TeachingBooks
Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?

Book Resume

for Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? by Bill Martin, Jr., Eric Carle, and Henry Green

Professional book information and credentials for Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?.

  • School Library Journal:
  • Pre-K - Grade 1
  • Publisher's Weekly:
  • Ages Toddler - 4
  • TeachingBooks:*
  • Grades PK-2
  • Word Count:
  • 200
  • Lexile Level:
  • 670L
  • ATOS Reading Level:
  • 2.1
  • Genre:
  • Picture Book
  • Year Published:
  • 1991

The following 7 subject headings were determined by the U.S. Library of Congress and the Book Industry Study Group (BISAC) to reveal themes from the content of this book (Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?).

The following unabridged reviews are made available under license from their respective rights holders and publishers. Reviews may be used for educational purposes consistent with the fair use doctrine in your jurisdiction, and may not be reproduced or repurposed without permission from the rights holders.

Note: This section may include reviews for related titles (e.g., same author, series, or related edition).

From School Library Journal

November 1, 1991
PreS-Gr 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

School Library Journal

From Publisher's Weekly

October 14, 1991
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.

Publisher's Weekly

From Horn Book

January 1, 1991
After twenty-five years, this team has produced a companion volume to their ever-popular 'Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?' (Holt). Although this newest title doesn't work as perfectly as the earlier book, it will earn its own place in storytime collections.

(Copyright 1991 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

The Horn Book

From AudioFile Magazine

When a children's book has a reputation for being a classic, a narrator can be overshadowed by the material. Yet in this case, Gwyneth Paltrow narrates with a confidence and clarity that let the auditory clues and trademark animal collages take center stage. Her voice is steady and pauses regularly for contemplation of the story's menagerie: a hissing snake, a bellowing walrus, and a whistling zookeeper who is followed by a bevy of costumed children. Listeners will surely want to join in with her animal voices. Background sound effects bring depth to the action, and children will love poring over the rich illustrations. A.R. (c) AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine

AudioFile Magazine

Explore Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? on Marketplace. Access requires OverDrive Marketplace login.


This Book Resume for Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? is compiled from TeachingBooks, a library of professional resources about children's and young adult books. This page may be shared for educational purposes and must include copyright information. Reviews are made available under license from their respective rights holders and publishers.

*Grade levels are determined by certified librarians utilizing editorial reviews and additional materials. Relevant age ranges vary depending on the learner, the setting, and the intended purpose of a book.

Retrieved from TeachingBooks on December 25, 2025. © 2001-2025 TeachingBooks.net, LLC. All rights reserved by rights holders.