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The Polar Bear and the Ballerina
How does a bear go to the ballet? A polar bear escapes into New York City in this heartfelt picture book from award-winning Afro-Latino artist Eric Velasquez.
A wordless story of unlikely friendship that celebrates art and its ability to connect us. However, this picture book also opens a conversation about alienation and empathy. Who is kept out of the theater? How can we welcome them in? A deeply personal story, author Eric Valqueuez sees himself in this tale.
When dancers have a photoshoot at the Central Park Zoo, a young, African American ballerina and a polar bear form a special friendship. When his new friend leaves her scarf behind, the polar bear must venture through Central Park and out into Manhattan to return it before her performance at the Lincoln Center.
However, the theater goers eye the strange bear with suspicion. When the ushers won’t let him inside, the ballerina comes to his rescue and welcomes him in. The polar bear has dreamed of seeing the ballet, and now he gets to be a part of it in the most surprising way.
The wordless narrative is told through expressive and detailed oil paintings. On the endpapers, readers learn more about these loveable characters with illustrations of zoo signage about polar bears and a magazine article about the young ballerina.
Eric Velasquez, author-illustrator of Bank Street Best Book of the Year Octopus Stew, brings a dream-like magicto this tale of empathy and kindred spirits.
A wordless story of unlikely friendship that celebrates art and its ability to connect us. However, this picture book also opens a conversation about alienation and empathy. Who is kept out of the theater? How can we welcome them in? A deeply personal story, author Eric Valqueuez sees himself in this tale.
When dancers have a photoshoot at the Central Park Zoo, a young, African American ballerina and a polar bear form a special friendship. When his new friend leaves her scarf behind, the polar bear must venture through Central Park and out into Manhattan to return it before her performance at the Lincoln Center.
However, the theater goers eye the strange bear with suspicion. When the ushers won’t let him inside, the ballerina comes to his rescue and welcomes him in. The polar bear has dreamed of seeing the ballet, and now he gets to be a part of it in the most surprising way.
The wordless narrative is told through expressive and detailed oil paintings. On the endpapers, readers learn more about these loveable characters with illustrations of zoo signage about polar bears and a magazine article about the young ballerina.
Eric Velasquez, author-illustrator of Bank Street Best Book of the Year Octopus Stew, brings a dream-like magicto this tale of empathy and kindred spirits.
48 pages, Hardcover
Published October 14, 2025
1 person is currently reading
79 people want to read
About the author
Eric Velásquez
76 books35 followersEric Velásquez is the illustrator of numerous books for children, including several previous collaborations with Carole Boston Weatherford. He won the John Steptoe New Talent Illustrator Award for his illustrations of The Piano Man, written by Debbi Chocolate. Eric Velásquez is also the author-illustrator of the Pura Belpré Illustrator Award–winning Grandma’s Gift. Born in Harlem, he lives and works in Hartsdale, New York.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
December 7, 2025
This silent story, following a polar bear who travels through the city to see the ballet, is simply imaginative and very beautiful thanks to Velasquez’ impeccably beautiful paintings to tell it so well. Very reminiscent to Van Allsburg’ work and informating with insightful facts about polar bears. A very furry gem. A (100%/Outstanding)
September 28, 2025
This wordless picture book from Afro-Latino artist Eric Velasquez follows a polar bear that leaves his tank to return a red scarf dropped by a young Black female ballerina. The bear follows her across New York City and arrives at the Harlem Ballet, only to be stopped by a "No Polar Bears Allowed!" sign. The dancer intervenes, allowing the enraptured bear to watch the performance in the audience, while everyone else scowls at him. After the show, the dancer gives the bear her red scarf, and he happily dances his way back to captivity.
The illustrations, rendered in oil paint using only four colors with red reserved exclusively for the scarf, result in a charming but muted palette. Furthermore, the artwork suffers from technical flaws, including awkward perspectives, like the foreshortening of a dancer whose back foot appears larger than her front. She's going to have a hard time getting into the American Ballet Theatre with that clodhopper!
