Arctic, Antarctic, Arctic Circle, Expedition, Explorers, Autism
The Polar Bear Explorers' Club
by Alex Bell
Key information
Author: Alex Bell
Illustrator: Tomislav Tomic
Release Date: 2nd November 2017
Star rating: ★★★★★
Book type: Chapter, 352 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Reader level: Confident reader (9+), Shared read 8+
Age: Year 3+
Overview
The Polar Bear Explorers' Club by Alex Bell is a middle-grade fantasy novel that follows the adventurous journey of Stella Starflake Pearl, a young girl determined to become an explorer despite the club's traditional exclusion of females. Raised by her adoptive father, Felix, a member of the Polar Bear Explorers' Club, Stella convinces him to allow her to join an expedition to the Icelands, a realm filled with magical creatures and perilous landscapes.
During the expedition, Stella becomes separated from the main group along with three other junior explorers: Ethan, a magician and Ocean Explorer; Shay, the captain’s son and a wolf whisperer; and Beanie, a half-elf medic. Together, they face numerous challenges, including encounters with snow pirates, yetis, carnivorous cabbages, and other fantastical beings. Throughout their journey, the group learns valuable lessons about friendship, bravery, and self-discovery.
This is also the first book in a series - a great way to hook your class and introduce them to more books!
Key concepts/themes
- Adventure
- Independence
- Determination
- Friendship
- Love
- Team work
- Family
Considerations
- Orphans
- Death of brother
Curriculum links
Geography - Arctic circle, Antarctica, Arctic
History - Ernest Shackleton, Explorers, Famous expeditions
Additional teaching opportunities
1. Writing
- Write setting description (Arctic focussed)
- Character description (Ethan, Beanie, Stella, Felix)
- Creating atmosphere
- Writing a fantasy story
- Letter (Stella to the head of the PBEC)
- Discussion (Should girls be allowed to join the PBEC?)
- Instructions (How to be a successful explorers)
- Non-chronological report (Yeti)
2. PSHE
- Coping with grief (loss of sibling)
- Understanding Autism (Beanie presents Autistic traits)
Vocabulary
| Tier 2 | Tier 3 |
|---|---|
| explorer, map room, sledge, wolves, starched, | Yeti, expedition, gramophone, frostbite, navigation, compass, Iceland, pygmy |
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