Uncle Pete and the Polar Bear Rescue by David C Flanagan

Go north! has long been my motto. Preferably by boat, but I’ll take Uncle Pete’s plane. And that’s exactly what our intrepid explorer does in this volume of his adventures. He’s on a quest to reunite Berg, a little polar bear, with his family. Along with TM (the diminutive rodent) they pack into the plane and head north. But there’s no sign of Berg’s family anywhere, and the only thing to do is go further in search of the polar bears – and some decent ice.

Without in any way detracting from enjoyment of the story, David Flanagan introduces his young readers to the problems of global warming, and also of the inhumane treatment of animals. Berg’s family have had to move north to find enough ice, and on the way they have been captured by some unscrupulous hunters. Their situation seems desperate but, once Uncle Pete hears of it, he springs into action. With the help of Shona and the other squirrels a rescue is launched.

I love this short book with its illustrations by Will Hughes. They and the words both paint a picture of the Arctic, an area I love, in all its beautiful iciness. I could almost smell the crisp Arctic air and see the Northern Lights. Altogether this is another triumph for David, Will and Little Door Books.