Polar Bear Night
A polar bear cub awakens on a cold, clear night for a quiet stroll outside her cave. All the arctic animals are asleep, so she alone witnesses a star shower that lights up "everything the little bear loves." And so she hurries home to her cozy cave and sleeping mother. The illustrations are made from linoleum cuts printed on mulberry bleached rice paper; the effect is a peaceful hush that perfectly captures the story and reminds adult readers of the native art of the arctic region.
Pennsylvania Center for the Book Awards
Book Activities & Discussion Ideas
Supplement this reading with information about the Northern Lights and the habits of various arctic animals. Some children might want to have you point out that while young polar bears might be allowed to wander out at night, young children are not!
Discuss characteristics that make this a good bedtime story—the hush of the words, the calm of the illustrations. Model a soothing and contented approach to reading this story aloud. Bring along other examples of good nighttime stories.