Panda and Polar Bear

by Matthew Baek (Illustrator)

A little polar bear wonders what's beyond his wintry world and when he falls over the edge of an ice cliff, he finds out! He's soon befriended by a panda who mistakes the mud-covered polar bear for one of his own. The two become quick pals. But what happens when the polar bear's muddy splotches wash off? Will the two bears stay friends? From the much lauded author of Be Gentle with the Dog, Dear! comes a clever take on a timeless theme. With plenty of heart and humor plus a gratifying surprise ending?kids are sure to flip back to the beginning for more.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Friendship, Storytime, Childrens, Fiction, 1st Grade

32 pages, Hardcover

First published June 11, 2009

Reviews

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes you just have to put yourself out there and discover what is over yonder. Not only will you find new worlds to explore, but new friendships as well. Cute book for imparting to a younger audience that although we may look different, we're all the same on the inside.

[Shiloah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story. Very creative.

[Ariana · Rating 4 out of 5]

One day a small polar bear falls from his snowy cliff into a patch of mud and ends up looking like a panda. A small panda finds the polar bear and confuses him for a panda. They become fast friends in spite of their differences and learn from each other. Eventually, they make a bamboo ladder so the polar bear can go back home, and in the end they decide to spend time together in both worlds as they are neighbors in a zoo. The illustrations are made in lovely watercolours. The division between the two worlds is made not by hard lines or strong frames but by using two main palettes of colours are used: blues and whites for the polar bear habitat, and greens and browns for panda’s. To increase the idea of how similar two different people can be, both bears are the same size and completely identical except for their distinctive colours. This book could be used to talk about different people can still be friends and learn from each other. It can also be used to discuss multicultural differences and how there can be a middle ground and how space can be shared as we are not so different after all.

[Claire Rozint · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a sweet heartwarming book about the differences and between panda bears and polar bears. It is a sweet book about differences and friendship. The pictures were executed beautifully and the text was large and easy to read.

[Amanda Kearney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary: Panda and Polar Bear were about to different bears that lived in two different climates. In the book, there was a large cliff that separated the two different bears. There was snow up with the polar bears and grass with the pandas. One day, a curious polar bear got close to the edge and fell. Luckily, the polar bear landed in soft mud. The mud made the plain white polar bear look like a panda. He met a panda that showed the polar bear around. Then when they went into the water, the panda found out that he was actually playing with a polar bear. The polar bear was afraid that the panda was not going to want to be friends anymore because he was just plain white. However, this wasn't the case at all. The panda took interest in the polar bear because the panda had never seen snow before. Then the polar bear started to get homesick. So the two bears built a ladder for the polar bear to get home. The polar bear climbed up the ladder and went home, but the two still remained friends.

My thoughts: I thought that this book was adorable. It would be great to read to a kindergarten class. It did not take long to read at all and the illustrations were really cute. I thought that the storyline was also good and easy to follow. It taught a good lesson that even though the two bears weren't the same, they could still be great friends. It also showed how friends help each other out when they are in need. The panda helped the polar bear get home because he was homesick. This was one of my favorite children books I have read in a while and I will for sure keep it in my classroom when I become a teacher.

How I would use this in my classroom: I would for sure read this allowed to young students. I could use this in my classroom when talking about different animals and what climates they live in. Polar bears have to live in very cold climates and they like snow, but Panda bears live in warmer climates. From this book, the students could also make a text-to-self connection about when they were homesick when they were away from home like the polar bear. Or make a connection to a time where they helped out a friend that was in need like the Panda did. I would also recommend my students to read this book on their own. It has some very valuable lessons that students can learn.

[Dannaca · Rating 5 out of 5]

We read this for our Polar Bear story time. This would also be an excellent choice for friendship themed story times or for diversity story times. Polar Bear and Panda Bear live entirely separate lives, one at the top of a cliff and one at the bottom...until Polar Bear's curiosity leads him into a long tumble down! Due to some muddy splotches, he's mistaken for a fellow Panda Bear and makes a new friend, who helps him returns home when he gets lonely.

