Starred review from Kirkus Reviews.

Selected in Kirkus’ Best Books of 2020 Picture Books category.

A boy tries to help a hungry polar bear stranded in his island village but needs his grandpa’s help to get the bear home.

Follow the funny story of a boy who tries to help the unexpected arrival to his small island town. One day, Henry wakes up and gets ready for sleigh rides in the snow, but he encounters a polar bear instead. It’s up to Henry and his grandpa to sneak the polar bear off the remote island. Will the polar bear make it back to the North Pole?

• A boy meets a lost polar bear in this picture book about helping a new friend get back to where he belongs.
• Appealing, well-designed, humorous illustrations as the bear learns about the small town the boy calls home.
• A story of teamwork between a boy, his grandfather, and a bear with themes of compassion, friendship, and helping despite difference.

“The bright cartoon illustrations, appearing in small vignettes as well as single- and double-page spreads and on the endpapers, flesh out the story with imaginative, often hilarious details. … Fun-filled, delightful, and inventive. ” —Kirkus Reviews (U.S.)

The Author-illustrator

Maria Kristjansdottir recently graduated with an MA in Children’s Book Illustration from the Cambridge School of Art. Growing up in Iceland, she enjoyed being active, spending summers running wild, and making up stories at her grandparent’s house in the countryside on the west coast of Iceland. She also used every opportunity to doodle and draw on anything she could find. Illustrating and making children’s books is a terrific way of combining her need to draw and her love of making stories.

Fountas & Pinnell Guided Reading Levels

Guided Reading Level: K

Grade Level Equivalent: 2

Educational Descriptions

Picture book, Story elements: setting: remote island in the north, plot and character development, main character, Young boy and a Polar Bear, problem and solution, humorous tone, Illustrations enhance meaning and tone, Comprehension strategies: Predicting outcomes, sequence events, identify cause and effect relationships, & changes from beginning to end of the story. Themes: friendship, problem solving strategies.

Interest Age: 4 to 7 years

Reading Age: 7 to 8 years

RRP: $14.99

ISBN: 978-1-76036-124-2

Format: Paperback

Juvenile Fiction / Social Themes / Strangers

World rights available, except for Australia, Canada, China, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK and the US.