2016
WISE Score
Amazon
A gorgeous, fact-filled dive into the Arctic that manages to be both a science lesson and a bedtime story without putting anyone to sleep.
4.8
4.8View →Our reviews and ratings are 100% unbiased, but as an Amazon Associate, Screenwise earns an affiliate fee if you buy a book or game by clicking one of our links. We don't get any credit if you just Google it instead :)
This is the 'anti-brain rot' choice. It’s beautiful, smart, and doesn't rely on flashy gimmicks to hold a kid's attention.
Jenni Desmond has a knack for making non-fiction feel like a secret world you're being invited into. If you're tired of reading the same three-word board books or dry library encyclopedias, this is a massive upgrade. It's the kind of book that stays on the shelf for years because the art is just that good.
Best for 4 to 10-year-olds. It’s sophisticated enough for elementary schoolers to learn something new, but the art is engaging enough for a preschooler to sit through.
It’s a calm, respectful look at nature. It doesn't use cheap thrills or frantic pacing; it just lets the beauty of the Arctic and the life of the bear speak for itself.
Jenni Desmond’s mixed-media illustrations are stunning and far more creative than your standard textbook photos. The meta-narrative of a child reading the book helps kids project themselves into the environment.
It's a non-fiction book. The only 'danger' is the reality that polar bears hunt, but it's handled with biological honesty rather than gore.
Packed with legitimate science—from heat conservation to hunting habits—delivered through a narrative that builds empathy for the species and their changing habitat.
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