On the front flap, the publisher states the book is an "allegory of kindness and generosity over suspicion and bias." However, the narrative choices don't align with that message, particularly the juxtaposition of the predominantly characters of color at the dance company actively barring the polar bear: a bear with black skin beneath transparent fur, giving it the illusion of whiteness. The back matter is particularly problematic: it features a detailed biography of the dancer, Chloe Maldonado, listing fictional past credits (titles of the author's previous books) and a non-existent ballet company, presenting her as a real-life figure. (Irrelevant to this critique, one of her teachers is named "Grazia Maccarone." Grace Maccarone is the author of Miss Lina’s Ballerinas and, according to Wikipedia, is the current editor at Holiday House, the publisher of this book.)
This fabrication of an inspirational Black role model undermines the book’s attempt at meaningful representation. The book would be lightly entertaining fluff on its own, but it completely fails as a social allegory.
This book was a complimentary copy sent to me by the publisher.
The illustrations, rendered in oil paint using only four colors with red reserved exclusively for the scarf, result in a charming but muted palette. Furthermore, the artwork suffers from technical flaws, including awkward perspectives, like the foreshortening of a dancer whose back foot appears larger than her front. She's going to have a hard time getting into the American Ballet Theatre with that clodhopper!
On the front flap, the publisher states the book is an "allegory of kindness and generosity over suspicion and bias." However, the narrative choices don't align with that message, particularly the juxtaposition of the predominantly characters of color at the dance company actively barring the polar bear: a bear with black skin beneath transparent fur, giving it the illusion of whiteness. The back matter is particularly problematic: it features a detailed biography of the dancer, Chloe Maldonado, listing fictional past credits (titles of the author's previous books) and a non-existent ballet company, presenting her as a real-life figure. (Irrelevant to this critique, one of her teachers is named "Grazia Maccarone." Grace Maccarone is the author of Miss Lina’s Ballerinas and, according to Wikipedia, is the current editor at Holiday House, the publisher of this book.)
This fabrication of an inspirational Black role model undermines the book’s attempt at meaningful representation. The book would be lightly entertaining fluff on its own, but it completely fails as a social allegory.
This book was a complimentary copy sent to me by the publisher.
November 13, 2025
the art was so beautiful! I do wish there were words and dialogue, for while I think adults could pick up on the queues of the pages other age groups might not have that same benefit of context clues.
December 12, 2025
Mind-blowing! Stunning art. Wordless picture book that is both captivating and thought provoking. I’m excited to use it with my ESL students to see how they narrate the story for themselves.
January 21, 2026
Really beautiful, and a lovely story. Bonus: wordless books are great for helping children develop essential reading skills!
November 16, 2025
I never thought about how wordless picture books and ballet are similar, but it turns out they are. Both tell beautiful stories without any words. This wordless picture books is about ballet. It tells the imaginative story of a ballerina and a polar bear. The ballet does a photo shoot in front of the polar bear’s tank. He follows the little girl back through the city to the ballet and joins her dancing. It is a celebration of friendship and art and defying assumptions.
November 6, 2025
What a beautiful, funny, luxurious book! The artwork is stunning-the verso says only four colors were used, media is oil paints on watercolor paper. Such a satisfying and touching book, telling a story of the love of dance and an unlikely friendship. A thought-provoking and gorgeous wordless book.
January 14, 2026
This mostly wordless book conveys a lovely fantasy about a special friendship between two very different beings united in their love of art. The ability of art to transcend barriers, aided by kindness and acceptance, can make the world a more beautiful place, and draw people together. But sometimes it takes the innocence of a child to make that happen.
Chloe Maldonado, Afro-Latino like the author, is a fictional ballerina from Spanish Harlem who forms an unexpected friendship with a polar bear. She, along with some others from her dance troupe, had been doing a picture shoot at the New York City's Central Park Zoo. A polar bear seemed quite taken with Chloe and her dancing, and that night, he climbed out of his enclosure and headed for the Lincoln Center, where the Harlem Children’s Ballet was due to perform.
When the bear arrived however, he encountered a sign on the ticket box, “No Polar Bears Allowed!” He was told to leave. He let out a huge growl, and Chloe heard him. She ran to the foyer and guided the bear to a front row seat before she went on stage. He was entranced by the program, and danced his way back to the zoo.
Happily, the censorious adults in the story could not take away either the joy of the performance by the girl or the bear's pleasure in watching it. The bear may have been huge and she just a small girl, but they were kindred spirits, and that awareness cemented their unlikely relationship.
The author/illustrator is one of the most successful and distinguished Afro-Latino book illustrators. He said that he got into writing and illustrating books for the benefit of children like him so they could see themselves.
