothes, food, water, a small stove and a good supply of tea. Matthew is not used to drinking tea but Lewis Carmichael insists they enjoy this warm beverage at regular intervals and Matthew finds comfort in the warmth and companionship.

"Who was it that said tea lifts the drinker to the realms of the gods? I drink it from takeaway cups in the park. Leftovers. You know, the last drops in the cup. But if I could have my own cup - what a treat.' Matthew found tea leaves in the box. He boiled water in the second tin pot and added the leaves. Then he poured the dark brew into two cups and placed one of the cups before Lewis."

Lewis Carmichael is truly special. He takes every opportunity to praise and encourage Matthew and gradually as they journey to, and arrive in, the Arctic, Matthew grows in confidence. 

Here are some of the supplies in the balloon:

"Matthew looked in the trunk. He found brown knee-length boots, lined with fur, and gloves made from the same padded, shiny material as the coat. There were boxes marked food and water. There was a small gas stove ... in the same box as dishes and cutlery, a frying pan, and a daypack a little like his own school bag. There was a second cylinder of gas, an enormous padded silver blanket, and a small leather case (where) he found a pair of black binoculars ... "

Now onto the title - Lewis Carmichael sings a song as a way to encourage Matthew:

In all the world, beneath all the skies,

All the skies, I never did see, never did see

I never did see, in all the world,

In all the lands, just this one.

This one boy ...

I'd love to hear the tune. 

The other very special feature of this book is the wonderful art by Marc McBride. It is quite different from his work you may have seen previously in books by Emily Rodda. The text is printed in blue and illustrations in this book are made from very fine lines in the same shade. It is easy to see that the style of illustrations he has created for this book echo Marc's admiration for the work of Edward Ardizzone.

Image Source: Marc McBride

You can read the first eleven pages of The Song of Lewis Carmichael here. In this interview with Joy Lawn at Paperbark Words, Sofie Laguna and her husband Marc McBride talk about their book. And in this podcast Sofie and Marc talk to Middle Grade Mavens. 

Click these review quotes to read more praise for this wonderful adventure:

Marc McBride’s illustrations shine within Laguna’s emotive and elegant poetic prose, which like music, skips, rises and falls. Two immensely gifted creators, collaborating to produce a novel of the utmost beauty. Kids' Book Review

This is an adventure story with a difference although it has a classic feel to it particularly the elements of the boy pitted against the natural world. It will be enjoyed by middle-primary readers and will also be one of those read-alouds where the listeners always ask for ‘just one more chapter’. Margot Hillel Reading Time

I agree with Margot Hillel also says: Lewis’s broken wing, that prevents him from flying, is a metaphor for Matthew’s inability to ‘spread his wings’ and take risks. 

In her interview with Joy Lawn, Sofie mentioned this book:

When I was a child, about nine years old, I read a book called ‘Una and Grubstreet’, by Prudence Andrew. The story is about a lonely girl, Una, who finds a lost baby she believes is neglected. Una is guided by her friend, a little wooden bear that speaks to her, called Grubstreet. The novel has stayed with me all my life. I realise as I write this, it has had a direct influence on me.

Addition to this post:

Joy Lawn, in The Australian newspaper September 11-12, 2021 wrote her review of this book and I would like to give you a few quotes. The article is entitled "A song of many colours". 

"an allusive, timeless fable that will be savoured by young and older readers. It is multifaceted and thought-provoking, with the tone and style of a classic."

"The writing is lit with perfectly paced images of the land, sea, ice and the natural world; the moon, sun and stars; the Milky Way and Northern Lights; birds and feathers and the succouring balloon."

Welcome by Barroux

 

A Polar Bear and two friends are stranded when a piece of their ice home breaks away and floats off into the ocean. 

As the trio travel their ice platform shrinks. The water is getting warmer. Luckily they bump into an island. Unluckily the cows, who live on this island, refuse to accommodation the trio. The float on. Luckily they bump into another island. Unluckily the solo Panda who lives there also refuses entry to the poor hapless polar bears. Next stop and island with giraffes. I'm sure you have guessed but the girffes won't even listen to the desperate polar bears who now have to stand on a piece of ice the size of one paw. Finally, when the ice is almost gone they reach an uninhabited island. 

The trio settle in to play and enjoy the sunshine until one day three monkeys arrive.

"Can you help us please? It looks like you've got plenty of room."

You now need to find this book to reach the all important - what happens next scene.

Welcome is available in paperback for a really good price.  If you are reading this post in 2021 click this link for a bargain.  I think this book should be an essential addition to every school library. This is one of those splendid picture books which can be read on many levels. It will be enjoyed by your youngest students and should provide some excellent discussion with older groups. Take a look at my Pinterest The Refugee Experience through Picture books. 

The best companion text is Room on our Rock.

