REVIEWS+

Polar Opposites

by Erik Brooks
32p. 978-0-76145-685-8.
COPY ISBN
K-Gr 1—Alex the polar bear and Zina the penguin live at opposite ends of the world but are best friends. In a succession of cartoon images, young readers can easily see the numerous ways the two are opposite: e.g., "Alex is BIG and Zina is small. Alex gets up late. Zina rises early. Alex is loud. Zina is quiet. Shhh...." Liking sour or sweet, messy or neat, their preferences may be dramatically different, but the two find ways to come together-by phone, mail, or a visit in the middle of the globe. There's no lack of motion and detail in full-page and (spilled-over) framed pencil, charcoal, and watercolor cartoon illustrations. Predictable, but a child-friendly way to explore friendships and differences in individuals, this book might provide an opportunity to introduce youngsters to geography or the actual habitats and activities of animals found at the poles.—Mary Elam, Learning Media Services Plano ISD, TX
Polar bear Alex and penguin Zina are opposites in many ways, from the realistic ("Alex lives in the Arctic. / Zina lives in the Antarctic") to the fanciful ("Alex gets up late. / Zina rises early"). Cartoony pencil, charcoal, and watercolor illustrations reinforce the concept's humor. It's a pleasant-enough story that doesn't add up to much.
Reviewed by Mary Elam , Oct 01, 2010

Be the first reader to comment.

Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.

RELATED 

More
ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?