(And in fact, as the data for 2024 from the Cooperative Children's Book Center shows, children are more likely to see animals as main characters in books than they are to see minorities. White students, on the other hand, spend their K-12 career reading mostly books about people who share their racial identity, with the result that they have fewer opportunities to learn about or empathize with others who are different than themselves.)
Velasquez’s stunning oil paintings on watercolor paper are made from only four colors, and impart a dream-like quality to the story. But the focus is sharp when it comes to showing facial expressions and movement. He depicts a wide range of emotions, especially in the scenes featuring the ballerina and her mother. He also deftly portrays movement, whether it is walking, running, or dancing - you can feel the characters in motion.
The front matter provides a smattering of facts about polar bears, and back matter is presented as if it is part of the dance program that was the subject of the book.
Evaluation: This story, suggested for ages 4 and over, is enchanting, and the few facts about polar bears are tantalizing enough to inspire some readers to follow them up. (I'm one of them! I read in the front of the book, “Polar bear fur isn’t really white. A polar bear’s fur is transparent . . . ” and I had to know more!) From a Library of Congress website I learned:
“The hair of a polar bear looks white because the air spaces in each hair scatter light of all colors. The color white becomes visible to our eyes when an object reflects back all of the visible wavelengths of light, rather than absorbing some of the wavelengths.”
Wow, who knew?
Chloe Maldonado, Afro-Latino like the author, is a fictional ballerina from Spanish Harlem who forms an unexpected friendship with a polar bear. She, along with some others from her dance troupe, had been doing a picture shoot at the New York City's Central Park Zoo. A polar bear seemed quite taken with Chloe and her dancing, and that night, he climbed out of his enclosure and headed for the Lincoln Center, where the Harlem Children’s Ballet was due to perform.
When the bear arrived however, he encountered a sign on the ticket box, “No Polar Bears Allowed!” He was told to leave. He let out a huge growl, and Chloe heard him. She ran to the foyer and guided the bear to a front row seat before she went on stage. He was entranced by the program, and danced his way back to the zoo.
Happily, the censorious adults in the story could not take away either the joy of the performance by the girl or the bear's pleasure in watching it. The bear may have been huge and she just a small girl, but they were kindred spirits, and that awareness cemented their unlikely relationship.
The author/illustrator is one of the most successful and distinguished Afro-Latino book illustrators. He said that he got into writing and illustrating books for the benefit of children like him so they could see themselves.
(And in fact, as the data for 2024 from the Cooperative Children's Book Center shows, children are more likely to see animals as main characters in books than they are to see minorities. White students, on the other hand, spend their K-12 career reading mostly books about people who share their racial identity, with the result that they have fewer opportunities to learn about or empathize with others who are different than themselves.)
Velasquez’s stunning oil paintings on watercolor paper are made from only four colors, and impart a dream-like quality to the story. But the focus is sharp when it comes to showing facial expressions and movement. He depicts a wide range of emotions, especially in the scenes featuring the ballerina and her mother. He also deftly portrays movement, whether it is walking, running, or dancing - you can feel the characters in motion.
The front matter provides a smattering of facts about polar bears, and back matter is presented as if it is part of the dance program that was the subject of the book.
Evaluation: This story, suggested for ages 4 and over, is enchanting, and the few facts about polar bears are tantalizing enough to inspire some readers to follow them up. (I'm one of them! I read in the front of the book, “Polar bear fur isn’t really white. A polar bear’s fur is transparent . . . ” and I had to know more!) From a Library of Congress website I learned:
“The hair of a polar bear looks white because the air spaces in each hair scatter light of all colors. The color white becomes visible to our eyes when an object reflects back all of the visible wavelengths of light, rather than absorbing some of the wavelengths.”
Wow, who knew?
November 26, 2025
A fantasy friendship between a young ballerina and a friendly polar bear benefits from Valasquez’s powerful skills with oil paint and a disciplined color palette. The story opens with a sumptuous double page fold-out of a little girl in all white dance attire. She’s at the Central Park Zoo for a photoshoot with other young dancers; everyone’s smiling and posing for the camera, but the main character (a girl with brown skin and black hair, always shown with a flowing red scarf) places her hands gently on the wall of glass that separates her from an enormous, swimming polar bear. When her stylishly turned out Black teacher indicates it’s time to go, the girl reluctantly leaves with many backward glances but her treasured scarf slides to the floor unnoticed. In a series of action panels, the bear climbs out of his enclosure, puts on the scarf, and walks across the city, heading uptown to tonight’s performance. “No Polar Bears Allowed” reads the sign on the Lincoln Center ticket window, as exasperated employees wave their arms. But his new friend hears the ruckus and rushes to his side. She leads him to a seat in the theater, where he gets to watch her perform, right in front of a massive photo of himself! Everything ends happily – the bear wraps the scarf around his huge neck and dances back to the zoo.
