Polar Bear Puzzle

by Amanda Lumry

Riley, Uncle Max, Aunt Martha, and Cousin Alice meet in northern Canada, where they study and help polar bears that are wandering through towns while waiting for Hudson Bay to freeze over again so that they can hunt for seals.

Genres: Picture Books, Adventure, Nonfiction

33 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Simone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author: Amanda Lumry and Laura Hurwtiz
Publisher and Date: Eaglemont Press, 2008

Summary: Riley takes a trip to Churchill with his Uncle Max, Aunt Martha, and cousins. Throughout the trip, Riley learns about the danger polar bears face due to warmer climates near the Hudson Bay. Riley also gets to tag a polar bear and learn how scientists are helping this endangered species.

Review: This is a fun adventure for students to read and learn about life in the Arctic. There are illustrations of the character mixed in with photographs of the wildlife and equipment scientists used. Almost every page has a specialist (scientist, professor, CEO of World Wildlife, etc.) that explains the meaning of vocabulary and characteristics of animals Riley comes across. I thought this was a creative way to add in information for children to learn while also enjoying a story. The last page is also filled with maps, a glossary, and further information on polar bears. This is one of the many informational books from the series, Adventures of Riley.

[Elnara Browers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary: Although this book is a fiction, the main idea is the climate change and its affect on the polar bears. Riley visits his uncle and aunt who are scientists in Canada. They have been concerned with polar bears running out of access to food due to the melting ice and scavenging in the villages, posing threat to themselves and to people.
Mentor writing trait: idea - climate warming and delay of the Hudson bay freezing. Fiction of Riley and his family researching the bears is organized around the information: the polar bears cannot hunt for food when the bay is not covered with ice and thus will look for food elsewhere, like in the towns. Presentation: some drawings but also photo illustrations from the region.
Book level:
Lower grades k-3, ATOS 5.0
Lexile: AD940L, ages 5-8.
Recommendation: science lesson about climate change, study of mammals, taking care of nature.

[B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good picture book with wonderful information on the polar bear
information
Proceeds support smithsonian, WWF and wildlife conservation Society

[Terry]

You can always count on Riley for a great adventure.