The Polar Bear and the Ballerina
Review posted November 19, 2025.
Holiday House, 2025. 40 pages.
Review written November 12, 2025, from a library book.
Starred Review
Wordless picture books are hit or miss with me, because it's not always clear what's actually happening. And they're not easy to use in story time. But this one is a grand slam.
The book opens with a group from Harlem Children's Ballet at the zoo, taking photos in front of the polar bear's tank. They pose as the giant polar bear swims behind them. One girl has a long red scarf streaming out behind her.
After the other kids move on, the polar bear and red scarf girl have a moment through the glass. She lingers, but has to head to the performance. She doesn't notice that she has left her red scarf trailing on the floor behind her.
The polar bear notices, though! In a double-page spread with extra panels, we see the bear climb over the fence lining his enclosure and go around to the entrance of the park to go in and get the scarf. He puts on the scarf and makes his way uptown.
There's a sign on the ticket booth: SOLD OUT! NO POLAR BEARS ALLOWED!
But the girl hears his growl in response and comes running. She gets her scarf from him and brings him to a seat in the auditorium.
And then the girl dances, with a photo of the bear behind her. He is enraptured.
Afterward, he gets to take the scarf back home with him, and he dreams about his new friend.
And it's all done so beautifully. The graceful lines of the dancers and the sheer size of the bear stand out. My favorite is the page of the bear stealthily getting out of his cage. Or no, wait - it's probably the spread of the girl gracefully dancing.
There are facts about polar bears at the front and facts about the ballerina at the back. This picture book left me smiling.