This sweet and imaginative story will appeal to ballet and animal lovers; children of color may be especially delighted to see so many Black and Brown adults and children affiliated with ballet. Velasquez uses only 4 colors in his immersive illustrations: burnt umber, ultramarine blue, titanium white, and cadmium red. Setting the book at night helps him stick to this limited range, with his realistic but artistically rendered figures appearing in various shadowy shades of brown and gray, while glowing blue accents illuminate the winter scenes. The only red is, of course, the scarf and the capital letters “GROOOOOWWWLLLL”, which the bear roars when he’s stopped at the box office. Back matter includes a faux biography of the little girl, who’s described as being a dancer-in-training at the “Harlem Children’s Ballet”. Because the book is wordless, Spanish is used only in the occasional signs (such as “Sold Out: Ticket Holders Here” at the theater) and the faux biography. A few polar bear facts about their behavior and life in the Arctic are included in the front matter. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...
This sweet and imaginative story will appeal to ballet and animal lovers; children of color may be especially delighted to see so many Black and Brown adults and children affiliated with ballet. Velasquez uses only 4 colors in his immersive illustrations: burnt umber, ultramarine blue, titanium white, and cadmium red. Setting the book at night helps him stick to this limited range, with his realistic but artistically rendered figures appearing in various shadowy shades of brown and gray, while glowing blue accents illuminate the winter scenes. The only red is, of course, the scarf and the capital letters “GROOOOOWWWLLLL”, which the bear roars when he’s stopped at the box office. Back matter includes a faux biography of the little girl, who’s described as being a dancer-in-training at the “Harlem Children’s Ballet”. Because the book is wordless, Spanish is used only in the occasional signs (such as “Sold Out: Ticket Holders Here” at the theater) and the faux biography. A few polar bear facts about their behavior and life in the Arctic are included in the front matter. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...
September 29, 2025
On one special day, the lives of a young ballerina and a polar bear are irrevocably altered when a photo shoot takes place in front of the polar bear exhibit at the local zoo. Enraptured by one another, the girl and the polar bear enjoy each other’s company until the dancer must depart for her evening performance. When the girl accidentally leaves her iconic red scarf behind, however, the polar bear is determined to return it to her, no matter what obstacles stand in its way. And despite the challenges the polar bear faces, hope and acceptance find a way to emerge and give the two companions an experience they will never forget. This whimsical and imaginative picture book celebrates the magic that can happen when the human and animal worlds collide. Completely wordless, the story unfolds in a series of detailed, emotional, and resonant imagery that invites readers to consider a potential narrative of their very own. Featuring ballerinas with dark skin and a diversity of human faces, the story welcomes readers into a colorful and multifaceted reality that expertly blends magic with recognizable human experiences. On each page, the red scarf guides the plot, uniting the ballerina and the polar bear across divides of space and identity. Based on a story created by this season’s Soloist of the Harlem Children's Ballet, Chloe Maldonado, this book beautifully investigates an imaginative blending of art and friendship. This high quality and resonant picture book is a treasure for anyone who appreciates the wonder that is possible in the world.
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December 6, 2025See my full review here: https://yabookscentral.com/the-polar-...
THE POLAR BEAR AND THE BALLERINA is a beautiful story of inclusion and friendship. The book is told entirely through images with a girl posing in front of a polar bear exhibit at the zoo. After she leaves and drops her red scarf, the bear climbs out, wears the scarf and goes to find her. He makes it to the show, but the people will not allow him in. The little girl hears him and brings him in, so he can watch the show. At the end, he sleeps happily having seen her dance and remembering her dance next to his exhibit with him.
What I loved: This is beautifully illustrated with every page and image looking like a gallery painting. The story is told through these images but without words, which allows children to look and consider how the characters might be feeling or what they might be thinking on their own. This imaginative and creative format opens readers to possibilities and allows them to form the story on their own. While the images guide, the details are left to the reader.
