If Polar Bears Disappeared (If Animals Disappeared)

K-Gr 3--In this appealing follow-up to If Sharks Disappeared, a budding scientist travels to the Arctic, using polar bears as a framework for explaining the effects of climate change. Up-to-date information on the subject is presented in a straightforward manner, with scientifically correct vocabulary. Each spread describes how polar bears impact other animals in their ecosystems and the importance of sea ice to the survival of living things. Williams's illustration style is wonderfully adaptive, working as well with boldly drawn Arctic landscapes and oceans as it does with age-appropriate diagrams of the scientific processes behind climate change. Though the subject matter may affect readers of a sensitive nature, Williams tempers the book's unpleasant reality with her final pages, showing her unnamed main character researching polar bears and motivated to find solutions to climate change. The comprehensive back matter includes a glossary, tips for combating climate change at home, and a bibliography, providing a wealth of angles for potential science projects. VERDICT Bright, appealing illustrations and an ultimately empowering message provide a much-needed hopeful side to a complex topic.--Katherine Barr, Cameron Village Regional Library, Raleigh, NC