Come fall it is time for many animals to hibernate for the winter and an Arctic polar bear will approach a large snow drift to begin digging out a den. Once she "hollows out a room for her den" she is ready to curl up and await the birth of her cubs in two months. The tunnels each bear digs can vary, but usually they are approximately six feet in length, just enough room for a mother bear to nestle in. In the Arctic, January is continuously dark and it is time for the polar bear to give birth. The twins "are covered in thin, white fur" and "their eyes are closed tight." These babies, who weigh slightly more than a can of corn, curl up on their mother's belly to nurse. There, in her cozy darkened den, she will tend to them until it is time for them to venture out into the world three months later.

Once out of the den they begin to play in and explore their new world until one day they no longer go back into the den. The mother, who is hungry, begins to hunt for seals, "her favorite food." The cubs learn how to hunt by watching her as she patiently waits by a "breathing hole" for a ringed seal to surface. They are not alone on the Arctic landscape for you can see other creatures such as the caribou, snow geese and the arctic fox. In this book you will learn about the polar bear habitat, where they live, what they eat, their physical characteristics, their life cycle, how they hunt, and many other interesting facts. Did you know that "Polar bears have such a good sense of smell that they can sniff a seal from 20 miles (32 km) away?" Amazing!

This fascinating book is an excellent way to learn about polar bears, our "largest land predators." The gentle flow of the book and the magnificent cut paper collage gives the reader a feel for the arctic world and the polar bear. The picture book format makes it easy for younger children to absorb factual material when the "story" is read to them. A confident reader will enjoy reading about the polar bear, while an older student could use the information as a stepping stone to a report. There are scattered informative sidebars in the text that I find to be a real plus. In the back of the book there is a world map that shows where polar bears live, a section on "Polar Bear Fun Facts," an index, a glossary and additional recommended books and internet resources (Fact Hound). This is one book in the "Caroline Arnold's Animals" series that would be a welcome addition on anyone's shelves! Deb Fowler

Arctic mammals are especially fascinating to children. This book series explores these mammals from birth through their first year of life. The books were written with ages 5 to 7 and grades K to 2 in mind, but older and younger children will also enjoy this series.

Each book in this series focuses on one arctic mammal and follows it, in its natural habitat, from birth through the first year of life. Sidebars, fun facts, and maps are scattered throughout each book. Also included is a glossary, an index, a list of safe websites to explore at Fact Hound, and a map of where the animals live in the world. Included at the very beginning of the book is a listing of where the animal lives, its habitat, food, length and weight, animal class, and scientific name. Other plants and animals that would be in the animal's habitat are identified.

The leader of the Polar Bear Project for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service served as a consultant on this book, and the facts scattered throughout are fascinating. For instance, polar bears dig tunnels for their dens, and they may be 6 to 30 feet long. At birth, the polar bear is the size of a squirrel, weighing about 1 to 3 pounds, and by 3 months, the cub may weigh 20 pounds. Polar bears can swim 60 miles without stopping and sniff a seal 20 miles away. Their hairs are hollow and act like little greenhouses, trapping heat to help keep the animal warm. Their black skin also allows them to absorb heat.

The author uses her characteristic cut-paper illustrations, with no photos or actual pictures. While they are art, they are still accurate and appealing. I still found myself longing for a "real" picture of a polar bear, but this was not enough to detract from my overall recommendation. I also found several pictures that show very human expressions on the cubs, but again, this was not enough to detract from my overall recommendation. This book is very interesting, filled with loads of information, and is highly recommended. Jacqueline Pfeiffer

These additions to Caroline Arnold's Animals series act as a charming bridge between picture books and higher-level nonfiction. Each book includes a narrative that tells the story of young animals growing up from birth until "they are ready to live on their own." The stories, related in the present tense, feel immediate and engaging. There are even occasional sound effect words, as when a polar bears "leap into the water" with a "Splash!" in A Polar Bear's World. Fact boxes on almost every spread provide interesting additional information. The plainness of the fact boxes contrasts with Arnold's beautiful but simple artwork, which cleanly captures the essence of each animal. Very basic backgrounds keep the illustrations' focus squarely on the creatures. The back matter includes a map showing where the animals live, a list of fun facts, and a short glossary—all basic enough not to overwhelm younger children—and those elements seem more useful than the pro forma index, list of additional books, and Internet sites. Overall, these books' perfectly balanced mix of facts, story, and pictures will hold young readers' attention and help them learn. Grades K-2. Miriam Aronin, Booklist

Caroline Arnold's Books