[Sabrina Morrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a sweet story about an unlikely friendship between two bears. My niece and nephew loved this story, and so did I. The art is adorable and the story just as much. This is great way to teach about different kinds of animals, as well as teamwork, friendship, and embracing and celebrating differences. The ending is great!

[Karen GoatKeeper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unlikely as it seems, the Arctic abuts the bamboo forest with a steep cliff separating them. A curious polar bear cub falls down into the forest and meets a panda bear cub. At first the polar bear has muddy splotches making him look like a panda. After the mud washes off, the two friends must find a way to remain friends.

[Megan Barry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent picture book. It is descriptive and the reader can feel what the characters are feeling. The story includes topics of problem solving and making friends. Lots of good response activities could come from this book.

[Savannah Webster · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet story about an unlikely friendship. It's predictable and a bit unrealistic but the kids enjoyed reading it! Could be a great book to discuss similarities and differences and compromising among friends.

[Jennifer Zaragoza · Rating 5 out of 5]

SO SO SO CUTE! This book talks about friendship and getting along beside the differences. It also is a bit informational on what these different species of bears eat and their habitats. I think this would be a great book to incorporate into a lesson plan and have in a classroom library!

[Tracy Schillemore · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cute book about friendship, accepting your differences and working together.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

These two are from two different worlds yet so close together. Beautiful illustrations throughout!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet story about friendship and embracing differences. A nice group read aloud with a little twist at the end. (Be sure to check out the illustrations).

[Manya Glavach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet story about an unexpected friendship despite differences. Cute ending

[Rebekah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This was really cute

[Libby Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute story about two bears coming together from different cultures. The author based this on his experience as an immigrant child.

Highly recommended for 3-6

[skcocnaH · Rating 2 out of 5]

So… they’re in captivity ☹️

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet

[R. L. Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like Country Mouse and City Mouse, I think you'll love this cute story with an "unexpected" plot twist ;)

[Hannah Scego · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet story about unlikely friends. The last page fixes any geographical concerns about the story.

[Merri Platt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about two little bears. There is a panda bear who lives in a forest full of bamboo, water and lakes. He lives with him Mom and Dad and spends the day spending time with them and enjoying the forest. There is a polar bear who lives with his Mom and Dad in a cold, icy, wet and hard place. He loves where he lives and spends the day playing in the snow and catching fish to feed him and his parents. One day, the polar bear decides that he is bored and realizes that he wants to explore the area beyond his icy home. He goes to the end of his world and falls off the side of where they live. She lands in a green and wet place. He is very scared and decides that he needs to go home but he lives in the ledge way up in the sky. He hears a noise behind him and there is a black and white bear. They decide to play and they enjoy playing with each other but before long, the polar bear wants to go home. He shows the panda where he lives and they decide to build a ladder so the polar bear could go home. As the polar bear starts to climb, the ladder gets rickety but the panda bear holds it steady. He is so excited to be back with his parents but he will miss his friend. He looks behind him and his friend climbed the ladder and is now with him. They decide that since they have a ladder, they can see each other all the time. On the very last page, you realize that they live in a Zoo.
I really enjoyed this book and I think every child would enjoy reading it. The dialogue and text is very easy to read and I love the twist at the end where the bears actually live in a bear habitat in the zoo. I like that they found each other so that they each have a friend and the bear parents let them play and enjoy themselves. I also liked the illustrations. They were very clear and crisp. They were also very colorful and really adds to the story. It followed the story very closely so it just added to the entire book. I really do think that every child should read this story. I know they would enjoy it!

[Alyse Erickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

One day a small polar bear falls from his snowy cliff into a patch of mud and ends up looking like a panda. A small panda finds the polar bear and confuses him for a panda. They become fast friends in spite of their differences and learn from each other. Eventually, they make a bamboo ladder so the polar bear can go back home, and in the end they decide to spend time together in both worlds as they are neighbors in a zoo. The illustrations are made in lovely watercolors. This book shows diversity and how the two different bears can still be friends. It also shows problem solving to help others overcome an obstacle. I appreciated the story more because it was based on the author's own experiences as an immigrant. By examining the watercolor pictures, young readers and pre-readers can make predictions and actively participate in describing the unfolding of events. After readers learn the twist, they'll want to re-read to observe it from the beginning. I liked the simplicity of a panda and a polar bear meeting and how they would play together. The only negative was the last page was a little disappointing for me.

