Review Detail

THIS IS NOT A POLAR BEAR is a cute and silly picture book. The book presents the reader with a polar bear, insisting instead it is things like a roller bear (on roller skates), a wriggle bear (getting into a sweater), or a jiggle bear (sitting on a pile of jello).

What I loved: This is silly, rhyming fun. The story rolls off the tongue and sounds fantastic when read aloud. If not being read by a caregiver, the book includes a QR code to hear the audiobook, which is great for kids who enjoy exploring on their own. The rhymes are great, and there is plenty of humor throughout with all the different labels for this best friend/polar bear. Ultimately a sweet story of friendship, this delivers on humor and love.

The illustrations are really fantastic throughout with great use of bright colors and touches of neon to really grab attention. The polar bear and child are both really expressive, and there are lots of details to make each image fun to visually explore. The text throughout is clear and easy to read with key color changes to keep it visible on shifting backgrounds.

Final verdict: THIS IS NOT A POLAR BEAR is silly, joyful picture book fun. Recommend for preschoolers and young elementary school readers who can understand the joke and appreciate the rhyming sounds.