5 Wild Picture Books Starring Polar Bears!

Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? My First Reader, by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle 
Welcome to the zoo, in another edition of this delightful first reader series. “Polar Bear, Polar Bear, what do you hear? I hear a lion roaring in my ear.” From these opening lines, we get to meet a wide array of animals, from lions to flamingos to boa constrictors! Bright and bold illustrations from Eric Carle help to make this book a visual treat as well. And if you want to check out another type of bear try Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

Polar Bear, by Dee Phillips
This nonfiction book is a great way to learn more about polar bears in the wild. It’s packed with fascinating facts and full-color photographs that will get your young reader up close and personal with these fascinating bears! Find out how polar bears stay warm, how they learn to swim, and how old they are when they leave home and set out on their own adventures.

Cub’s Big World, by Sarah L. Thomson and Joe Cepeda 
Cub’s Big World is the story of a mother bear and her cub as the cub starts to explore the “big, big, big” world. Cub loses sight of mom for a few pages (mistaking her for a seal, hawk, and an ermine), but by the end is back in her loving paws. The illustrations, filled with icy blues and whites, will sweep you into the story, and make you happy to be reading in a warm cozy place.

Little Polar Bear, by Hans de Beer
This sweet book by Dutch author Hans de Beer tells the tale of an adorable little polar bear named Lars. One night when Lars is sleeping, the ice beneath him cracks and he gets separated from his father. This sets him off on an adventure to a tropical island where he meets a  hippo named Henry and other jungle creatures. Luckily with the help of a gray whale, Lars is able to be reunited with his dad back in the icy waters where he belongs. If you like this story, there are many other adventures for Lars like Little Polar Bear and the Big Balloon.

Polar Bear, Arctic Hare: Poems of the Frozen North By Eileen Spinelli and Eugenie Fernandes
This picture book is a wonderful way to introduce poetry to your young reader. There are lots of lovely poems ranging from the arctic sun to the musk-ox to the peregrine falcon. I may be biased, but I think the polar bear poem steals the show! “Polar bear mama moves with grace /to find a sheltered winter place…”