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story about a polar bear and a panda bear becoming friends, despite their differences. The book explains a little about their different habitats, different looks, and different eating habits. It shows children than no matter how different you are from someone else, you can still be friends. In the end, the bears work together to build a ladder out of bamboo to help polar bear get home to his family.
You can use this book in the classroom to teach about differences and friendships. You students could use watercolors to recreate their favorite scene from the book. They could also come up with their own story about the polar bear and panda bear becoming friends. While reading the story, you could ask them to use the illustrations to make predictions about what will happen next, or how they think it will end.
Overall, a great story with a great lesson about diversity and friendship!

[Natalia Lindquist]

Panda and Polar Bear is a book about the relationship of two very different bears who befriend each other. Polar bear accidentally falls into the mud, wipes his eyes, and instantly looked like a panda. When he encounters a real panda bear, they become friends. After time, polar bear gets home sick and shows panda who he really is. Polar bear thought panda would be upset but instead, panda helps make a bamboo later so polar bear can get home. I really enjoyed this book because it shows that even if you are different from your friends, it is important to have each other’s back no matter what. I think this would be a good ELL book because it shows that just because you look different from another person, does not mean you cannot be friends and build a connection with them.
Baek, M. (2009). Panda & Polar Bear. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers.

[Cara · Rating 5 out of 5]

A curious baby polar bear slides down a cliff into the mud and meets a splotchy bear that he's never seen before: a panda! They become fast friends and play together, but when they get hungry and the polar bear sees that the panda bear eats bamboo, he's catches a fish because he likes that much better. The Panda notices that the polar bear is 'fading' because the water washed off the mud. The polar bear tells the panda what he home is like and is suddenly homesick so the panda comes up with the idea to make a bamboo ladder to get the little polar bear back home.
In the end we realize this is at a zoo where they can continue to play and be friends now that they have a ladder to get between the two enclosures. At the end, they're both enjoying sliding in the snow.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a clever story about two bears who live next to each other in a zoo. A polar bear cub falls from his frozen tundra into the wet, rich exhibit of a panda bear. The polar bear's white fur is muddied in just the right places, and the resident panda cub mistakes him for another panda. The two pal around together until the polar bear's muddy patches wear off, and by then the bear cubs have become good friends.

The story was clever and adorable and much more creative than I imagined it would be when my 2-year-old first showed it to me at the library. And the water color illustrations are just as lovely as the story itself.

[jacky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to pass a half an hour waiting for my work at Staples to be ready, so I read children's books at Mr. Paperback looking for a special birth day book for Natalie.

This was my favorite book I read today. Due to the Snuffle bears in our family, I love anything with cute little bears. The illustrations really helped to enhance the cute story for me. I liked the simplicity of a panda and a polar bear meeting and how they would play together. The only negative was the last page was a little disappointing for me.

[Karen! · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable book with lovely illustrations. I have to admit, about halfway through I had a bit of a freak attack. "No wonder the world is going to shit," I thought "No wonder people do not know anything about World Geography. This book is the root of the problem."

You see, a baby Panda bear and a baby Polar bear become besties when the polar bear plops into the Panda bear's bamboo field. And then they climb a ladder into the north pole. Insert my freak out here. And then I was proven wrong. They were in a zoo.

[Bridget R. Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Panda lives where its sunny and warm. Polar bear lives where it’s cold and snowy. The difference in their climates prevents them from meeting. But one day, Polar bear gets curious. He leaves his snowy world and makes a new friend.

What I thought: What a neat idea. I’d never thought about zoo animals wanting to visit one another. I love Baek’s illustrations. They are soft colored and just right for the story.