The Polar Bear Son: An Inuit Tale [Paperback]

Lydia Dabcovich (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

A lonely old woman adopts, cares for, and raises a polar bear as if he were her own son, until jealous villagers threaten the bear's life, forcing him to leave his home and his "mother," in a retelling of a traditional Inuit folktale.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2. A whimsical tale in which an old Eskimo-Inuit woman adopts an orphan polar bear cub that provides food for her as it grows up. When the men of the village grow jealous of the animal's superior hunting ability and decide to kill it, she sends it away. For years afterward, she walks far out on the ice and meets the bear, who brings her salmon and seal. The story gives a picture of motherly love toward an "adopted child," one the woman will love always. "Little Bear," a selection in The Dancing Fox (Morrow, 1997), edited by John Bierhorst, is a similar tale, but the villains in that retelling are neighboring villagers who threaten to kill the bear since it is catching their food sources, and the woman and bear are never reunited. Thus, Polar Bear Son has a more satisfying ending. Illustrated in muted pastel colors, the pictures capture this stark, yet beautiful, winter world. The clothing styles are of Greenland Inuit but the landscape could be anywhere in the Arctic. The author gives explanations about the background and her research into Inuit tales. A heartwarming selection to fill requests for multicultural picture books and/or books on this region.?Mollie Bynum, formerly at Chester Valley Elementary School, Anchorage, AK
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"A whimsical tale in which an old Eskimo-Inuit woman adopts an orphan polar bear cub that provides food for her as it grows up. When the men of the village grow jealous of the animal's superior hunting ability and decide to kill it, she sends it away. . . . Illustrated in muted pastel colors, the pictures capture this stark, yet beautiful, winter world. The clothing styles are of Greenland Inuit but the landscape could be anywhere in the Arctic. The author gives explanations about the background and her research into Inuit tales. A heartwarming selection to fill requests for multicultural picture books and/or books on this region." School Library Journal

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Paperback: 40 pages
• Publisher: Sandpiper (March 29, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395975670
• ISBN-13: 978-0395975671
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 10.3 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #115,014 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #16 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Issues > Multiculturalism
  • #25 in Books > Children's Books > Social Situations > Multiculturalism
  • #31 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Multicultural Stories > Native North & South Americans

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars beautiful and touching, December 16, 2000

By 

california mom (Los Angeles CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Polar Bear Son: An Inuit Tale (Paperback)

This is a stunning book. The story is simple and universally appealing, dealing with themes of love, loyalty, and mothering that any young child/caregiver will identify with. The pictures are absolutely beautiful - they are simple, yet convey strong, and universal emotions. As I read the book the first time, I savored every page of evocative illustrations, and couldn't wait to start reading it again.This is an incredibly appealing book that , while rich in ethnic/local flavor, could appeal to anyone who experiences basic human emotions. I read the book over immediately, and will enjoy reading it over and over again.

A sure winner - buy it and read it and re-read it with your favorite child!

18 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sure to become a classic, December 19, 2000

By 

california mom (Los Angeles CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Polar Bear Son: An Inuit Tale (Paperback)

I rate childrens books on how much I enjoy reading them the 2nd, 12th, and 500th time. Based on this criteria, this book is a winner! The story is simple and universally appealing. It touches on the themes of the stupidity of violence and anger, and the transcendence of love and loyalty, and provided a good starting point for discussions about these themes with my 5 year old. The resolution of the story is very reassuring, even inspirational, so it also rates high in my comfort book collection (along with classics such as the Runaway Bunny, Goodnight Moon, I Love You This Much, and the Little Bear Books.)

What really makes this book a pleasure to come back to again and again is the illustrations. They are simple but suggestive, rich in emotion, and just plain beautiful. I pored over each picture for a long time, soaking in their atmosphere and emotions which are conveyed sweetly, gently, and strongly. The book gives one a flavor for this distinctive culture while being universally appealing.

Get a copy of this book and snuggle up with a favorite child!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars EXQUISITE!, October 26, 2008

By 

Elaine Campbell "Desert Dweller" (Rancho Mirage, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Polar Bear Son: An Inuit Tale (Paperback)

I am not a child. I did not read this book to a child. I am a senior citizen who thoroughly enjoyed, even loved, this delicate wonder of an Inuit tale retold with great and simple skill by Lydia Dabcovich. I am even more impressed with this talented author when I note that she also is the book's illustrator. The fascinating illustrations of a world unknown to many of us who live in warmer climes are in muted pastels, most effective in capturing a world of sea and ice.

The story is also very moving because it is about an old lady with no family who lives alone. Until she comes across a polar bear orphan, she struggles to survive and can only do so by at times having to accept food offerings from her fellow villagers. She herself lives on the village outskirts in a small hut.

I do not want to give away the contents of the story, so spoiling the surprise element, but I will state that the denouement is a happy one. So when threatening events are described from time to time, don't fret! All goes well.

I read this book on the heels of reading another wonderful tale for children and adult-children, "Lemon the Duck," also beautifully illustrated. When I finished that book, I felt that I would never find an equal in quality and true enjoyment. But I certainly have in this delightful, lovely rendition of a timeless tale.