A fluffy, squeezable polar bear came to live at our house when my daughter was two and quickly became her favorite thing. This polar bear accompanied us to the grocery store, the library, all car rides and most walks for almost a year.
My daughter isn’t two anymore and as a great lover of animals she has acquired more stuffed animals than I can count, but you know what they say about first loves. That squeezable white bear has inspired a great love of polar bears.
Whether your child or class is in love with these great bears or not, they are fascinating animals. Below I have gathered our all time favorite books about polar bears and some fun activities to pair with them.
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14 Best Books about Polar Bears
Being a first love, we have read a TON of books about polar bears. These are our very favorites.
1. Panda and Polar Bear by Matthew J. Baek
Sweet little story about a panda bear and a polar bear that are separated from each other by a huge cliff. One day the curious polar bear peers over the cliff too far and fall into a mud puddle. The panda mistakes him for a panda and a friendship is formed. Not a super factual book in terms of the differences between the two species, but a sweet story about friendship and problem solving.
2. Where Bear? by Sophy Henn
A bear and boy happily coexist as friends and roommates until the bear starts to be a little less little. The boy realizes that the bear needs a new home, but where bear? After the woods, a cave, the zoo and a whole host of other spots get rejected, a Popsicle proves to be the perfect inspiration.
3. Polar Opposites by Erik Brooks
Alex, a polar bear and Zina, a penguin not only live on opposite sides of the world, but they are opposites in every sense of the world. One is messy. One is neat. One likes to get up early. One gets up late. Even the way they travel is different. However, despite their polar opposites Alex and Zina are best friends and in the end they can “ALWAYS meet in the middle!” This is such a sweet story about embracing differences that talks about opposites, oceans and artic animals, and friendship.
4. A Splendid Friend, Indeed by Suzanne Bloom
This is one of my daughter’s all time favorite books and a merry read aloud filled with expression. Bear wants to sit quietly. Goose wants to talk. Endlessly. A wonderful book about friendship.
5.Cub’s Big World by Sarah L. Thomson
Cub’s world is small. It was just him and his mom until one day his mom wanders out of the cave. Outside the world is big and bright and full of new things to see. This is such a touching story about the bond between a mother and her baby, about parenting, and about childhood. The perfect book for any mother who wants to reassure their baby that “The world is big. I’ll be close by till you’re big, too.” 2+
6.The Three Snow Bears by Jan Brett
Aloo-ki, an Inuit girl, meets a polar bear family in this charming version of Goldilocks and the three bears. This delight is full of excellent vocabulary words and Jan Brett’s warm illustrations. It is fun to read on it’s own, but also as part of a compare and contrast lesson with an original version of Goldilocks.
7. Polar Bear’s Underwear by Tupera Tupera
If your audience is the laugh out loud and ridiculous silliness kind then this is for you. Polar Bear has lost his underwear and he needs your help. Pure fun with a great ending.
8.Little Polar Bear series by Hans de Beer
There is a whole series of sweet books about Little Polar Bear. Each book is full of dreamy watercolor illustrations and gentle adventures with Little Polar Bear and his immense arctic home at the center. We own several and it’s impossible to choose a favorite.
9. Please Bring Balloons by Lindsay Ward
This book makes you feel like you’ve fallen into a dream. A little girl finds a note tucked on a polar bear on a carosel. It tells here to please bring balloons and when she does an adventure begins. The Polar Bear comes to life at night and together they drift away to the edge of the Arctic for a Polar Bear Rumpus. The imaginative tale, the characters that seem to float across the pages, and the whimsical illustrations all lend to the dreamlike sense.
10.Waluk by Emilio Ruiz
Waluk is a powerful story about the dangers of Global Warming, drilling, and humans that endanger these powerful and beautiful animals. Told through comic like graphics, the story of Waluk who gets lured by human trash, captured, and eventually rescued is stunning. Graphic books are becoming more common and my kids seriously love them. This is an adventure, a heartbreaking and heart hoping story that is sure to inspire questions, conversations, and hopefully change. 5+
11. Sea Bear: A Journey for Survival by Lindsay Moore
Achingly beautiful this shares the journey of a polar bear across seasons and ocean. It’s a journey to survive. It’s a rich depiction of climate change without ever mentioning those words. It draws you in and makes you hold your breath. Full of worry and hope. So well written and illustrated.
Also Read: Picture Books about Climate Change & Caring for the Environment
12. Mission: Polar Bear Rescue by Nancy F. Castaldo and Karen de Seve
We read many non-fiction books about Polar Bears, but this is hands down our favorite. It has National Geographic’s trademark stunning photography combined with great information about polar bears. The book also contains many activity/experiment ideas that have enhanced our learning.
13. A Polar Bear in the Snow by Mac Barnett
Mac Barnett always finds a creative way to consider any subject and this is no different. With an air of mystery and inventive illustrations this book follows a polar bear. Where is he going?
14. Polar Bears Past Bedtime + Polar Bears and the Arctic (Magic Tree House) by Mary Pope Osborne
If you haven’t read a Jack and Annie Magic Tree House book with your preschooler or early elementary schooler – now is the time. They are fun adventure stories full of positive messages about literacy, books, character, and history. My kids love them so I often search the extensive collection to see if one relates to their current interests. This one did not disappoint, nor did it’s companion book (many in the Magic Tree House have non-fiction companions). The companion book quickly became my daughter’s pre-bed reading of choice.
Polar Bear Story Time Ideas
Of the incredible books listed above, these are the ones I would most recommend for reading aloud to kids for a polar bear themed storytime.
- A Splendid Friend, Indeed by Suzanne Bloom
Find Online - Where Bear? by Sophy Henn
Find Online - Polar Opposites by Erik Brooks
Find Online
Polar Bear Songs & Rhymes
Purple Polar Bear from Cool Kid Tunes
Going on a Polar Bear Hunt from Mr. Mike TV
Polar Bear Dance from Anon
Read Also: Bear Story Time
Polar Bear Table Invitations
Polar Bear Size Sequencing and Other Printables from Gift of Curiosity
A Polar Bear of Circles and Other Printables from Every Star is Different
Polar Bear Paper Craft from Easy Peasy and Fun
Polar Bear Science Experiment from Preschool Powol Packets
Easy Polar Bear Bookmark Corner from Red Ted Art
9 Arctic Animal Activities from Gift of Curiosity
