Book picks similar to
Polar Bear Island by Lindsay Bonilla


picture-books
picture-book
penguins
animals

The Bear Report


Thyra Heder - 2015
    They’re mean. They eat things. Bor-ing. At least that’s how Sophie feels when she sits down to do her homework.   But then something decidedly unboring happens—Sophie is whisked away to the Arctic by a jovial polar bear named Olafur. In a whirlwind of a day, he shows the reluctant Sophie the many brilliant things there are to see in his home, from glacier mice to the northern lights. Sophie begins to learn that the polar bear’s home is so much more than a barren, frozen land. It’s a world filled with life, adventure—and a new friend.  The Bear Report showcases the power of curiosity to fill any blank canvas, whether it’s an incomplete homework assignment or the Arctic ice.

Where's Walrus? And Penguin?


Stephen A. Savage - 2015
    Will the zookeeper find them? Or will these clever runaways stay one step ahead disguised as subway riders, baseball players, and even grand opera performers? Hiding in plain sight, they elude the clueless zookeeper until a fly ball at a baseball game leads Walrus and Penguin to a chance encounter with surprising results!

Pip & Squeak


Ian Schoenherr - 2006
    Oh, no! Squeak is mad. Pip is in a pickle. They are late already, and deep snow is everywhere! How will Pip and Squeak ever find the perfect present for their friend Gus?

Who Wet My Pants?


Bob Shea - 2019
    "WHO WET MY PANTS?" he shouts, and a blame game starts. His buddies try to reassure him there was no crime. Just an accident. It could happen to anyone! But as all the clues begin to point in Reuben's own direction as the culprit, Reuben must come to terms with the truth.Who Wet My Pants? isn't a potty-training book. It's a witty and wise story about embarrassment and anger, empathy and acceptance, and ultimately...forgiveness.

Waddle! Waddle!


James Proimos - 2015
    Waddle...waddle...belly slide! into a charming and funny story about friendship, featuring three adorable penguins!What's a penguin to do when he can't find his new friend?Yesterday he made a friend who was an absolutely amazing dancer--but now he can't find him anywhere!Waddle...waddle...bellyslide! along with this hopeful penguin as his search for his new friend takes him on some zany adventures--and ultimately, to an unexpected and heartwarming conclusion.Acclaimed creator James Proimos, illustrator of Year of the Jungle by Suzanne Collins, brings his zest and zany humor to this charming friendship story.

Click, Clack, Surprise!


Doreen Cronin - 2016
    But Little Duck has never had a birthday before—so how better to learn how to prepare than to do what all the other animals do! The sheep trim their wool—so Little Duck trims her feathers. The pigs need a mud bath—so Little Duck quish and quashes, too. All over the barnyard Little Duck snips, slurps, squishes, and shimmy shakes herself ready until...WHOOPS! It’s party picture time—and Little Duck is a big mess. No matter—it’s not something Farmer Brown’s frosted maple cake can’t fix!

Jet the Cat (Is Not a Cat)


Phaea Crede - 2021
    . . but when other animals try to convince her that she's really a bird or a frog or a goat, she learns to embrace her unique identity. This hilarious story teaches us to celebrate our differences.

Polar Bear Morning


Lauren Thompson - 2013
    Companion to New York Times Best Illustratedbook /New York Times bestselling book.On a chill, bright morning, a polar bear cub awakes inside her cozy den. She hears the seagulls' far-away calls and clambers out into the day.Suddenly a snowy something tumbles down a little snow hill. She sees a snowy face, snowy paws, and snowy fur. What can it be?Thrilling words and glowing pictures make this morning-time tale of first friendship as satisfying as a warm hug.

The Bear in My Family


Maya Tatsukawa - 2020
    The bear is loud, messy, uncouth, and very strong (too strong!). For some reason, his parents treat the bear like family, despite his protests. Why can't they see? Then he runs into some bullies on the playground. When the bear ROOAARS with all her might and scares them away, he realizes that there are advantages to having a bear in the family. In a delightful twist, the narrator's older sister (the bear) appears, telling him that she is NOT a bear. But if she is, HE is too--because two bears are even better than one!

Bear and Chicken


Jannie Ho - 2017
    As Chicken thaws-um, awakens-he fears that Bear is actually prepping to eat him. Oh no! All signs are pointing to a fateful end for Chicken-being wrapped like a burrito, chopped basil and veggies sitting on the counter, the huge pot on the stove that's just the right size for a chicken to fit inside. It's almost time for lunch, so Chicken makes a run for it! But in the end, Chicken learns that perhaps he too quickly jumped to conclusions. This funny and clever friendship tale teaches kids that things are not always as they seem, while learning a thing or two about making soup with a friend!

Sleep, Big Bear, Sleep!


Maureen Wright - 2009
    He thinks Old Man Winter has told him to drive a jeep, to sweep, and to leap. Big Bear just can’t seem to hear what Old Man Winter is saying. Finally, Old Man Winter finds a noisy way to get Big Bear’s attention. Cozy illustrations rendered in pencil and mixed media by Will Hillenbrand bring this bedtime story to a fitting conclusion.

Poles Apart


Jeanne Willis - 2015
    Everybody knows that penguins belong at the South Pole and polar bears live at the North Pole - but what would happen if, one day, a family of picnicking penguins accidentally got lost? When the hapless Pilchard-Brown family find themselves at completely the wrong pole, they need Mr White, the friendly polar bear, to guide them all the way home...

Max and Marla


Alexandra Boiger - 2015
    And aspiring Olympians! With their eyes on the prize, they know exactly what it’ll take to reach sledding success: preparation, practice and perseverance. So when rusty blades, strong winds and difficult slopes get in their way, Max and Marla realize true joy lies not in winning but in friendship. Obstacles turn into victories!With delightful illustrations and charming text, Alexandra Boiger brings to life the story of two unstoppable pals—true Olympians who never give up!

The Thing About Yetis


Vin Vogel - 2015
    They love snowball fights and hot chocolate and sledding and building snow castles. But even yetis get the shivers, and even yetis get crabby from all the cold. So here’s a secret about yetis:  sometimes they miss summer. Sometimes, they have to bring a little bit of summer to the coldest of winter days. Those yetis, they're just full of surprises.Perfect for fans of Love Monster and the Cat books by Deborah Underwood, this endearing new character will warm your heart.

My Little Polar Bear


Claudia Rueda - 2009
    As the cub sets out on a dramatic arctic journey, it worries whether it has the skills to survive. But a parent's abiding presence and simple, reassuring words instill confidence and love.In the tradition of such classics as THE RUNAWAY BUNNY and MAMA DO YOU LOVE ME?, this graceful, soothing tale speaks to the powerful bond between parent and child, and to the many stages of a child's growing independence, from first steps to first school experience and even to leaving home.