THE POLAR BEAR AND THE BALLERINA
The Polar Bear and the Ballerina
Written and illustrated by Eric Velasquez
Hardcover | Pages: 48
Size: 8-1/2 x 11 | USD: $18.99
ISBN: 9780823449187
Publication Date: October 14, 2025
Age: 4-8
About the Book
How does a bear go to the ballet? A polar bear escapes into New York City in this heartfelt picture book from award-winning Afro-Latino artist Eric Velasquez.
A wordless story of unlikely friendship that celebrates art and its ability to connect us. However, this picture book also opens a conversation about alienation and empathy. Who is kept out of the theater? How can we welcome them in? A deeply personal story, author Eric Valqueuez sees himself in this tale.
When dancers have a photoshoot at the Central Park Zoo, a young, African American ballerina and a polar bear form a special friendship. When his new friend leaves her scarf behind, the polar bear must venture through Central Park and out into Manhattan to return it before her performance at the Lincoln Center.
However, the theater goers eye the strange bear with suspicion. When the ushers won’t let him inside, the ballerina comes to his rescue and welcomes him in. The polar bear has dreamed of seeing the ballet, and now he gets to be a part of it in the most surprising way.
The wordless narrative is told through expressive and detailed oil paintings. On the endpapers, readers learn more about these loveable characters with illustrations of zoo signage about polar bears and a magazine article about the young ballerina.
Eric Velasquez, author-illustrator of Bank Street Best Book of the Year Octopus Stew, brings a dream-like magic to this tale of empathy and kindred spirits.
A CSMCL Best Multicultural Children’s Book of the Year
★★★ THE REVIEWS ARE IN! ★★★
★'“This extraordinary wordless book features expressive illustrations that depict a unique friendship. A great addition to English- and Spanish-language picture book collections.” —School Library Journal (starred review)
★'“A lushly rendered wordless picture book from Velasquez (Outspoken). . . . Thickly stroked art invokes a strong sense of place, employing instantly recognizable landmarks alongside comically melodramatic bystanders.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
★'“A fantastical testament to the joy of seeing yourself in the art you seek out. . . .The captivating balance that Velasquez strikes between realism and ultra-expressive emotion makes a magical meal of the story. . . . Dreamy.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
★'“Sensitive, fun and timeless, The Polar Bear and the Ballerina is a powerful story about forging a bond with others wildly unlike yourself.”—BookPage (starred review)
“Conveying meaning and emotion without words is often the realm of the performing arts, but this wordless picture book conveys a beautiful friendship between a young ballerina and a polar bear. . . . A gorgeous, magically realistic tale, much like a ballet itself.”—Booklist
