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Summary
Summary
This is the story of a curious polar bear . . .
who became a little too curious, tumbled over a cliff, and fell into the most unexpected of friendship.
Meet panda and polar bear.
Author Notes
Matthew J. Baek lives near Washington, D.C.
Reviews (5)
Publisher's Weekly Review
In Baek's (Be Gentle with the Dog, Dear!) second outing, a cuddly polar bear tumbles down a cliff into the "green and grassy" world of a panda. There's an early case of mistaken identity, with the now-muddy polar bear resembling a panda himself; when he's washed clean, he worries that his new buddy might reject him: "What terrifically splotchy panda bear would want to be friends with a plain white polar bear?" (His fears turn out to be unfounded.) When the polar bear gets homesick, they make a ladder out of bamboo so the polar bear can climb back up the cliff ("My mother told me never to play with food... but I think it's okay this time," the panda decides). The final spread pulls back to reveal a zoo, with the polar bear exhibit overlooking the pandas. It's a quiet book-a feeling echoed in the serene green and blue watercolors-but Baek's pacing is steady, his artwork is nicely balanced against the text and the issue of difference in friendship is treated with respect. Ages 3-5. (June) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Horn Book Review
Only a high, icy cliff separates a panda and polar bear--until Polar Bear falls over the edge. Despite their differences, the two play together happily then work cooperatively to get Polar Bear home. The final spread reveals that the animals live in a zoo, explaining the otherwise impossible situation. Appealing blue- and yellow-green-tinged paintings illustrate this story of unconventional friendship. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
Booklist Review
While exploring, a curious little polar bear slips off a snowy cliff and lands in an unfamiliar, muddy environment. With his white fur spotted with brown, he meets a young panda, who thinks the polar bear is one of his own species. Soon, though, they discover differences. The panda loves eating bamboo, but the polar bear prefers fish, and while diving for a snack, his spots wash away. The polar bear worries, What terrifically splotchy panda bear would want to be friends with a plain white polar bear? But the panda is eager to hear about the polar bear's snowy life. And when the polar bear realizes that he is homesick, the panda helps him find his family. The simple, lively text folds in light humor as it delivers a positive message about appreciating differences and finding commonalities, themes that are reflected in the soft watercolor illustrations, which culminate in a final overview of a world that is bigger and more diverse than the animated little bears realize.--Rosenfeld, Shelle Copyright 2009 Booklist
School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1-In a mysterious location, pandas live at the base of a tall cliff, while polar bears reside at the top, so they never meet. Then a curious polar bear cub falls off the edge into a mud puddle, giving him pandalike markings. He meets a "splotchy" cub and they enjoy playing together, until the polar bear's muddy spots are washed off after a swim. The polar bear worries that the bear, which he learns is a panda, will not want to be friends now that their differences are known. To the contrary, the young panda is fascinated by the polar bear's stories of snow and, as he describes his habitat, he grows homesick. Working together, the two build a ladder out of bamboo, allowing each to visit the other's home, which readers learn on the last spread is in a zoo. The muted watercolors of spot art and spreads perfectly evoke the playful energy of the young animals in their respective environs. The lesson that we can get along despite our differences is presented in an age-appropriate and lighthearted manner in this simple and delightful tale.-Rachel G. Payne, Brooklyn Public Library, NY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
In a maybe-imaginary world where only a steep cliff separates a warm, grassy, bamboo-filled paradise inhabited by panda bears and a wintry wonderland populated by polar bears, one curious young polar bear falls off the cliff and into the mud. When he climbs out looking just like a panda bear, mud-spattered in all the right places, a young panda befriends him. Eventually, panda discovers that polar bear is not what he seemed. Polar begins to tell panda about himself and before he knows it, he's terribly homesick. Panda helps him find a way back up the cliff, but it's obvious from the concluding longshot that the two friends will meet again and share more adventures. Baek's illustrations tell the story with a defter touch than the prose, which suffers from some awkward moments. Done primarily in shades of blue for the polar bears and greens for the pandas, they are delicate, soft and expressive, bringing gentleness to the story and highlighting its message of acceptance and cooperation. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
