|
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A WHITE BEAR IN A WIDE , WIDE (NON-WHITE) WORLD, December 13, 2000
.Is there anything more adorable than a little white bear? Our little friend in this book is called Lars and lives at the North Pole. One night the patch of ice, on which he sleeps, breaks away and he starts drifting south on the ocean. Luckily Lars finds a barrel on which to float and after a long time he finds himself on a tropical beach. In this new land everything is green when compared to the whiteness of the North Pole. Lars meets Henry the hippo and they soon become good friends. Despite the wonders of this new land Lars becomes homesick and wants to find his way back home. Henry suggests Marcus the eagle could help since he has travelled all over the world. Marcus arranges for Samson the whale to take Lars back to the North Pole. Riding on Samson's back across the oceans Lars eventually is reunited with his father, who is so pleased to see Lars, he catches Samson a nice big fish. This is a delightful story and is universally acclaimed as a Classic having been published in many languages. The Swiss author Hans De Beer has done both the story and the superb illustrations. The English translation is by Rosemary Lanning. The clarity and crisp attractive style of this book perhaps reflects its Swiss origins. There is a subtle message to the young readers of this book. The contrast between the all white world of the North Pole and the colorful Tropics could not be stronger. It will give children an awareness and appreciation of the diversities we experience when we travel. .
|