Polar Animals (Scholastic Reader Level 1 Series) »

"I'm a seal.
See my smooth skin.
My flippers help me
steer and swim."
Children learn about polar bears, penguins, walruses, artic foxes, seals, and snow animals. The text is written in easy-to-read rhymes and is illustrated with irresistible photographs. Three pages of fun learning activities are designed to both challenge and entertain new readers.

Children's Literature

Fluffy, white animals abound in this Level 1 reader. Pulling from both the North and South Poles, Cooper introduces new readers to the behaviors and anatomy of polar animals. Penguins, seals, polar bears, and walruses may be familiar to kids from picture books, trips to the zoo, or television, but the lesser known snowy owl and arctic fox surprise them. Basic facts are deftly incorporated into the animals' own personal narratives—"I have whiskers and tucks. I am wrinkly and fat. I can sleep in the water. And that is that!" Clear, crisp photos are as close as can be, as animals strut their stuff, play with friends, and snuggle up close with their mothers. A balance of sight words, phonics, and rhymes make it easy for kids to decipher the meaning of the text. Parents will particularly appreciate the introduction on reading together provided at the start of the book. Cooper follows up with keywords, other useful words, and a quiz. This is a great choice for librarians or teachers looking for visual nonfiction to update their collections. Reviewer: Kristy Lyn Sutorius