From Kirkus Reviews
After a full generation, a companion to a perennial favorite (Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, 1967). In the interim, Carle's bold, colorful art has become a bit more sophisticated, though no more appealing. The pattern is similar: in response to a query modeled on the title, each animal now hears the next--the flamingo says, ``I hear a zebra braying in my ear,'' the zebra hears a boa constrictor hissing; and so on. At the end, a zookeeper hears a group of children, each imitating one of the animals. Attractive but not quite up to its predecessor: the text seems a little strained (especially some of the attributed voices--do peacocks yelp?), and the conclusion lacks the extra levels of meaning that made Brown Bear special. (Picture book. 2- 6) -- Copyright ©1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
Product Description
Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle are two of the most respected names in children's education and children's illustrations. This collaboration, Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?, their first since the classic Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? (published decades ago and still a bestseller) shows two masters at their best.
What will you hear when you read this book to a preschool child?
Lots of noise!
Children will chant the rhythmic words. They'll make the sounds the animals make. And they'll pretend to be the zoo animals featured in the book-- look at the last page!
A Redbook Children's Picture Book Award winner
The rollicking companion to Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
From Publishers Weekly
It's been 25 years since these two talented men put their heads together, but the fruit of their latest collaboration is well worth the wait. Continuing in the spirit of Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? , their new book incorporates the same clean design and crisp text, but this time the action takes place at the zoo, where elephants, hippos, lions and such are asked what they hear--each answer leads to the animal on the next page, and culminates with a zookeeper who "hears" a pageful of multiracial children disguised as their favorite animals. Carle's characteristically inventive, jewel-toned artwork forms a seamless succession of images that fairly leap off the pages, and educator Martin, ever tuned in to what children like best, has assembled a thoroughly rowdy menagerie--including a fluting flamingo, bellowing walrus and hissing boa constrictor, to name a few--imitations of whose sounds will doubtless soon be echoing in many homes and classrooms. A visually and aurally splashy work, this is a splendid successor to Brown Bear , one that no fan of that popular bruin will want to be without. Ages 2-4.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 1-- In a logical sensory follow-up to Martin's and Carle's wildly successful Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? (Holt, 1983), this dynamic duo now offers sounds. The polar bear hears a lion roaring, who hears a hippopotamus snorting, who hears a flamingo fluting (!), who hears a zebra braying, and so on through a varied list of animals. At last the zookeeper announces that he hears children roaring, snorting, fluting, etc. While the format is very similar to the previous book, Carle's trademark collages have never been more beautiful. Huge animals fill the double-page spreads, glowing with light-filled colors, sans superflouous background. Teachers will smile with delight when they see this wonderful book, and students are sure to utter the familiar request, "Have you got another one like this one?" --Ruth Semrau, Lovejoy School, Allen, TX
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Review
“Teachers will smile with delight when they see this wonderful book, and students are sure to utter the familiar request, 'Have you got another one like this one?'” ―School Library Journal, starred review
“A splendid successor to Brown Bear.” ―Publishers Weekly