This also a great option for children who are seeking independence but not yet ready for wordy texts. They can interpret and explore this story on their own. The images are stunning and the messages of inclusion and friendship resonate throughout.
Final verdict: THE POLAR BEAR AND THE BALLERINA is a lovely and creative wordless picture book that will capture hearts and imaginations.
THE POLAR BEAR AND THE BALLERINA is a beautiful story of inclusion and friendship. The book is told entirely through images with a girl posing in front of a polar bear exhibit at the zoo. After she leaves and drops her red scarf, the bear climbs out, wears the scarf and goes to find her. He makes it to the show, but the people will not allow him in. The little girl hears him and brings him in, so he can watch the show. At the end, he sleeps happily having seen her dance and remembering her dance next to his exhibit with him.
What I loved: This is beautifully illustrated with every page and image looking like a gallery painting. The story is told through these images but without words, which allows children to look and consider how the characters might be feeling or what they might be thinking on their own. This imaginative and creative format opens readers to possibilities and allows them to form the story on their own. While the images guide, the details are left to the reader.
This also a great option for children who are seeking independence but not yet ready for wordy texts. They can interpret and explore this story on their own. The images are stunning and the messages of inclusion and friendship resonate throughout.
Final verdict: THE POLAR BEAR AND THE BALLERINA is a lovely and creative wordless picture book that will capture hearts and imaginations.
December 16, 2025
Eric Velásquez delivers a moving wordless picture book in The Polar Bear and the Ballerina, a story that speaks volumes through its lush, emotive illustrations. With no text to guide the reader, Velásquez lets the oil paintings carry the full emotional arc—from the quiet loneliness of the polar bear’s enclosure to the unlikely connection forged through a shared scarf and a shared dream. The result is a narrative that unfolds like a ballet: graceful, poignant, and powerfully expressive.
Beyond its charming premise, the book opens space for deeper conversations about belonging, access to the arts, and empathy. The moment the bear is turned away from the theater evokes more than just a plot point; it prompts questions about who is welcomed into artistic spaces and who is kept out. Velásquez—an Afro-Latino artist—imbues the tale with a subtle yet intentional sense of social critique, all wrapped in a story accessible to young readers and rich enough to prompt reflection in older ones.
This is a picture book that honors both the interior lives of its characters and the visual storytelling potential of the medium. It’s an invitation to feel, to wonder, and to consider how small acts of kindness—like an invitation or a memory shared—can change someone’s world. A stunning offering that deserves space on any shelf.
Beyond its charming premise, the book opens space for deeper conversations about belonging, access to the arts, and empathy. The moment the bear is turned away from the theater evokes more than just a plot point; it prompts questions about who is welcomed into artistic spaces and who is kept out. Velásquez—an Afro-Latino artist—imbues the tale with a subtle yet intentional sense of social critique, all wrapped in a story accessible to young readers and rich enough to prompt reflection in older ones.
This is a picture book that honors both the interior lives of its characters and the visual storytelling potential of the medium. It’s an invitation to feel, to wonder, and to consider how small acts of kindness—like an invitation or a memory shared—can change someone’s world. A stunning offering that deserves space on any shelf.
October 6, 2025
Goodness! How beautiful the illustrations in this wordless picture book [3.5 for me!] are! There's no need for a single syllable to be uttered because those image, created with four colors of oil paints, are expressive, emotional, and thought-provoking. A polar bear in the zoo provides a backdrop to a photoshoot of a young ballerina, following her after she accidentally drops her red scarf. He causes quite a ruckus as he moves through the busy streets of New York City and heads to the performance hall where the ballet will be held. Denied entrance, he growls in anger. Hearing this, the girl rescues him, finds him a place to sit, and dances, wearing the same red scarf he brought with him. The photograph taken earlier of him provides a backdrop for her dance, and he eventually falls asleep back home, dreaming of dancing the ballet with her. The images are memorable, filled with the faces of disapproving ticket holders and audience members, and readers may think about exclusionary tactics from the past and present as they read. It's also likely that some will reflect on affordability and how certain cultural events such as plays and ballet aren't affordable for the average person. Then, too, the fact that the young dancer has brown skin, a rarity in the world of ballet.
January 22, 2026
Here's the thing...
