Synopsis: It’s a very sunny day, so Ted, Bo and Diz set out on an adventure. Then they discover an iceberg with a family of polar bears drifting a long way from home… A funny, quietly inspiring story about the meeting of different worlds, with a gentle environmental message.

Review: The first offering from a promising new author-illustrator (shortlisted for the Booktrust Early Years Awards). Chapman uses full page illustration to great effect, with bold colours and heart-warming characters. Ted, Bo and Diz easily make friends with a seal and the family of polar bears on their iceberg despite the differences in their cultures (the polar bears have never seen a flower before). Disaster strikes when the iceberg starts to melt, and the polar bears don’t know how they will get home, but Ted sails away in the dinghy and comes back with help. Suspend belief and this is a lovely book with beautiful pictures. It would be the perfect introduction for younger children to a discussion about the effects of global warming. Unfortunately, it could also be used as a “what not to do” book about water / beach safety!

2007-10-14