Red Knit Cap Girl to the Rescue

PreS-Gr 1—A lushly illustrated story of a little girl's fantastical journey to rescue a stranded polar bear. While Red Knit Cap Girl and her forest friends are immersed in crafting imaginary playthings out of newsprint, she and White Bunny peer through their telescopes, spotting a distress signal out at sea. They fashion a paper hang glider to rescue a baby polar bear. Perched atop a tree branch, the friends seek advice from the Moon, and then Red Knit Cap Girl, her trusty bunny, and the homesick polar bear set sail for the Arctic. Along the way they are guided by an owl, a pair of orcas, and the aurora borealis before finally arriving at a "land made of snow and ice." Polar Bear Cub is reunited with a very happy Mama and they both bid the rescuers good-bye. The story is printed on uncoated paper, and the heavy pages, coupled with the paint-on-plywood technique, give it both movement and gravity from the very first spread. The novelty of this tale lies in the stunning illustrations and the character's imaginative use of origami as a vehicle for adventure. Parents and children alike will want to share Stoop's gentle adventure just before sailing off into a richly colored dream world of their own.—Jenna Boles, Greene County Public Library, OH