Panda & Polar Bear

by Matthew J. Baek

Bears from different hemispheres connect when a young polar bear slides down a tall,... read more

Bears from different hemispheres connect when a young polar bear slides down a tall, slippery cliff and ends up face-down in the mud. As a result, he looks remarkably like the young panda whom he meets. The two climb trees and play hide-and-seek, but when the polar bear dives into the water to catch a fishy snack (panda’s bamboo holds no appeal), his mud markings are washed away. Afraid that his new friend will reject him, the polar bear is relieved to find the panda fascinated by the idea of snow. But soon the polar bear is homesick. The panda comes up with a clever solution: They’ll construct a ladder of bamboo so the polar bear can climb up to his home. A final two-page spread explains the reason for the impossible habitat scenario: The two bears live in neighboring enclosures at the zoo, and the ladder will provide a means for their accepting friendship to continue. (Ages 2–5)

© Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison, 2010

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