School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-Lars returns in another Arctic adventure. This time he meets Freddy, a dachshund who is on a research submarine investigating the melting of the polar ice cap. When Lars learns that the men on the sub have rescued a pair of cubs, he volunteers to return them to their parents. There is tension and suspense when he must sneak them off the submarine: Freddy warns Lars that if he risks being seen, the scientists will want to rescue him, too. But returning Nina and Nonni becomes a harder task than Lars had imagined. With the help of an arctic fox, the three little polar bears find their way back to Lars's parents. Winter is setting in, and the lost cubs must wait until spring to go home. The watercolors are gorgeous, especially the landscapes. While white predominates, De Beer introduces color with the green ocean and many varied hues of the sky. Details on the submarine will keep tech-savvy kids engaged, and younger children will love the adorable cubs and dog. The one disappointment is that Nina and Nonni are not reunited with their parents. Purchase where this series is popular.-Elaine Lesh Morgan, formerly at Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
An environmental theme runs through Lars the polar bear's latest adventure. Temperatures are rising at the North Pole, and while splashing around in the warm water, Lars meets a dachshund from a research submarine. Lars learns that the vessel has rescued two cubs from an ice floe, and he offers to return the cubs to their parents. De Beer gives the bears a (mostly) happy ending, with a fox helping Lars and Co. get back to his parents (though the other bears will have to stay with them until spring). The lack of resolution may disappoint some readers. Ages 3-up. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
