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Ice Bear and Little Fox
Following the critically acclaimed Red Wolf Country, Jonathan London and Daniel San Souci team up again for another action-packed nature tale. Readers can share the adventures of a young polar bear during the most danger-filled period of his life—his first year away from his mother. And almost everywhere Ice Bear goes, an alert little companion follows, keeping guard over his mammoth friend by warning him when trouble is near. In a brilliant blue palette, San Souci's watercolors exquisitely render the striking, panoramic landscapes of the northern tundra. Young readers will enjoy the unlikely friendship between creatures big and small, while adult readers can appreciate both author's and illustrator's care for authenticity of detail. A must-have tour de force for nature lovers of any age.
Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
About the author
Jonathan London
195 books202 followersJonathan London is the author of several celebrated children's books. His commitment to honoring the wonders of the natural world has been lauded by readers and critics alike. He is the author of more than 70 children's books, many of which are about nature. He's also the author of the popular Froggy series. He lives in Graton, California with his wife and two sons.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 26, 2022
I have to admit that Ice Bear and Little Fox most definitely is an Arctic wildlife themed picture book which I personally and as an adult reader do tend to find rather problematic with regard to a few textual places and thus certainly leaving me very much conflicted about what kind of a star rating to consider (and I have indeed decided on three stars because of the very much high quality illustrations, but that textually, for me, and in my humble opinion Ice Bear and Little Fox should in fact be only two stars).
And Daniel San Souci in Ice Bear and Little Fox does really and wonderfully provide absolutely aesthetically spectacular and stunning accompanying artwork to and for Jonathan London's presented text, with a delightful visual celebration of Arctic geography and Arctic wildlife (and in particular of course Polar Bears and Arctic Foxes, although there are in fact many types of wildlife both terrestrial and aquatic being depicted within the pages of Ice Bear and Little Fox). And I also very much appreciate that even though Daniel San Souci shows for example an illustration of an Arctic Fox scavenging the remains of a Polar Bear kill, San Souci fortunately also does not depict this in too graphic a manner, thus not making his featured pictures for Ice Bear and Little Fox too visually problematic and too in your face to and for more sensitive children, to and for more easily grossed out and visually sickened readers or listeners.
However, and yes indeed, as much as Daniel San Souci's artwork for Ice Bear and Little Fox has been very much a solid five star rating for me, I cannot and will not say the same with regard to Jonathan London's writing, with regard to his presented narrative.
For one and first and foremost, although the story featured in Ice Bear and Little Fox is obviously fictional, Jonathan London also clearly is trying to show bona fide and realistic Arctic Fox and Polar Bear behaviours. And well, while it is indeed true, that many Arctic Foxes do follow Polar Bears around to scavenge the remains of in particular the seals Polar Bears hunt and kill, that whole scenario in Ice Bear and Little Fox of the little Arctic Fox being described by Jonathan London as barking a warning to the Polar Bear hunting at sea that an Orca is stalking him, to and for me this is totally ridiculously unbelievable even in a fictional account (as Polar Bears in fact will often hunt and eat Arctic Foxes and thus an Arctic Fox following a Polar Bear to scavenge will always have to be careful not to become prey and will thus also not form some sort of a hunting alliance with a Polar Bear). For two, I also have my issues with that one part of Ice Bear and Little Fox where Jonathan London textually describes how during the Arctic summer, the Polar Bear is massively and mostly feasting on berries and other types of Arctic vegetation. For indeed, this really cannot be true, as while Polar Bears do sometimes munch on a few Arctic berries as a quick snack, unlike Grizzly and Black Bears, Polar Bears are in fact not omnivores but pretty much strict carnivores, so the juxtaposition Jonathan London shows in Ice Bear and Little Fox of the Polar Bear eating large amounts of berries in the summer while the Arctic Fox is busy hunting lemmings and such, it just is much too fantastical and too not according to actual Polar Bear behaviour and physiology.
And finally, even though I do appreciate how in Ice bear and Little Fox Jonathan London incorporates a lot of Inuit words into the text proper, sorry, but I do find it rather annoyingly unacceptable that in a 1998 picture book set in the Arctic, in his author's note, Jonathan London still at times makes use of the now politically incorrect word Eskimo instead of Inuit (for by 1998, Eskimo was definitely being considered as culturally insensitive and not to be used anymore to describe the people of the high Arctic and that Jonathan London still uses Eskimo, this is for me rather infuriating).
