School Library Journal calls DASHER AND THE POLAR BEAR by Matt Tavares “a must for holiday collections” in starred review
★ Tavares, Matt. Dasher and the Polar Bear. illus. by Matt Tavares. 40p. (Dasher). Candlewick. Sept. 2025. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9781536236316. PreS-Gr 3.
“On a cold evening before Christmas, Dasher sets off for a nighttime flight. As she glides over the snow-covered land, she sees the beautiful northern lights blanketing the sky. The glowing colors remind her of Christmas, so she decides to land for a bit and enjoy the view. When she lands, Dasher encounters a large polar bear named George. He is amazed at her flying abilities and tells her how he always wished he could fly like her. Dasher does her best to teach him, and even though they try again and again, George still cannot fly. Dasher can’t understand why Christmas magic works on her but not her friend. If she only knew what to do to help him. This wonderful story is more than just a holiday book—it teaches about the importance of friendship and helping others. Readers can sense the warmth between the two new friends. Artwork is simply amazing. The illustration of the white terrain will make readers feel the cold wind blowing around them. Large pictures help listeners to focus on the characters and their emotions. The characters are meticulously drawn, and George steals the show; he appears to be lifelike: his fur has texture that will make readers want to reach out and touch it, and his face is full of expression. His eyes light up as he watches Dasher glide across the night sky, and when he realizes the lessons are not working, one can almost feel the disappointment in his eyes. The ending wraps up the story in a perfect way.
VERDICT: A must for holiday collections. This book will charm young children.”
–Barbara Spiri