The Adventures of Captain Polo: Pole to Pole
By Alan J. Hesse
Why this book?
The best children’s books where kindness wins every time
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Browse the best books on polar bears as recommended by authors, experts, and creators. Along with notes on why they recommend those books.
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By Alan J. Hesse
The best children’s books where kindness wins every time
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By Suzanne Bloom
A
bear and a goose are so different. Bear is quiet and firm. Goose is loud and
pushy. How could they possibly be friends? But that’s exactly what happens in
this bestselling tale of a bear who wants to read in peace and a goose that
needs a friend. Author-illustrator Suzanne Bloom captures the concept of making
and keeping friends with toddler-appropriate language and sparse but colorful
drawings. The simple text paired with hilarious illustrations make this book
one of my all-time favorite read-a-louds. A Splendid Friend, Indeed is, indeed, a sweet
reminder of why friendship and kindness matter.
The best children’s books about kindness and friendship
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By Philip Pullman
The three books of His Dark Materials are a grand example of an author tweaking our existing world in such a way that the familiar becomes bewitching and the every day is magicked-up into a glittering alt-version of itself. Drawing readers into the coming-of-age adventures of two uniquely relatable kids, Lyra and Will, the trilogy makes immersive world building look deceptively easy as Pullman transports us from a slightly strange Brit-like reality to a somewhat stranger place to a wildly new realm across the course of the three books. So, if you’re ready to take flight with some wayward witches,…
The best books with world building so immersive you may never find your way back out
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By Jenni Desmond
A little girl takes a book from a shelf and plunges into an imaginary encounter with a beautiful polar bear. Poetically written and gorgeously illustrated, the book teaches us all about polar bears and their lives: Where they live, what they eat, how big their paws are, and about the birth of bear cubs. As the book jacket copy rightly says, the book engages the reader’s interest in amazing facts, while filling them with a deep sense of wonder.
The best picture books for learning fun facts about birds and animals
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By Hannah Gold
I love books that show a bond between humans and animals. Especially well-researched books. And this story certainly captures it all with a sweet encounter between a lonely polar bear and a girl. Between the environmental tidbits, the plight of polar bears, and also the unique storyline, this book should be on everyone’s radar.
The best middle grade books that feature an adventurous journey
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By Holly Webb, Simon Mendez
I absolutely love all of Holly Webb’s books, sometimes she writes about animals in real life and sometimes about animals and magic but whatever she is writing, her books always have fantastic characters and show the bond between humans and animals. I particularly like her Winter Journeys series, they are longer than some of Holly’s other books and sensitively explore different cultures and family relationships. The Snow Bear is one of my favorites. It tells the story of Sara who loves to listen to her grandfather’s stories about the Inuits. One night she goes on a magical snowy adventure with…
The best middle grade fiction for children who love magic and animals
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