This might look like a picture book. It might look as though it's only for children but there's a message in there that we should all take to heart. Book Bag

Welcome, is a beautiful and powerful story that considers human behaviour and its consequences. This seemingly simple tale, is, in fact, multifaceted.  My Book Corner

Inspired by the Syrian refugee crisis, Welcome stands on its own as an uplifting story of friendship and inclusiveness, but also offers an excellent means for beginning a discussion on the world events that children see and have questions about. Celebrate Picture Books

It's actually a powerful message but the way it has been thoughtfully brought across is pitch-perfect. Read it Daddy

You can read more about Barroux in my post about How Many Trees?

Please bring Balloons by Lindsay Ward

 

As it says on the dust jacket: "For anyone who has ever imagined what it would be like to ride a carousel animal right off its platform, this enchanting story is your chance - happy travels!" I just wish this book was not out of print because it is a sheer delight.

A little girl finds a note under the saddle of the polar bear on the carousel. She takes a red balloon and ties a red balloon. "I hope you like red,' she whispered." The next day the note says please bring more balloons. She ties these to the polar bear and they are up and away. They drift through starry skies and arrive in the land of ice and snow. The discover the polar bear rumpus and a wild night ensues. After a terrific night they travel safely home. The next day, though, there is another note under the saddle on the polar bear - clearly more adventures await.

There’s pull out pages and such a fun combination of colors and patterns that it’s very difficult for the reader not to enjoy themselves. Absolutely stunning and truly unique, this was a phenomenal read. Home Grown Reader

Make sure you check the end papers. In this post Lindsay Ward talks about her book.  I'm very keen to see other books by Lindsay Ward.

Polar Bear Night by Lauren Thompson illustrated by Stephen Savage

 

A polar bear cub sets off on a night time walk. It is a magical journey filled with starlight and snow and sleeping animals.

Sadly this book from 2004 is now out of print but you might be lucky and find a copy in a well stocked library. There was once also a board book edition of Polar Bear Night. The lino cut art in this book is very different and ideal to share with a preschool child. Every page looks cold and the polar bear cub, with his little geometric face, is so appealing. In 2004, Polar Bear Night was named a New York Times Best Illustrated children’s book, an ALA Notable Book, and a Charlotte Zolotow Honor Book. Read this interview with Stephen. 

The simplicity in the art, text, and plot belie the deft craftsmanship, like carving an ice sculpture. This bedtime story will captivate young listeners; it sparkles just like ice crystals on a moonlit night. Kirkus Star review

The Last Bear by Hannah Gold illustrated by Levi Pinfold

April and her father move to Bear Island. In the past there were polar bears on the island as the name implies but with global warming all of the bears have long ago disappeared. The nearest land is 400km away and there are no longer any ice flows so polar bears cannot come to the island. 

Wait a minute. I said there were no polar bears on Bear Island but you can, of course, see from the cover, that there is a bear on Bear Island. April and her father are alone in this remote place. Her scientist father is busy with his task of measuring weather conditions and so April is left to wander around the island on her own. Her father is quite a distant figure because he is carrying so much grief over the death, some years ago, of his wife and April's mother.

April does indeed find the last polar bear. He is in bad shape and starving. It is at this point the story becomes slightly fantastical as we watch April befriend the bear, feed the bear, roar with the bear and even allow him to lick her face! The biggest issue for April, after she discovers the reality of global warming and the consequences for her new friend, is how to return Bear to Svalbard where there are many other polar bears.

The Last Bear is a heartwarming story of friendship, determination, kindness, animal human relationships, healing and courage. I think it will be enjoyed by readers aged 9+ especially children who love animals and who care about our planet. It would be terrific to begin reading this book on 27th February which is International Polar Bear Day.

Polar Bears International 

The Last Bear is a debut novel for Hannah Gold. This book will be published next week on 17th February. Thanks goes to Beachside Bookshop for my Advance Reader copy.

Beautifully illustrated by Levi Pinfold, The Last Bear invites readers to care about the science behind the fate of an endangered species and to believe in one girl’s magical solution to the problem. Julia Eccleshare Love Reading 4 Kids

My advance copy of The Last Bear did not contain the illustrations by Levi Pinfold. They do look quite spectacular.

This moving story will win the hearts of children the world over and show them that no one is too young or insignificant to make a difference. The Last Bear is a celebration of the love between a child and an animal, a battle cry for our world and an irresistible adventure with a heart as big as a bear’s. Tring Book Festival

After reading or during your reading of this book you will want to find other books about Polar Bears in your school library.  Here are many worth finding collected by my friend at Kinderbookboard and the blog  Kinderbookswitheverything.

You might also look for Seekers The quest begins by Erin Hunter.

I have added this one to my "to read" list. I adore the art of Jackie Morris: