Best Preschool Books About Arctic Animals
Exploring the fascinating world of arctic animals is a wonderful learning opportunity for preschoolers. Books offer an engaging way to introduce young children to the unique creatures that inhabit the cold, icy landscapes of the Arctic. As curators of educational resources, we’ve delved into numerous titles to bring you a curated list of the most engaging and informative arctic animals books for preschoolers. From captivating stories to simple non-fiction guides, these selections are perfect for sparking curiosity and building early knowledge about polar bears, arctic foxes, walruses, and more.
Finding the right books that balance engaging narratives with age-appropriate information is key. We’ve reviewed each book with young readers in mind, noting what makes them special and how they might resonate with preschoolers. This list aims to provide parents and educators with trustworthy recommendations to make learning about the Arctic a fun and memorable experience.
Living in the Arctic
by Allan Fowler
We appreciate Fowler’s non-fiction Rookie books for their excellent photographs and concise information suitable for preschoolers. This book provides a terrific overview of life in the Arctic, covering everything from the seasons to how both people and animals survive in this environment. It’s a solid foundational book for introducing the topic.
Cover of the preschool book "Living in the Arctic" by Allan Fowler, featuring images of arctic life and animals
If It’s Snowy and You Know It, Clap Your Paws!
by Kim Norman
This book is a delightful variation of the popular children’s song “If You’re Happy and You Know It,” making it a fun read-aloud experience. While the illustrations depict arctic animals wearing clothes, which leans towards cute rather than realistic, the sing-along format is highly engaging for young children. It’s a great way to add interactive fun to reading time.
Cover of the book "If It's Snowy and You Know It, Clap Your Paws!" showing cartoon arctic animals in clothing
Way Up in the Arctic
by Jennifer Ward
A definite winner for read-aloud sessions, this book features bouncy rhymes that tell the story of mother arctic animals caring for their young. It’s meant to be sung to the tune of the beloved “Over in the Meadow,” which adds an extra layer of enjoyment. This book is incredibly engaging and can be enjoyed repeatedly without losing its charm.
Cover of the rhythmic preschool book "Way Up in the Arctic" featuring mother arctic animals and their babies
Over in the Arctic
by Marianne Berkes
Following the same pattern as “Way Up in the Arctic,” this book also uses rhymes and is intended to be sung. While the illustrations and rhymes in Jennifer Ward’s book might be slightly preferred, this is still a good option. A bonus is that the end of the book includes suggested activities and related literature, making it a useful resource for expanding on the theme with winter animal activities for preschoolers.
Cover of "Over in the Arctic" by Marianne Berkes, a preschool book following a similar pattern of arctic animals and young
Ice Bear
by Nicola Davies
This poetic book about polar bears is personally enjoyable, filled with fascinating facts like how a polar bear outweighs two lions. Although some preschoolers might find it less engaging than more story-driven books, its beautiful language and interesting information make it worth trying. It offers a different style of reading that can still be appreciated by a young audience.
Cover of "Ice Bear," a poetic preschool book by Nicola Davies focusing on a polar bear
Polar Bears
by Gail Gibbons
Gail Gibbons’ non-fiction picture books sometimes contain more information than very young listeners might absorb easily. However, this one can be made enjoyable by reading it in a conversational style, pausing to discuss pictures, ask questions, or point things out. It provides valuable information about polar bears presented in a visually appealing way.
Cover of Gail Gibbons' nonfiction picture book "Polar Bears," suitable for preschoolers learning about arctic animals
Puffin Peter
by Petr Horacek
A truly delightful story about the friendship between two puffins, Peter and Paul. When Peter gets lost, he’s sad until a big blue whale helps him reunite with Paul. This book was a favorite, requested often for its heartwarming story and charming illustrations. It’s a lovely example of a storybook featuring arctic birds.
Cover of the delightful storybook "Puffin Peter" by Petr Horacek, featuring puffins and a whale
Adrift: An Odd Couple of Polar Bears
by Jessica Olien
This is a wonderful book about two polar bears, Karl and Hazel, who initially dislike each other but find unexpected friendship when they’re stranded on a piece of ice. It’s a charming story that explores themes of friendship and unlikely bonds in the arctic setting.
Cover of "Adrift: An Odd Couple of Polar Bears," a preschool book about unexpected friendship in the Arctic
The Three Snow Bears
by Jan Brett
Jan Brett’s illustrations are always stunning, and this arctic version of “The Three Bears” is no exception. The story follows the familiar pattern but with a snowy, arctic twist, featuring polar bears. It’s a visually rich book that preschoolers will enjoy exploring.
Cover of Jan Brett's "The Three Snow Bears," an arctic retelling of the classic fairy tale
Puffins Climb, Penguins Rhyme
by Bruce McMillan
This book presents a clear contrast between the arctic puffin and the antarctic penguin using very simple text – just two words per page. Phrases like “Puffins land. Puffins stand. Penguins zoom. Penguins groom.” make it easy for young children to follow and understand the basic differences between these birds from opposite poles. It’s a great concept book for early learners.
Cover of "Puffins Climb, Penguins Rhyme" by Bruce McMillan, comparing arctic and antarctic birds
The Arctic Habitat
by Molly Aloian and Bobbie Kalman
Containing a significant amount of information, this book might be better suited for kindergartners or advanced preschoolers, perhaps requiring some skimming for younger audiences. However, its friendly format and focus on how arctic animals migrate, hibernate, or adapt to their environment make it a valuable resource for understanding animals and their homes pdf.
Arctic Foxes
by Maeve T. Sisk
This is a concise book with just the right amount of text for young listeners interested in arctic foxes. Children will learn about their seasonal coat changes, where they live, what they eat, and other fascinating facts about these adaptable animals.
The Lonesome Polar Bear
by Jane Cabrera
A sweet story about a lonely polar bear whose only friend is a cloud. The cloud makes him snow friends, which eventually melt, leaving him lonely again until he meets a real polar bear friend. While not complex literature, its simple plot and heartwarming theme resonate well with preschoolers.
My Little Polar Bear
by Claudia Rueda
This book is very simple and sweet, focusing on a mother polar bear explaining why her baby is also a polar bear. It provides gentle information for little listeners while conveying a reassuring message about a mother’s love. It’s perfect for quiet reading time.
In Arctic Waters
by Laura Crawford
Told in a style similar to “This is the House that Jack Built,” this book uses repetition to describe the arctic environment and the animals within it. It starts with the ice and adds elements with each page, making it a fun, interactive read that preschoolers often request again and again.
Polar Opposites
by Erik Brooks
This book is both fun and educational, highlighting the differences between penguins and polar bears – where they live, their appearance, etc. It takes a silly turn by showing them liking different clothes and habits, before bringing them together for a shared vacation. It’s a creative way to teach concepts of comparison and contrast, and could inspire ideas for sea animals craft for preschoolers focusing on marine life from both poles.
Walruses of the Arctic
by Sara Swan Miller
An excellent non-fiction book for learning about walruses. It contains a fair amount of text but is well worth reading, perhaps with some skimming for younger children. We learned fascinating details about walrus bristles, tusks, diet, and more, which captivated both young children and adults.
Arctic Fox
by Dee Phillips
This book provides fascinating insights into the differences in the arctic fox’s life and appearance between winter and summer. It’s a straightforward and informative read about this specific arctic animal.
Kali’s Story
by Jennifer Keats Curtis
This is the true story of an orphaned polar bear named Kali who finds a home at a zoo and eventually befriends a female polar bear. It’s a heartwarming tale well-suited for a young audience, featuring entertaining photographs that bring the story to life.
Polar Bear
by Dee Phillips
Another excellent book in the Arctic Animals series by Dee Phillips. It covers key aspects of polar bear life, including where they live, how they stay warm, hunting seals, and raising cubs. The main text is suitable for preschoolers, with additional information boxes for those wanting more detail. For educators planning lessons, this could align well with animals in winter lesson plans for preschool.
Polar Bear Night
by Lauren Thompson
Reading like a lullaby, this book follows a baby polar bear exploring the night sky and sleeping animals. While potentially sleep-inducing for adults, its calm tone and imagery are often appealing to young children, making it a gentle bedtime read.
The Polar Bear Son
by Lydia Dabcovich
This retelling of a traditional Inuit story is a tender and beautiful tale loved by both young children and adults. It tells the story of an old, childless woman who adopts a polar bear cub that becomes like a son to her, and the difficult decision she must make when hunters become envious.
Polar Bears and Penguins
by Katharine Hall
This book effectively compares and contrasts polar bears and penguins using very simple text and large photographs. It covers their habitats, physical characteristics, and more, in an easy-to-understand format that is highly recommended for young learners.
Polar Bears
by Kate Riggs
Part of the Seedlings series, this book is a perfect introduction to polar bears for toddlers and young preschoolers. It features extremely simple text and lovely photos, making it truly perfect for the youngest audience members. This series is worth exploring for its accessible approach to non-fiction topics.
A Polar Bear’s World
by Caroline Arnold
While the collage style illustrations might not appeal to everyone, and the font choices could be distracting, this book contains good information about the polar bear’s environment. Despite potentially busy pages, children can still enjoy learning from its content.
Polar Bears
by Laura Marsh
This Level 1 National Geographic Kids book is highly recommended for its great photos and engaging, interesting text. It includes fascinating facts, such as comparing a polar bear’s weight to seven men, and highlights unique phenomena like polar bears visiting a Canadian town in the fall.
What Can Live in the Snow?
by John-Paul Wilkins
Although the cover features penguins (which live in the Antarctic), the book itself provides valuable information about how plants survive in the tundra and how arctic animals cope with winter – how they stay warm, find food, protect themselves, and hide. It’s a useful resource for understanding adaptation to cold climates.
Arctic Tundra
by Michael H. Forman
This book delves into details about permafrost and other geographic elements of the Arctic Tundra. While the text can sometimes be difficult to read against busy pictures, the information is comprehensive. It’s recommended for more advanced listeners due to its detailed content.
Little Polar Bear
by Hans de Beer
The original book in a long series, this story is quite charming. It follows Lars, a little polar bear separated from his dad, who drifts on ice to the tropics and meets a friendly hippo who helps him find his way home. It’s a sweet adventure story.
Good Morning, Little Polar Bear
by Carol Votaw
While some might find it a bit too cute, this book offers a nice overview of arctic animals through sweet rhymes and adorable illustrations. Reading it multiple times can help children learn the rhymes and participate in the reading.
Where Do Polar Bears Live?
by Sarah L. Thompson
An excellent “Let’s Read and Find Out” science book that presents non-fiction information in a story format. It contains a lot of information that can keep preschoolers engaged. Although the ending includes a significant section on global warming, which might require selective reading depending on preference, the core information about polar bears is valuable.
North Pole South Pole
by Nancy Smiler Levinson
This book is a great introduction to comparing and contrasting the Arctic (North Pole) and Antarctic (South Pole). It’s a solid little book that serves well as a starting point for an arctic or polar animal themed unit.
Snowshoe Hare
by Dee Phillips
Also part of the Arctic Animals series, this book teaches children about the snowshoe hare – its diet, how it escapes predators, and its development. Despite potentially busy pages, the main text is informative for young listeners.
These books offer diverse perspectives and information about the animals and environment of the Arctic, making them valuable additions to any preschool curriculum or home library focused on this fascinating region.
