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Young Waluk is all alone. His mother has abandoned him, as is the way of polar bears, and now he must fend for himself. But he doesn't know much about the world—and unfortunately, his Arctic world is changing quickly. The ice is melting, and food is hard to find.
Luckily, Waluk meets Manitok, a wise old bear with missing teeth and a bad sense of smell. Manitok knows many survival tricks, and he teaches Waluk about seals, foxes, changing seasons, and—when Manitok is caught in a trap—human beings. Has Waluk learned enough from his friend to find a way to save him?
Luckily, Waluk meets Manitok, a wise old bear with missing teeth and a bad sense of smell. Manitok knows many survival tricks, and he teaches Waluk about seals, foxes, changing seasons, and—when Manitok is caught in a trap—human beings. Has Waluk learned enough from his friend to find a way to save him?
52 pages, Library Binding
First published September 1, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
March 29, 2022
Novela gráfica cortita que nos narra la amistad de Waluk y Eskimo, dos osos polares, que se unen para sobrevivir. Uno jovencito abandonado por su madre, otro ya viejo y abandonado un poco a su suerte. Muy tierna y muy dulce, con un dibujo muy bonito. Quizás en el trasfondo podemos ver ligeros toques de critica social, especialmente hacia el ser humano.
August 22, 2021
Read again for my 365 Kids Book challenge. You can see all the books on their own shelf.
The science of global warming is spot on and the polar bear behavior and biology, and the bears are engaging. On the minus side, I'm not sure where it was supposed to be set (although maybe that doesn't matter*), and there isn't a single female character identifiable in the whole thing. Well, there's reference to Waluk's mother, but she's never shown. Maybe I should start giving all books the Bechdel test and failing where appropriate.
*The names of the bears and the legend seem to be rooted in a specific tradition, possibly even a specific language, but we're never told what that might be. I realize that humans are the antagonists, but if the names aren't just made up there should at least be an end note telling us where they came from, and how to pronounce them.
Library copy.
The science of global warming is spot on and the polar bear behavior and biology, and the bears are engaging. On the minus side, I'm not sure where it was supposed to be set (although maybe that doesn't matter*), and there isn't a single female character identifiable in the whole thing. Well, there's reference to Waluk's mother, but she's never shown. Maybe I should start giving all books the Bechdel test and failing where appropriate.
*The names of the bears and the legend seem to be rooted in a specific tradition, possibly even a specific language, but we're never told what that might be. I realize that humans are the antagonists, but if the names aren't just made up there should at least be an end note telling us where they came from, and how to pronounce them.
Library copy.
November 12, 2022
Buceando en la biblioteca digital, cosa que suelo hacer los fines de semana, me he encontrado esta maravilla en forma de aventura gráfica.
No sólo las ilustraciones son la bomba, la historia que cuenta es maravillosa, un oso polar es abandonado (seguro que la culpa la tiene algún humano) y tendrá que enfrentarse a todos los peligros y el hambre que conlleva vivir en una zona helada. Hasta que encuentra a un viejo oso que le hará compañía.
Me lo he bebido, literalmente. Me ha encantado, y quiero continuar con los otros, que no están en Alibrate. Nos habla de estos magníficos animales y del daño que hacemos a su territorio.
Lo recomiendo totalmente, a TODO el mundo (bueno, a algún cazador de focas, a lo mejor no).
No sólo las ilustraciones son la bomba, la historia que cuenta es maravillosa, un oso polar es abandonado (seguro que la culpa la tiene algún humano) y tendrá que enfrentarse a todos los peligros y el hambre que conlleva vivir en una zona helada. Hasta que encuentra a un viejo oso que le hará compañía.
Me lo he bebido, literalmente. Me ha encantado, y quiero continuar con los otros, que no están en Alibrate. Nos habla de estos magníficos animales y del daño que hacemos a su territorio.
Lo recomiendo totalmente, a TODO el mundo (bueno, a algún cazador de focas, a lo mejor no).
May 11, 2018
Qué monada de cómic : )
June 12, 2022
Beautiful and emotional!
February 6, 2021
And enjoyable and well-done animal slice-of-life story with environmental themes that would be a good jumping off point for kids (and adults) to learn more.
December 27, 2022
Ruiz is actually the author
August 16, 2013
Don't let the adorable protagonist fool you, this is not a book for a young child. This is a book for a kid who knows about polar bears, understands what they have to do to stay alive, and isn't too sentimental about it. My issue with this graphic novel is that it's stuck somewhere in between adorable and harsh reality without really finding a landing place.
That being said, I enjoyed this story of Waluk, the polar bear cub left to fend for himself in today's reality of dwindling resources. The story is a good one, with danger, humor, and a bit of a Native American flavor (which is only fitting, considering the setting). The art is gorgeous....funny, gory, menacing all in turns. There's a short lesson on the endangerment of polar bears at the end of the book.
That being said, I enjoyed this story of Waluk, the polar bear cub left to fend for himself in today's reality of dwindling resources. The story is a good one, with danger, humor, and a bit of a Native American flavor (which is only fitting, considering the setting). The art is gorgeous....funny, gory, menacing all in turns. There's a short lesson on the endangerment of polar bears at the end of the book.
February 14, 2021
This was a cute story and well drawn. I enjoyed seeing the polar bears and how they reacted to everything. It was like hearing a story that was told by my grandparents or uncles about bears in the village. It would be a good book for younger readers - not too scary or graphic and easy enough to follow. Definitely a good book to read if you want to learn about polar bears or life in the Arctic.
October 3, 2018
Te llega al corazón en las pocas páginas que tiene, y posee una grandes lecciones
September 11, 2017
This was an interesting book due to it is one of the only graphic books that I have come across that could be geared towards a younger audience. Unfortunately due to some of the graphic and gruesome elements that add to the story itself I would say it is better geared towards older elementary kids and/or early middle ages although the actual story itself may end up driving them away with its lack of realism and it's cutesy plotline.
One of its strengths and perhaps also one of its weaknesses is the fact that it is an informative book. Although this is a fictional story it does cover life habits of polar bears, hunting methods used, environmental issues along with human troubles and even legends of polar bears including how they were thought to have been formed by their mother's tongue & Nanook. This adds a realistic claim to the book although the realism is unfortunately lost when it takes into effect the parts that are definitely added just to make the story a story.
In trying to keep a realistic tone the author and illustrator go above and beyond to add some gruesome moments to the story. Some parts I could have dealt with but wiping out a whole new generation and reemphasizing the removal of females from the story with just the smallest of nods as to their needed roles wasn't something that say with me.
The graphics walked a fine balance for me. They were mostly cartoonist and silly since most bears don't have such an array of expressions. The backgrounds were good, though, and other animal characters kept their cute looks or as they normally appear to us. In the end the best were the scenes that included the Northern lights.
In the end it was a cute read that can help younger readers understand some of the dangers that are faced by today's polar bears although it needs to be read with a spoonful of sugar. Otherwise actual nonfiction books on these creatures would be the better introduction and a more reliable source for polar bear information.
One of its strengths and perhaps also one of its weaknesses is the fact that it is an informative book. Although this is a fictional story it does cover life habits of polar bears, hunting methods used, environmental issues along with human troubles and even legends of polar bears including how they were thought to have been formed by their mother's tongue & Nanook. This adds a realistic claim to the book although the realism is unfortunately lost when it takes into effect the parts that are definitely added just to make the story a story.
In trying to keep a realistic tone the author and illustrator go above and beyond to add some gruesome moments to the story. Some parts I could have dealt with but wiping out a whole new generation and reemphasizing the removal of females from the story with just the smallest of nods as to their needed roles wasn't something that say with me.
The graphics walked a fine balance for me. They were mostly cartoonist and silly since most bears don't have such an array of expressions. The backgrounds were good, though, and other animal characters kept their cute looks or as they normally appear to us. In the end the best were the scenes that included the Northern lights.
In the end it was a cute read that can help younger readers understand some of the dangers that are faced by today's polar bears although it needs to be read with a spoonful of sugar. Otherwise actual nonfiction books on these creatures would be the better introduction and a more reliable source for polar bear information.
August 18, 2017
Waluk is a polar bear cub on his own. After floundering a bit in his efforts to survive, he meets an old polar bear named Manitok. The two team up to find food and shelter in the unforgiving far north. Although the story is ultimately episodic, there is an ongoing theme of the pair of polar bears’ contact with humans. Three of the pages of back matter discuss conservation concerns and modern threats to polar bear habitats. This story was originally told in Spanish and published in Spain, and there are points in the story when the text feels stilted and awkward. The art, however, overcomes this weakness -- Miralles is a practiced graphic novel artist, and it shows. The bears are approachable and alive with movement, and the colors feel bright, even in the seemingly limited palette of the arctic. The creators impressively make a sad modern story interesting and accessible – this title will be a welcome addition to many library collections. \\pro review
No really, the illustrations are strikingly good.
No really, the illustrations are strikingly good.
February 18, 2025
¡Hola hola! 🤗
Hay una serie de novelas gráficas infantiles que siempre me han llamado la atención y cuyo primer tomo he podido acabarme hace unos días. Waluk, de Ana Miralles y de Emilio Ruiz.
🐻❄️🧊🐻❄️🧊🐻❄️🧊🐻❄️🧊🐻❄️🧊🐻❄️🧊🐻❄️🧊🐻❄️🧊
Waluk es la historia de este pequeño osezno de oso polar. Su mamá lo ha abandonado y su camino se cruza con la de un oso mayor y gruñón. Mientras los dos osos aprenden el uno del otro, su entorno y estilos de vida se ven guiados por la mano de la acción humana y sus consecuencias. ¿Podrá el dúo sobrevivir a lo que se avecina?
🐻❄️🧊🐻❄️🧊🐻❄️🧊🐻❄️🧊🐻❄️🧊🐻❄️🧊🐻❄️🧊🐻❄️🧊
Con un dibujo tierno y expresivo, la historia enseña a los más peques de la casa la importancia de cuidar del medio ambiente y valores como el de saber trabajar en equipo pese a las diferencias. La unión hace la fuerza. Y en Waluk, la fuerza y el valor son necesarios para sobrevivir, pero sobretodo, ser uno mismo❤️
Hay una serie de novelas gráficas infantiles que siempre me han llamado la atención y cuyo primer tomo he podido acabarme hace unos días. Waluk, de Ana Miralles y de Emilio Ruiz.
🐻❄️🧊🐻❄️🧊🐻❄️🧊🐻❄️🧊🐻❄️🧊🐻❄️🧊🐻❄️🧊🐻❄️🧊
Waluk es la historia de este pequeño osezno de oso polar. Su mamá lo ha abandonado y su camino se cruza con la de un oso mayor y gruñón. Mientras los dos osos aprenden el uno del otro, su entorno y estilos de vida se ven guiados por la mano de la acción humana y sus consecuencias. ¿Podrá el dúo sobrevivir a lo que se avecina?
🐻❄️🧊🐻❄️🧊🐻❄️🧊🐻❄️🧊🐻❄️🧊🐻❄️🧊🐻❄️🧊🐻❄️🧊
Con un dibujo tierno y expresivo, la historia enseña a los más peques de la casa la importancia de cuidar del medio ambiente y valores como el de saber trabajar en equipo pese a las diferencias. La unión hace la fuerza. Y en Waluk, la fuerza y el valor son necesarios para sobrevivir, pero sobretodo, ser uno mismo❤️
February 10, 2020
Une chouette découverte ! ^^
Dans cet ouvrage on suit Waluk, un ourson abandonné par sa mère : en quête de nourriture, il va se lier d'amitié avec un vieil ours nommé Esquimau, qui n'a peut-être plus toutes ses dents et un odorat qui laisse à désirer, mais qui connait beaucoup de choses, et est prêt à les enseigner.
Le duo va donc partir en chasse, en découvrant la malheureuse fonte des glaces mais également le comportement terrible de l'homme qui l'a provoqué.
Le sous-texte de cette BD est clairement une dénonciation écologique, ce qui est très bien fait. J'ai également bien aimé le regard que va porter Waluk sur la relation entre le chien et l'homme, car l'échange que les deux créature vont avoir est complètement applicable dans d'autres situations.
Bref, un premier tome sympa à lire ! ^^
Dans cet ouvrage on suit Waluk, un ourson abandonné par sa mère : en quête de nourriture, il va se lier d'amitié avec un vieil ours nommé Esquimau, qui n'a peut-être plus toutes ses dents et un odorat qui laisse à désirer, mais qui connait beaucoup de choses, et est prêt à les enseigner.
Le duo va donc partir en chasse, en découvrant la malheureuse fonte des glaces mais également le comportement terrible de l'homme qui l'a provoqué.
Le sous-texte de cette BD est clairement une dénonciation écologique, ce qui est très bien fait. J'ai également bien aimé le regard que va porter Waluk sur la relation entre le chien et l'homme, car l'échange que les deux créature vont avoir est complètement applicable dans d'autres situations.
Bref, un premier tome sympa à lire ! ^^
June 1, 2017
This caught my attention because I've always liked polar bears. It has nice art and a cut story, but ultimately feels a bit strange to me. Much of it is very fact based, even including an afterword telling about the current plight of polar bears, so it feels a bit out of place having all of the bears suddenly act in a very un-bear-like way, coordinating a rescue mission (unless that is based on a true event, but I think it would make that clear if it were so). And as a story, it has a kind of weak conclusion; it shoves in a sort of happy ending summary that says Waluk grows up to be an awesome polar bear, but we don't really see much of that growth; the most mature and remarkable thing he does in the story is organizing the other bears, but that is said to be a one-off event.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 1, 2022
Una historia corta, blandita, que sin muchas pretensiones te pone en situación del día a día en la vida de los osos polares. Waluk es abandonado por su madre al cumplir el año y debe aprender a vivir por si mismo. Se encontrará con un mundo donde las zonas de caza se han reducido, llegan autobuses con turistas, y a veces la única manera de encontrar sustento es acercarse a los vertederos humanos. Para sobrevivir se unirá a un viejo ojo con falta de dientes que le enseñará todo lo que sabe.
April 21, 2021
This one was about a polar bear cub abandoned by his mom and his experiences following that. It felt like it couldn't decide between wanting to tell an adorable story and portraying the harsh realities of dwindling polar bear numbers and climate change which hindered the reading experience a bit. But I feel like it's still a good book to read to get into this genre. I shed some tears.
3.8🌟
3.8🌟
February 26, 2024
It's hard to read this graphic novel dry-eyed. A young polar bear, Waluk, who, after his mother has taught what he needs to survive, is alone in the tundra of Alaska trying to practice feeding and hunting skills, meets an old bear, Manitok. The two form a deep friendship and call on each others' skills to survive. Interspersed in this poignant tale are many environmental and polar bear facts.
February 3, 2020
Editions Dargaud - Netgalley
February 22, 2020
Une très jolie bd sur l'entraide et la vie des ours polaires. Si le dessin reste un peu naïf, l'histoire plaît par ses rebondissements et les rencontres successives de Waluk, jeune orphelin curieux.
August 22, 2020
Not quite seamless but a lot of factual information included. Lovely art, though a bit same-y by nature (a lot of white).
May 3, 2021
HIstorieta simpática sobre la amistad entre un oso polar viejo y uno joven y sus aventuras para sobrevivir
July 2, 2021
Euskaraz irakurri dut.
Atsegin.
Atsegin.
December 30, 2021
I gave this book a 5 because it was sad but I liked it because it was polar bears and I love polar bears. This book was sad because Waluk's mom had abandoned him.
February 15, 2012
Este es uno de los cómics nacionales recomendados del año pasado. Dicho esto, una vez leído, a mi me ha dejado frío, por no decir ártico. Que estará muy bien tirarse el largo y todas estas cosas jipis de salón y ecohipsters de zara, pero que a mi como mero consumidor de historias e historietas, si le quitamos el asunto del ensalzar producto nacional porque si, me parece que se queda en muy poca cosa. Que será muy eco-fabula y muy eco-moderno esto de leer sobre osos polares, sobre papel que debe de salir del aire y no de los árboles muertos, pero yo que solo quería leer una historia, con cierta curiosidad por la insistencia de las recomendaciones, me he encontrado una tontada sin mas profundad que la quieren dar los que luego esconden el green lantern en la bolsa para que no se vea.
Historia de un oso polar joven abandonado por su madre, que crea un relación simbiótica con otro mas viejo y de la que ambos aprenden cosas. Por de pronto a poner a parir a los humanos, pero siendo unos osos nada osos, y si muy humanos, incluso asamblearios y combativos… en fin.. que será que no me interesan las fabulas y que estoy mal acostumbrado y cuando abro un tomo de animales no voy a encontrarme siempre a Blacksad enfrascado en la investigación de turno. 56 paginas en un incomodo apaisado, por unos excesivos 15€. Leer y olvidar. O para ponerse a leer en el bar gafapastoso de turno. Buen dibujo de Ana Miralles en una historia que ni va ni viene de Emilio Ruiz. Ni para niños, ni para mayores, solo para modernos en su versión ecojipi de salón. No me gusta nada esa incomoda sensación de que te han vendido una moto porque si, porque hay que venderla y es la sensación que tengo… mis 15€ no valen menos o duelen menos por comprar a autores de al lado de casa que si los gasto en autores a 15.000 Km…. por este precio tengo 2 “Walking Deads” y el resultado es infinitamente mas satisfactorio en el caso de gastar en Kirkman, Millar o Jan y Cels Piñol por no irme mas lejos. Vamos que no me gustado ni para regalar a un sobrino, si es que tuviera.
Historia de un oso polar joven abandonado por su madre, que crea un relación simbiótica con otro mas viejo y de la que ambos aprenden cosas. Por de pronto a poner a parir a los humanos, pero siendo unos osos nada osos, y si muy humanos, incluso asamblearios y combativos… en fin.. que será que no me interesan las fabulas y que estoy mal acostumbrado y cuando abro un tomo de animales no voy a encontrarme siempre a Blacksad enfrascado en la investigación de turno. 56 paginas en un incomodo apaisado, por unos excesivos 15€. Leer y olvidar. O para ponerse a leer en el bar gafapastoso de turno. Buen dibujo de Ana Miralles en una historia que ni va ni viene de Emilio Ruiz. Ni para niños, ni para mayores, solo para modernos en su versión ecojipi de salón. No me gusta nada esa incomoda sensación de que te han vendido una moto porque si, porque hay que venderla y es la sensación que tengo… mis 15€ no valen menos o duelen menos por comprar a autores de al lado de casa que si los gasto en autores a 15.000 Km…. por este precio tengo 2 “Walking Deads” y el resultado es infinitamente mas satisfactorio en el caso de gastar en Kirkman, Millar o Jan y Cels Piñol por no irme mas lejos. Vamos que no me gustado ni para regalar a un sobrino, si es que tuviera.
November 15, 2013
Waluk is the story of a young polar bear who is trying to maneuver a harsh world all alone. His mother has "abandoned" him, and he is left to find food for himself, fighting hunger for the first time in his life. Thankfully he meets an older polar bear, and together they forage for food, uncovering companionship and a sense of security in the meantime.
Things become complicated when Manitok and Waluk are separated - leaving Waluk alone once again, and having to make some very difficult decisions.
Emilio Ruiz and Ana Miralles collaborated beautifully on this graphic novel. This story dances back and forth between the harsh realities of polar bear life and the adorableness of a naive young bear. The images and scenes are very realistic (and at times gruesome) and impress upon the reader the severity of life in the Arctic. It is a touching book, too, however, and ultimately leaves readers with a sense of warmth inside. Miralles does a beautiful job drawing Waluk as an adorable, cartoonish bear, contrasted by the rest of the polar bears who are very real-to-life. I found this to be an ingenious way of drawing the reader into the harshness of the climate and the polar bears' lives, while simultaneously separating the reader from the harshness just enough to remember that the story is fictional.
I would recommend this for older elementary school and middle school readers, especially those who are interested in the Arctic, animals, the environment, or drawing/sequential art.
Things become complicated when Manitok and Waluk are separated - leaving Waluk alone once again, and having to make some very difficult decisions.
Emilio Ruiz and Ana Miralles collaborated beautifully on this graphic novel. This story dances back and forth between the harsh realities of polar bear life and the adorableness of a naive young bear. The images and scenes are very realistic (and at times gruesome) and impress upon the reader the severity of life in the Arctic. It is a touching book, too, however, and ultimately leaves readers with a sense of warmth inside. Miralles does a beautiful job drawing Waluk as an adorable, cartoonish bear, contrasted by the rest of the polar bears who are very real-to-life. I found this to be an ingenious way of drawing the reader into the harshness of the climate and the polar bears' lives, while simultaneously separating the reader from the harshness just enough to remember that the story is fictional.
I would recommend this for older elementary school and middle school readers, especially those who are interested in the Arctic, animals, the environment, or drawing/sequential art.
Read
March 26, 2012Wáluk, del conocido tándem formado por el guionista Emilio Ruiz y la dibujante Ana Miralles, es un cuento delicado de corte ecologista; una fábula ambientada en la tundra helada del Ártico con dos osos polares como protagonistas que interpretan dos arquetipos de la literatura universal: el aprendiz y su maestro.
Wáluk se ha quedado solo; su madre lo ha abandonado y está desesperado por encontrar comida. Tiene mucha hambre y no sabe cazar, ni tiene nadie que le enseñe, así que intenta alimentarse de huevos de pato. En esas está, cuando lo encuentra Esquimo, un oso viejo y gruñón que también vaga solo por el paisaje helado del Norte. Wáluk y Esquimo se convertirán en compañeros de viaje y aventuras. El osezno va creciendo y aprendiendo todo lo que el curtido Esquimo le va enseñando sobre la vida en las condiciones adversas en las que viven: cómo cazar focas, qué son los humanos y cómo defenderse, pero también cómo aprovecharse de ellos, dónde encontrar comida si la caza escasea…
Sigue leyendo en: http://www.eltemplodelasmilpuertas.co...
Wáluk se ha quedado solo; su madre lo ha abandonado y está desesperado por encontrar comida. Tiene mucha hambre y no sabe cazar, ni tiene nadie que le enseñe, así que intenta alimentarse de huevos de pato. En esas está, cuando lo encuentra Esquimo, un oso viejo y gruñón que también vaga solo por el paisaje helado del Norte. Wáluk y Esquimo se convertirán en compañeros de viaje y aventuras. El osezno va creciendo y aprendiendo todo lo que el curtido Esquimo le va enseñando sobre la vida en las condiciones adversas en las que viven: cómo cazar focas, qué son los humanos y cómo defenderse, pero también cómo aprovecharse de ellos, dónde encontrar comida si la caza escasea…
Sigue leyendo en: http://www.eltemplodelasmilpuertas.co...
May 24, 2014
My daughter loves graphic novels, and I'm always looking for new ones because she zooms through several a day when she's in a reading mood. This was a hit!
First, high credit for the two pages of outtake sketches at the end. She put a piece of plain paper over them and traced all the polar bear sketches for herself - immense satisfaction with the results. I've never seen another graphic novel with this type of sketch page, and it was a really nice addition.
She was inspired enough by this book to talk about it at dinner, and make connections - one of the panels (p. 33) has one of the bears following the scent of seal blubber into a giant pipe set up at the town dump. She pointed out that it was a trap, because the sign on the side said "Danger Bear Trap" - but she added, "Bears can't read, so he went in." I was really happy that she was connecting with the bears and seeing their point of view, rather than extrapolating that because she can read they can too. Nice.
Really beautiful artwork - complex watercolor shading - and the story is very good. Not too heavy handed on the save the Arctic - just the right balance between that issue and bear life.
First, high credit for the two pages of outtake sketches at the end. She put a piece of plain paper over them and traced all the polar bear sketches for herself - immense satisfaction with the results. I've never seen another graphic novel with this type of sketch page, and it was a really nice addition.
She was inspired enough by this book to talk about it at dinner, and make connections - one of the panels (p. 33) has one of the bears following the scent of seal blubber into a giant pipe set up at the town dump. She pointed out that it was a trap, because the sign on the side said "Danger Bear Trap" - but she added, "Bears can't read, so he went in." I was really happy that she was connecting with the bears and seeing their point of view, rather than extrapolating that because she can read they can too. Nice.
Really beautiful artwork - complex watercolor shading - and the story is very good. Not too heavy handed on the save the Arctic - just the right balance between that issue and bear life.
July 29, 2014
Waluk is a young polar bear cub who feels abandoned by his mother. He sets off on his own to find some food. Not knowing how nor being quite strong enough to hunt on his own he decides to steal bird eggs. Eventually he encounters a fellow loner who is on the other end of the lifespan. Manitok is an old bear who is getting thin and losing his teeth so he is no longer the best hunter. Together the two explore their dwindling habitat looking for food and encountering humans at various times. This graphic novel isn't about a cute and cuddly little polar bear - though he is cute. It is about polar bears trying to survive in a melting world where humans - both good and bad - are around every corner. The illustrations are gorgeous! Readers will learn a great deal about these creatures as they read the well-illustrated story.
May 25, 2015
I really like the illustrations of this graphic novel and don't even mind the rather predictable Disneyesque story of an old bear taking a young cub under his wing with the end result that the young cub has an opportunity to save the old bear. What is problematic is the veneer of environmental significance and the end note that gives the population for polar bears as 20-25 thousand with the warning that it is estimated there will only be 6-8 by 2050. I can't pretent to really know polar bear populations, but there is a lot in the press that indicates estimates have been guesses, the numbers haven't dropped in 15 years and in fact have grown substantially since the 70's. No mention is made of any of this current controversy. The mix of environmental info within a highly fictionalized story of anthropomorphized bears is deeply questionable, no matter how fine the art.
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