I have conflicting feelings about this book and I've rated it 4 stars. The artwork by Eric Velasquez is gorgeous. The use of shape, form, and color doesn't even begin to describe the beauty encapsulated within the pages of this book. The messaging is where I feel conflict. The story follows a polar bear who meets a ballerina and travels throughout the city to go see her performance. I've seen people describe the social commentary of this book as an allegory for race, but I see it as an allegory for the classism that can exist within the arts. It feels more like a call in to those who believe that the enjoyment of the arts only belongs to people who come from a certain type of socioeconomic background when truly it is something that should be enjoyed by all regardless of how they may appear. If this is, in fact, an allegory for racism then I think the story is less effective. And while I found the fake biography in the back to the book to be humorous, I know that it will be confusing to younger readers. With all that being said, I'm rating this book based off my initial feelings seeing the artwork and interpreting the book to be a social allegory for wealth and class.
I have conflicting feelings about this book and I've rated it 4 stars. The artwork by Eric Velasquez is gorgeous. The use of shape, form, and color doesn't even begin to describe the beauty encapsulated within the pages of this book. The messaging is where I feel conflict. The story follows a polar bear who meets a ballerina and travels throughout the city to go see her performance. I've seen people describe the social commentary of this book as an allegory for race, but I see it as an allegory for the classism that can exist within the arts. It feels more like a call in to those who believe that the enjoyment of the arts only belongs to people who come from a certain type of socioeconomic background when truly it is something that should be enjoyed by all regardless of how they may appear. If this is, in fact, an allegory for racism then I think the story is less effective. And while I found the fake biography in the back to the book to be humorous, I know that it will be confusing to younger readers. With all that being said, I'm rating this book based off my initial feelings seeing the artwork and interpreting the book to be a social allegory for wealth and class.
December 22, 2025
Is it real? Eric A. Velásquez believes it is his oh-so-captivating illustrations, done in oil on watercolor paper, that convince. It is a wordless picture book telling a story by Chloe Maldonado, a young dancer at the Harlem Children's Ballet. She has been appointed the Soloist this season and created what is called "Red Scarf Girl" in "The Polar Bear and the Ballerina".
The opening shows a spectacular quadruple-page spread with a girl, wearing a red scarf, people watching as she dances by a tank where a polar bear swims beside her. As they leave, the bear watches, escapes from the zoo, and follows, seeing that the scarf has fallen. It picks it up and wears it, begins the search for the girl. They have made a true connection. He finds the theater, but they won't allow polar bears, and now it becomes a matter of considering "Why not?" thoughts. It's a conversation that often needs to be, and where one might consider this rather outlandish, it's a book that starts thoughts whirling about the way rules might be too rigid, might be needed to be re-considered!
Thanks to Holiday House for my copy!
The opening shows a spectacular quadruple-page spread with a girl, wearing a red scarf, people watching as she dances by a tank where a polar bear swims beside her. As they leave, the bear watches, escapes from the zoo, and follows, seeing that the scarf has fallen. It picks it up and wears it, begins the search for the girl. They have made a true connection. He finds the theater, but they won't allow polar bears, and now it becomes a matter of considering "Why not?" thoughts. It's a conversation that often needs to be, and where one might consider this rather outlandish, it's a book that starts thoughts whirling about the way rules might be too rigid, might be needed to be re-considered!
Thanks to Holiday House for my copy!
January 30, 2026
I opened this book with no preconceived notions. I suppose I ordered it from the library after reading somewhere that the book might be up for a Caldecott award.
Indeed, the pictures are beautiful! especially the shading and the use of the color red.
I struggled a bit with what was going on. A ballet troupe was taking picture in front of the swimming polar bear at the zoo? One ballerina stayed later and her mom scolded her because they were late for something which turned out to be a performance? The Girl didn't notice that she left her red scarf and the polar bear EXITED the zoo and WALKED UPRIGHT through town.
A taxi driver was annoyed that a bear was in the way of his car, not scared? The ticket window says Sold Out No Polar Bears Allowed.
What I don't get is whether the story is supposed to be believable. Or whether or not the Girl character is a real person. I think not.
So, I'm left liking the illustrations and being confused by the story.
Indeed, the pictures are beautiful! especially the shading and the use of the color red.
I struggled a bit with what was going on. A ballet troupe was taking picture in front of the swimming polar bear at the zoo? One ballerina stayed later and her mom scolded her because they were late for something which turned out to be a performance? The Girl didn't notice that she left her red scarf and the polar bear EXITED the zoo and WALKED UPRIGHT through town.
