Little Polar Bear and the Submarine

PreS-Gr 2—Lars returns in another Arctic adventure. This time he meets Freddy, a dachshund who is on a research submarine investigating the melting of the polar ice cap. When Lars learns that the men on the sub have rescued a pair of cubs, he volunteers to return them to their parents. There is tension and suspense when he must sneak them off the submarine: Freddy warns Lars that if he risks being seen, the scientists will want to rescue him, too. But returning Nina and Nonni becomes a harder task than Lars had imagined. With the help of an arctic fox, the three little polar bears find their way back to Lars's parents. Winter is setting in, and the lost cubs must wait until spring to go home. The watercolors are gorgeous, especially the landscapes. While white predominates, De Beer introduces color with the green ocean and many varied hues of the sky. Details on the submarine will keep tech-savvy kids engaged, and younger children will love the adorable cubs and dog. The one disappointment is that Nina and Nonni are not reunited with their parents. Purchase where this series is popular.—Elaine Lesh Morgan, formerly at Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR