How to Catch a Polar Bear

Washington Park Stories

by Stacy DeKeyser

In this “funny and heartwarming” ( Booklist ) historical fiction companion to The Rhino in Right Field , Nick’s summer gets way more exciting when a polar bear escapes from the local zoo—perfect for fans of Stuart Gibbs and The One and Only Ivan .

It’s 1948, and twelve-year-old Nick is ready for the best summer ever. He’s going to hang out with his best pal, Ace, and maybe with Penny too—she is a girl, but she has a great throwing arm. Then things get wild when a polar bear escapes from Milwaukee’s city zoo and appears right on his block . They’re all going to have to keep their eyes open now.

But Nick’s grand plans start to crumble when Ace gets a paper route and Penny decides to share it with him. Now they’re never around. Nick himself is working at his Uncle Spiro’s frozen custard shop, but at least he gets free all-you-can-eat dessert.

When Uncle Spiro opens a custard stand at the zoo, Nick volunteers to help—if that polar bear escapes again, he’ll have a front row seat! But their competitor, Happy Harold, opens a stand of his own right outside the zoo. Now Nick is scrambling to keep their customers, especially because Happy keeps playing dirty tricks. When Penny discovers that someone may have let the polar bear out on purpose, Nick suspects that Happy might be involved. With mysteries to solve and a whole zoo-full of monkey business, it looks like Nick’s summer won’t be so boring after all!

Genres: Historical Fiction, Humor, Middle Grade, Friendship, Childrens, Young Adult, Historical

288 pages, Paperback

Published June 11, 2024

About the author

Praise for How to Catch a Polar Bear :

"Funny and heartwarming" -- Booklist

"Hilarious" -- KIRKUS


Praise for The Rhino in Right Field :

"A solid home run" -- Booklist

"A winner in every way" -- KIRKUS starred review


Praise for The Brixen Witch :

"Fresh and satisfying." -- KIRKUS starred review

"Just right for reaffirming one's belief in the power of story." -- BOOKLIST starred review

Reviews

[Brittney Lyon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A middle grade I’m putting on my reread every summer list!

A pleasant adventure that is middle grade historical fiction set in 1948 mainly at a zoo in Milwaukee and its surrounding neighborhood. A group of teens Ace, Penny and Nick are excited for the summer to come. To kick it off with a bang a polar bear has escaped the zoo and the kids want to be front and center to see if it happens again. With a paper route, dueling custard shops and a 4th of July celebration at the zoo these friends are having more fun than they could ask for!

This book was so fun! It made me nostalgic for the good old days… and the sheer fun of running amuck as a kid. The authors note was both insightful and fun! What a wild story!

[IrenesBookReviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story gets you from the first page and takes you on a fun adventure. It is easy to read, has great dialog and is a cute story. I thought the authors descriptions were great and definitely not overdone. I thought the conversations flowed between the characters and helped keep the story moving in the right direction. Overall, it was an entertaining read!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher Simon and Schuster, for the temporary digital ARC that I read and gave my honest opinion of.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very cute, entertaining read! The breadth and variety of middle grade fiction being published today continues to delight me.

[Jennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think middle school kids would enjoy this book set near a zoo in 1948. Nick is the main character and his uncle owns a custard shop where he helps out every day.When the opportunity arises that a custard cart is needed at the local zoo, Nick is all for helping. I especially liked Penny his friend who has a paper route even though she’s a girl. I also enjoyed when they were talking about how much things cost in 1949. I think there is a history lesson here for the kids as well as an amazing story about a polar bear, custard, and friendship.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a sweet book. I read it to my youngest daughter. She really enjoyed it. It’s about a polar bear that escapes. Did it escape on its own or did someone help? You’ll have to read it to find out!

[Jenny Lussier · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved How to Catch a Polar Bear - historical fiction is a favorite of mine and this didn’t disappoint. Nicky’s voice was so strong throughout and the adventures were just fun to read. This book reminded me of Jennifer Holms’ Full of Beans. I think this would make a terrific read aloud too!

[Miriam Kahn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in the 1940s, this one features Nick who has a fantastic adventure, capturing the local polar bear who keeps escaping from the zoo (which is only three blocks away). Just who is letting the bear out is only part of the mystery which Nick and his buddies must solve.

It's corny, it's fun, and full of laughter. Perfect for the bored pre-teen who loves to read!

Thanks to the BookLoft of German Village (Columbus, OH) http://www.bookloft.com for an ARC to read and review.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jane (age 7): I loved it! Best book ever! I loved the polar bear! 🐻‍❄

Mom: The characters were fun and the mystery of how the polar bear was escaping kept us guessing. It also left us wanting to try some homemade frozen custard, so we'll be trying that soon! Overall, it's a cute book and made for a fun read aloud with my polar bear loving kiddo.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seriously, so much fun! Awesome time period to have a funny, enjoyable middle grade book set in!
Also, it could potentially win the prestigious “Best Back Cover Ever” award! (I just invented it… right now.) That polar bear’s butt is adorrrrable!

[Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nick's Uncle Spiro has opened a frozen custard shop in 1948 Wisconsin. Nick and his friends are very excited as Frosty the polar bear escaped from the neighborhood zoo, and they try to figure out how to solve that mystery while helping Uncle Spiro sell custard inside the zoo while being undermined by another local custard seller Happy Harold. Nick and his friends Ace and Penny blend humor, entrepreneurship, problem solving in this light hearted but entertaining romp. Recommended for middle graders who like historical fiction books.

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this aloud with my 9 year old. Overall this was a cute story line and I enjoyed the mystery in the book. I thought based on the title and cover image that it would be more focused on the shenanigans of the polar bear. In my opinion, the custard storyline was very summery and entertaining, but I wished the title and cover of the book was more focused on the main story told within the pages.

[Nancy Isebrand · Rating 5 out of 5]

Humor, mystery, and more -- all perfectly told for enjoyment. It's 1948 and a polar bear has escaped the local zoo. He is caught but it's a mystery as to how he escaped. In the meantime, there is a custard cart war going on between Sparky's and Happy's custard businesses. And Nick, Ace and Penny (best friends) are in the middle of it in this novel written for middle readers.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

This was a fun read. It’s definitely one I will recommend as a read aloud to the 4th and 5th grade teachers for next school year. It’s on our state award list for next year. I haven’t read Rhino in Right Field, but I don’t think this “series” is one that has to be read in order.

Highly recommended for upper elementary. The narrator’s voice is pretty spot on as a 12 year old and often made me laugh out loud.

[Pixie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story. Good for studying story writing. Keep

[Jill CD · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun book that has interesting historical moments woven into the tale. Grades 3 and up

[Deanna Milford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Library Aide Review: Absolutely adorable! A historical fiction based in the summer of 1948. It is such a lighthearted story about a group of friends working together to try to find out how a Polar Bear escaped a local zoo with many side adventures. I really enjoyed this story and look forward to reading “The Rhino In Right Field”.

[Jennifer H · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute!

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

“There shouldn’t be rules that make people wish they were someone else.”

It all starts when Nick hears a noise outside his house and sees a polar bear rooting around in the garbage. Is that what his summer is going to be like? Full of adventure and excitement?

Maybe not, because Ace, Nick's best friend, has to get a summer job. And pretty soon, Penny is helping Ace (even though girls aren't supposed to deliver newspapers.) “Summer vacation gets boring in a hurry when you have no one to be lazy with.” Things begin to get a little more exciting when, as Nick is helping his Uncle Spiro at his frozen custard shop, he gets involved in a custard war with Happy Harold, a competitor. Happy is upset that Uncle Spiro got to set up a frozen custard stand at the zoo, so Happy will do almost anything to sabotage Uncle Spiro's stand, including getting the monkeys riled up ... and maybe letting a polar bear loose?? So much for a boring summer.

Another delightful historical fiction novel with great characters, voice and a lot of humor. Just like in the first book, there is a lot of discussion about how women are not treated fairly during this time period. “It just goes to show you: What you see on the surface is not always the whole story.” I feel like there is a sequel in the works in which Uncle Spiro and Penny's older sister get together at last.

[Paula Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun middle school book about friendships, family and town mysteries! Some good laughs throughout.

[Mark Buxton · Rating 4 out of 5]

What worked:
The book is set in 1948 and the events and language reflect that time in history. Nick’s friends get a paper route to make $3.50 each week and his uncle owns a soda shop that sells custard cones. Nick shines shoes on Saturday mornings at his father’s business and helps his uncle around the shop in the afternoon. Characters listen to the radio for entertainment and it’s also where they first hear news of the escaped polar bear. The adjective “swell” is used frequently by various characters when things are going well. Life was simpler back then but it wasn’t all good times. Penny, one of Nick’s friends, must deal with stereotypical expectations for women as she doesn’t fit the description of dainty and sweet. Nick’s dad even makes comments about how women lack strength and shouldn’t be doing boy things.
The question in the book’s title is posed one morning after the polar bear is captured right outside Nick’s bedroom window. It’s really not a major factor in the plot although the public zoo park is the setting for much of the book. Much of the plot focuses on a conflict between Nick’s Uncle Spiro and a rival custard shop owned by Happy Harold. Happy is a bully and he doesn’t want to compete with any other shops in the city. He threatens and tries to find any advantage, even if they’re not ethical, to take out his competition. Spiro’s kind soul puts him at a disadvantage but he luckily has Nick and his friends fighting for him. The problem is amped up when Uncle Spiro is given permission to be the soul custard seller at the zoo and Happy won’t let that go unchallenged.
The author adds comedic elements to the book through Nick’s Greek mother and his friend Ace. Ace is impulsive as evidenced by his becoming a paperboy before thinking it through. Waking up at 4:00 in the early morning is no fun and he’s ready to quit after only one day. Nick comments that Ace can’t keep secrets so Nick doesn’t always tell him what’s going on. Ace is also a bit gullible. Eating is something he loves as it seems he’s always slurping up custard, enjoying pasta, or stopping by Penny’s for donuts. Nick’s mom often misunderstands figurative language so her comments sound funny. Nick says they need a guinea pig to taste a new custard recipe and she’s shocked that he wants to feed a pig. Amusing moments are sprinkled throughout the whole book.
What didn’t work as well:
The plot lacks any high drama or tension which may not appeal to some readers. The main conflict boils down to Uncle Spiro losing his custard stand at the zoo but it’s not the end of the world or his business. The true interest may lie in making sure Happy isn’t rewarded for his devious ways.
The final verdict:
The book tells a nostalgic tale of middle-grade kids trying to enjoy their summer while helping Uncle Spiro through his challenges. The simple story is easy to follow and the blend of humor adds to its appeal. Overall, I recommend you give this book a shot.

[Sandy Brehl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is then second title in a series set in southeast Wisconsin in the 1940s after WWII. The characters and situations are very reminiscent for Baby boomers, but are likely to resonate with those young readers of Ramona and Henry stories. The characters and setting involve strong friendships among neighbor kids who share a lot but have very realistic/distinct personalities. A central "character" in these stories is the park-based urban zoo and its inhabitants. The inspiration for they novel and its setting is Washington park/zoo in Milwaukee in that era, and various actual events involving the animals at that zoo.
A delightful read, told through the appealing and humorous first person voice of one of those kids. Check it out!

[Holly Burke · Rating 4 out of 5]

*3.5*

This book was not what I expected in both good and not so good ways. I didn't expect historical fiction but I loved the 1940's time period. I saw a comp to Holm's Full of Beans which I agree with. I didn't expect that this was actually a sequel. I think I would have connected better to the main character if I had read the first book. I didn't expect the plot to be mostly about warring frozen custard businesses, I thought there would be a but more focus on the polar bear and students might be disappointed by this. I loved the characters and the summer setting and thought this book was full of charm.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really fun book and great summer read! I enjoyed being transported to Milwaukee in the 1940's, and was kept on my toes with Nick's adventure. There was so much history and culture woven throughout the story while staying fun and exciting the whole time.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

[Lisa D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Too cute!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun and adventurous historical fiction read. It's set in the summer of 1948 in Wisconsin where Nick lives close to the city zoo. When his uncle is offered space at the zoo to set up his frozen custard cart, Nick jumps at the chance to help so he can be near any excitement that happens there. Not only is he selling his uncle's custard, but also trying to stay ahead of the competition. There are great friendships in the book as well as an entertaining plot. The front - and back - covers are cute and humorous, too.

[LS Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun family-focused adventure.

[Gail Gallant · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a great read about middle school age kids in 1948 and their upset plans for the summer. It's entertaining and fun. I enjoyed it very much.

[Michelle Halber]

DNF. Started out a lot of fun, but lost momentum.

[PottWab Regional Library]

A