A taxi driver was annoyed that a bear was in the way of his car, not scared? The ticket window says Sold Out No Polar Bears Allowed.
What I don't get is whether the story is supposed to be believable. Or whether or not the Girl character is a real person. I think not.
So, I'm left liking the illustrations and being confused by the story.
February 6, 2026
The story of a contemporary ballet combines fantasy, dance, an animal friend, kindness and a handful of facts. An young troupe of African-American ballerinas are photographed dancing in front of a polar bear's aquatic enclosure. The lead ballerina, sporting a red scarf, lingers to commune with the bear. So that when the bear notices she has left her scarf behind, it makes sense that the concerned animal escapes confinement in order to return it before the ballet's big debut. Can the bear overcome obstacles, including outright prejudice, and get the scarf to the girl in time? Front matter offers fun facts, including that while polar bears appear white, their skin is as black as their nose. Backmatter shares the biography of the young dancer, Chloe Maldonado, who created the character of Red Scarf Girl. Realistic paintings in cool hues focus attention on the drama of the red scarf. Most characters are Black.
November 20, 2025
Kids interested in ballet will enjoy this wordless picture book that combines realism with fantasy when a polar bear escapes from the zoo to watch a ballet production featuring a little girl who visited him that day at the zoo. Might have given it 4 stars if not for the fictional biography at the end about the ballerina star. It is presented in such a way that kids will think it’s a real person. The roles her biography says she has played in other productions are actually titles of books by this same author/illustrator.
October 18, 2025
This book is just visual, there are no words. It does have a polar express color pallet and vibe. The first page is a fold out and is really cool. Basically a young ballerina is dancing for photos in front of a polar bear while she wears a red scarf. The polar bear was impressed and tries following her to see her again. He gets to watch her show and he imitates a few ballet moves. Very cute, and simple. All visual story telling.
January 16, 2026
A beautiful, wordless celebration of ballet and friendship. With polar bear facts in the front endpapers and the "faux" biography of the ballerina on the back endpapers was confusing since the polar bear facts at the front were real. (Though unfortunately the library had glued down the plastic covers - so I definitely missed a few things.)
Ballerina uses a polar bear as a backdrop. When one loses her scarf the bear leaves his exhibit and travels to her show to return it.
Ballerina uses a polar bear as a backdrop. When one loses her scarf the bear leaves his exhibit and travels to her show to return it.
January 26, 2026
Why a polar bear? So random to me. At least that's what I thought until I read the afterward and learned that this book is nothing more than an advertisement for a children's ballet production with the same name.
But wait? That production, and even the ballet company, doesn't even exist! The author made it up, and this book was supposed to be some sort of social commentary. Well, I seriously doubt that any kid in the age group this is meant for will pick up on that.
But wait? That production, and even the ballet company, doesn't even exist! The author made it up, and this book was supposed to be some sort of social commentary. Well, I seriously doubt that any kid in the age group this is meant for will pick up on that.
December 5, 2025
Exquisite painted picture book that left me breathless in the reading. Starting at a photo shoot outside the polar bear exhibit at the zoo a ballerina connections with a bear. When she leaves, the bear follows. This wordless picture book captures wonder, confusion, fear, and frustration as the bear travels to the ballet and reunites with the ballerina. Wow! Give this book awards!!!!
November 6, 2025
Very sweet wordless story of a girl from the Harlem Children's Ballet and a polar bear at the zoo. This story is also the story of a ballet piece which is being performed as I write this at the Lincoln Center, very cool! :)
November 26, 2025
A BEAUTIFUL wordless story about a polar bear who loves watching a ballerina dance. I love the part when the polar bear is sitting in the audience. Best as a one-on-one story for lower elementary children.
October 31, 2025
Beautiful. Heartwarming.
November 4, 2025
Four colors of paint! Four! And kinda three, since the red was only used for the scarf.
I need a print of the bear in the audience.
I need a print of the bear in the audience.
November 7, 2025
Wordless
November 16, 2025
I love Eric Velasquez illustrations and hope he gets some recognition for this. The art, created with only 4 colors, is amazing. Not sure others will love this as much as I do.
November 27, 2025
A beautiful, wordless book.
December 5, 2025
Loved eveything about it! The story, the illustrations, the sentiment. Beautiful!
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