The story of a femalepolar bear provides an overview of the species' life cycle and includes themention of environmental changes that threaten their existence. Clear, softillustrations in Winter's characteristic style accompany her straightforwardtext. She starts with several pages that describe the Arctic landscape,offering a sense of place and placement. Similarly simple sentences coverfeeding, mating ("a dance of courtship"), and the raising of cubs. Atouch of sentiment appears in the forlorn expression on Nanuk's face when heryoung are old enough to strike out on their own, but overall both narrative andpictures focus on conveying an accurate picture of typical experiences andbehaviors. Illustrations are centered on each page, bordered in white, whilebehind them a rising sea changes color and height in successive spreads,eventually engulfing the white space entirely. In the final pages the authormentions the changes that have been implied throughout by this changingbackground. Although she softens the grim prospect by ending with the positivefuture envisioned in Nanuk's dreams, the reality, however lightly limned,ultimately gives the story a melancholy tone.

As in other books by the author,big issues are presented in an accessible manner and subtly enough that adultscan guide children to an age-appropriate understanding of them. (Picture book.5-8).