Review of The Last Polar Bear
Posted: 22 Feb 2025, 08:26
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Last Polar Bear" by Marilee Joy Mayfield.]
The Last Polar Bear by Marilee Joy Mayfield provides children with insights about the Arctic region. Among other things, they will get to meet the polar bears featured in this story and learn about the impact of global warming on the sea ice. The story begins with Amka, a mother polar bear, preparing for the Arctic winter and unfolds with the birth of her cub, Tulok, and their attempt at hunting.
Mayfield has done a great job crafting a short read that entertains, educates and advocates. She introduces Amka, the mother polar bear, in a grand style and begins to walk readers through the reality of things in the Arctic region. It was incredibly fascinating following the mother polar bear as she searches for a perfect space to preserve herself from the harsh condition of the Arctic winter. The birth of her cub takes the already compelling narrative to another level.
The story offers children a great opportunity to learn a couple of things about the polar bears, like their adaptation features, their major source of food and their predators. Children will also learn about the Arctic winter, the weather changes that come with it and how those affect the lives of species in that region (in this case, the polar bears). There is a noble effort to remind us about the importance of sustainable living. We should be conscious of the impact of our actions on others. Can we afford the polar bears going extinct? We are called to reflect on our moral responsibility to protect natural heritage.
The illustrations are one of the best I have seen in a children's story. They perfectly reflected the theme and mood of each moment. For example, the landscape of the Arctic region and the warm moments between Amka and her cub are given their deserved visual representations. However, there is a scene where Tulok's mother's name is written as "Anka" instead of "Amka." This is the only thing I think needs to be fixed in this book. But this did not affect my rating for it.
I am giving The Last Polar Bear 5 out of 5 stars for the beautiful narrative about the polar bears and the important message it passes about sustainable living. This is a book every child should have on their reading device or shelf.
******
The Last Polar Bear
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
The Last Polar Bear by Marilee Joy Mayfield provides children with insights about the Arctic region. Among other things, they will get to meet the polar bears featured in this story and learn about the impact of global warming on the sea ice. The story begins with Amka, a mother polar bear, preparing for the Arctic winter and unfolds with the birth of her cub, Tulok, and their attempt at hunting.
Mayfield has done a great job crafting a short read that entertains, educates and advocates. She introduces Amka, the mother polar bear, in a grand style and begins to walk readers through the reality of things in the Arctic region. It was incredibly fascinating following the mother polar bear as she searches for a perfect space to preserve herself from the harsh condition of the Arctic winter. The birth of her cub takes the already compelling narrative to another level.
The story offers children a great opportunity to learn a couple of things about the polar bears, like their adaptation features, their major source of food and their predators. Children will also learn about the Arctic winter, the weather changes that come with it and how those affect the lives of species in that region (in this case, the polar bears). There is a noble effort to remind us about the importance of sustainable living. We should be conscious of the impact of our actions on others. Can we afford the polar bears going extinct? We are called to reflect on our moral responsibility to protect natural heritage.
The illustrations are one of the best I have seen in a children's story. They perfectly reflected the theme and mood of each moment. For example, the landscape of the Arctic region and the warm moments between Amka and her cub are given their deserved visual representations. However, there is a scene where Tulok's mother's name is written as "Anka" instead of "Amka." This is the only thing I think needs to be fixed in this book. But this did not affect my rating for it.
I am giving The Last Polar Bear 5 out of 5 stars for the beautiful narrative about the polar bears and the important message it passes about sustainable living. This is a book every child should have on their reading device or shelf.
******
The Last Polar Bear
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon