Booklist (December 15, 2012 (Vol. 109, No. 8))Preschool-Kindergarten. As they did in Polar Bear Night (2004), Thompson and Savage tell the story of an adventurous cub leaving the safety of her mother’s den to explore the Arctic. This time the cub meets another, and the pair jaunt about, tumbling and racing among the gulls and seals and walruses who share their home. Thompson’s poetic language, crisp and tender all at once (“High above, the seagulls whirl on the wind, calling”), paints a picture of icy, innocent tranquility, unveiling the cubs’ friendship in sweet, simple gestures. Savage restrains his graphic, textural linocut illustrations with subdued palettes of blues and grays, with never more than a few colors per spread, reservedly introducing a contrasting pink or orange to emphasize the warmth of the new friendship. A variety of perspectives, with long, low horizons and bird’s-eye vistas, suggests the space and the quiet. While this harmonious, winsome outing will work well for storytimes, it will also find its way to repeated at-home readings. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Polar Bear Night was a New York Times best-seller and a New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book. This one will be on everyone’s radar.Horn Book (Fall 2013)The ever-inquisitive polar bear cub (Polar Bear Night) ventures out into the early morning light while her mama is still sleeping, and she soon runs into a curiosity. Simple linocut illustrations make effective use of color and perspective; the words and visuals bring to life the Arctic world of snow and sea in this joyous celebration of independent exploration and first friendship.Kirkus Reviews starred (December 1, 2012)Hooray, this companion to Polar Bear Night (2004) is as charming and attractive as its predecessor. With the same spare textual sensibility, limited palette and blocky linocut prints, the story picks up where the first ended, with a new day and the freshness of morning. When a polar-bear cub awakens and peeks out at the snow, ice and blue sky, she hears the faraway call of sea gulls and clambers out into the day. She sets off across the snow and ice and meets a snow cub, nose-to-nose (literally). This is dramatically illustrated with a profile view of their heads and noses covering a full double-page spread. The pair frolic, climb, tumble and jump into the sea together--new friends. The deceptive simplicity of the playful graphic design masks great sophistication. Clever composition conveys the rambunctiousness of the cubs, while the many hues of blue showcase the background (even an underwater scene); two dawn-pink spreads surprise readers pleasantly. It's crystal clear, this is another winner. (Picture book. 3-5)Publishers Weekly (January 14, 2013)Thompson and Savage follow up Polar Bear Night (2004) by giving the polar bear cub from the first book another chance to explore her surroundings, as well as make a new friend. Savage's linocuts, with their round shapes and creamy sunrise palette of pinks and blues, are once again showstoppers (a spread in which the bear and her new friend enjoy a perfect quiet moment under the sea is especially nice), while Thompson's restrained prose conveys plenty about the pleasures of companionship. Ages 3-5. (Feb.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.School Library Journal (February 1, 2013)PreS-K-Polar Bear Night (Scholastic, 2004) and its new companion book, Polar Bear Morning, may well be the first books to reach for when teaching children about the different times of day-or Arctic landscapes and wildlife-or family and friends. While the earlier book ends cozily-a sleeping cub and her mother, darkness, cold, and a congenial moon-Polar Bear Morning opens with the early blue light and a cub who is wide awake long before her mother stirs. An unexpected encounter with another cub is followed by a romp across pages of icy landscape, sky blue and aqua, salmon pink, and the occasional earthier tones used to depict a seal, walrus, and whale. Savage's simple, evocative linocut images once again complement Thompson's gentle text to perfection. This book will be treasured by the youngest of preschoolers to the most worldly kindergarteners.-Susan Weitz, formerly at Spencer-Van Etten School District, Spencer, NY (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. This book about finding, playing and making a friend is chock full of descriptive language and simple illustrations that will pull your toddler into the story about meeting another while out exploring the world and reinforce how wonderful it is to have friends with whom to explore. The simple and accessible story of friendship will expose your child to lots of vocabulary in the process of enjoying a simple story.
What do You think about Polar Bear Morning (2013)?
Polar bear is back, awake and ready to greet the day in this lovely homage to finding a friend.
—fashion297
A beautiful companion to Polar Bear Night.
—2busyreading
