I wish science and informational books were available in "my day" like this one. I might have become a scientist! Illustrations, language, organization, content.....Fabulous. I would use this book in a hear beat to support science in primer. ( )

Wonderful book explaining about the importance of Polar Bears and how they live in the Arctic Circle. This book does a good job of showing the life cycle of a Polar Bear from birth to adulthood. I also thought that it was importance that a comparison image was shown to show the difference of the ice caps in the Arctic Circle and how global warming is affecting the Polar Bears.

Summary: This book basically talks about how a mother polar bear and her young go about teaching the baby how to live in his or her environment. It explains that they get hotter easier than cold due to their thick fur and layer of fat underneath. The books also mention global warming about how if it doesn't stop then there will be no ice for polar bears to live on or hunt. Plus talking about the size of these amazing creature is included.

Personal Reaction: I believe for about a second grader that this book is a wonderful insight to something they may not know much about.

Future Classroom Extensions: 1. Have my students decide what an interesting animal is to them and have them do research on it,
2. Then write a summary and be sure to include things that they think I wouldn't know that he or she found interesting.

Where Do Polar Bears Live is a great informational books that gives readers information, a problem, and ways they can help for resolution. I thought that the description and images of a polar bears habitat and lifestyle were described simply for any reader. The transition from describing the habitat a polar bear needs to survive to the current danger their arctic habitat is in was explained clearly to the reader. I also thought it was a great idea to include activities that readers can do to help limit their impact on the shrinking arctic habitat.

The main points of this book were to give understanding to where polar bears live and how they are a unique species. A species that relies on the arctic as it's only habitat and without it this exceptional animal would be gone. The message of the book is to inform readers in hopes that they will change to create positive impact in order to save this species and ultimately the earth.

Ah, the poor, cute polar bears. I am not in favor of science books for young children narrated by anthropomorphic animals. They get outdated fast. A lab-coated polar bear with glasses tells us facts about polar bears and their habitat. First half of book. Second half of book - we have a little narrative nonfiction going on as the polar bears catch and eat a seal. Then we segue into the destruction of the polar bear habitat because of ice melting, the size of polar bears (hey, I'm just describing it) and a last, lonely polar bear in the sunset looking at the melting ice. There's a follow up section on "Why the world is getting warmer" and "What can you do?" Save the poor, cute polar bears by writing on both sides of paper! No, I'm not being snarky, that's one of the suggestions. This book is a stage 2 Let's read and find out aimed at "primary grades" I'm assuming that means 1st through 3rd grade.

Where do polar bears live? by Sarah Thomson, illustrated by Jason Chin
ISBN: 0061575186; Published December 2009 by HarperCollins; Review copy provided by the publisher