Sea Bear: A Journey for Survival
Written and Illustrated by Lindsay Moore
Published by Greenwillow Books, An Imprint of HarperCollins, 2019
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Sea Bear: A Journey for Survival gives readers a glimpse into the life of a solitary polar bear as she sleeps, stalks and swims in a changing Arctic environment.
reviews
★ “In poetic prose, a polar bear reveals her dependency on the cycle of Arctic seasons. The artwork is strikingly beautiful...The text also excels. Complementing its enchanting rhythym, the text includes some enjoyable alliteration...A subtle cry for environmental activism in an enticing package.” -Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
★ “Subtly demonstrates the impact of global warming on polar bears. . . .[Moore] combines layers of different blues to contrast with the white ice and the white bear, which smartly emphasizes the solitude of the creature and its predicament. . . .An artful and expressive take on the effects of global warming—and a timely addition to picture book nonfiction collections.” -School Library Journal (starred review)
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★ “Stunning. . .the rich colors and textures of the Arctic environment are so lifelike, they might even elicit shivering. . . .a spectacular trek through the Arctic with the magnificent polar bear and a stark reminder of the effects of climate change.” -Shelf Awareness (starred review)
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“The polar bear. . .has awareness and a voice, but it is not a human one. Dramatic, luminous art. . .presents vast expanses of sea and sky in shades of blue, gray, and white.” -ALA Booklist
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“In Moore’s blue-saturated illustrations, ice, sky, and sea dominate. . . . The text presents the voice of the bear in the first person, somber and serious . . . with refrains that capture the experiences of her species: “Polar bears are patient beasts, as patient as glaciers. We know how to hope and how to wait.” At the close of the book, the message takes on both a hopeful and urgent tone.” -The Horn Book
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"I mean, it’s not like it’s a race or anything but when it comes to using polar bears to hit home environmental messages, I think Sea Bear’s is probably the best we’ve seen so far." -Betsy Bird, School Library Journal
s.t.e.a.m. classroom activity
This project was created to encourage students to further explore the Arctic ecosystem described in the picture book, SeaBear: A Journey for Survival, through art and research. The purposes of this S.T.E.A.M. based mobile project are to learn about the Arctic, practice research skills, build scientific communication skills, use fine motor skills, and encourage science, ocean and climate literacy. The project can be completed in groups or by individuals and is easily modified to meet the needs of different classrooms. The complete instructions with a list of supplies and other resources has been made into a PDF for download below.
more resources
HarperKids From Home: Sea Bear Storytime Read Aloud
Greenwillow Books, An Imprint of HarperCollins Teacher's Guide PDF
purchase
Sea Bear: A Journey for Survival is available at your local independent book store or wherever books are sold. For signed copies, please contact Between the Covers in Harbor Springs, Michigan.