And Daniel San Souci in Ice Bear and Little Fox does really and wonderfully provide absolutely aesthetically spectacular and stunning accompanying artwork to and for Jonathan London's presented text, with a delightful visual celebration of Arctic geography and Arctic wildlife (and in particular of course Polar Bears and Arctic Foxes, although there are in fact many types of wildlife both terrestrial and aquatic being depicted within the pages of Ice Bear and Little Fox). And I also very much appreciate that even though Daniel San Souci shows for example an illustration of an Arctic Fox scavenging the remains of a Polar Bear kill, San Souci fortunately also does not depict this in too graphic a manner, thus not making his featured pictures for Ice Bear and Little Fox too visually problematic and too in your face to and for more sensitive children, to and for more easily grossed out and visually sickened readers or listeners.
However, and yes indeed, as much as Daniel San Souci's artwork for Ice Bear and Little Fox has been very much a solid five star rating for me, I cannot and will not say the same with regard to Jonathan London's writing, with regard to his presented narrative.
For one and first and foremost, although the story featured in Ice Bear and Little Fox is obviously fictional, Jonathan London also clearly is trying to show bona fide and realistic Arctic Fox and Polar Bear behaviours. And well, while it is indeed true, that many Arctic Foxes do follow Polar Bears around to scavenge the remains of in particular the seals Polar Bears hunt and kill, that whole scenario in Ice Bear and Little Fox of the little Arctic Fox being described by Jonathan London as barking a warning to the Polar Bear hunting at sea that an Orca is stalking him, to and for me this is totally ridiculously unbelievable even in a fictional account (as Polar Bears in fact will often hunt and eat Arctic Foxes and thus an Arctic Fox following a Polar Bear to scavenge will always have to be careful not to become prey and will thus also not form some sort of a hunting alliance with a Polar Bear). For two, I also have my issues with that one part of Ice Bear and Little Fox where Jonathan London textually describes how during the Arctic summer, the Polar Bear is massively and mostly feasting on berries and other types of Arctic vegetation. For indeed, this really cannot be true, as while Polar Bears do sometimes munch on a few Arctic berries as a quick snack, unlike Grizzly and Black Bears, Polar Bears are in fact not omnivores but pretty much strict carnivores, so the juxtaposition Jonathan London shows in Ice Bear and Little Fox of the Polar Bear eating large amounts of berries in the summer while the Arctic Fox is busy hunting lemmings and such, it just is much too fantastical and too not according to actual Polar Bear behaviour and physiology.
And finally, even though I do appreciate how in Ice bear and Little Fox Jonathan London incorporates a lot of Inuit words into the text proper, sorry, but I do find it rather annoyingly unacceptable that in a 1998 picture book set in the Arctic, in his author's note, Jonathan London still at times makes use of the now politically incorrect word Eskimo instead of Inuit (for by 1998, Eskimo was definitely being considered as culturally insensitive and not to be used anymore to describe the people of the high Arctic and that Jonathan London still uses Eskimo, this is for me rather infuriating).
December 29, 2018
Though a fictionalized story, London's tale is based on fact, and explores the symbiotic relationship between a polar bear and an Arctic fox as they journey together through a year. The story is realistic, and the animals are not cutesy. And, no, they don't talk. The fact that the bear eats seals is covered, though not graphically. The author even delves into instances where the bear can become prey as well. (It's a killer whale-eat-bear world, folks.) Luckily, things end well for this unlikely duo. Daniel San Souci's artwork is simply stunning.
Highly recommended for older children interested in learning more about nature.
Highly recommended for older children interested in learning more about nature.
June 15, 2018
Spreading appreciation for animals of the arctic, Jonathan London weaves a believable story about the symbiotic relationship between a polar bear and an arctic fox.
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January 16, 2022listen i have one (1) student who is 200% obsessed with arctic foxes so i'm just trying to find any and every resource out there.
February 11, 2024
London Odyssey #81
Another London nature book and another tale weaved around actual animal behaviour.
Another London nature book and another tale weaved around actual animal behaviour.
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November 9, 2012Grade: 2-3
Topic: the Arctic - ecosystem, living organisms, survival instincts, etc.
This would be a good Science book to talk about an Arctic ecosystem. Through this story that follows a polar bear and an Arctic fox students can see how the animals of the Arctic survive/live and interact with each other. The illustrations in the book also show what the environment looks like and how it changes during the year.
Topic: the Arctic - ecosystem, living organisms, survival instincts, etc.
This would be a good Science book to talk about an Arctic ecosystem. Through this story that follows a polar bear and an Arctic fox students can see how the animals of the Arctic survive/live and interact with each other. The illustrations in the book also show what the environment looks like and how it changes during the year.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews