- Chapter Books
- Ages 8–11
- Contemporary
Finding Bear
Book 2 of 2 in The Last BearView the full series
A direct follow-up to The Last Bear, returning April to the Arctic for a more urgent rescue-driven adventure. Best for readers already emotionally attached to April and Bear.
- Best for8–11
- FormatChapter
- Length352 pp
- Read aloud~5 hr
The vibe
What it’s like.
Style
- Literary
- Conversational
Tone
- Heartwarming
- Adventurous
- Suspenseful
- Thought provoking
- Inspirational
Themes
Experience meters
What’s it about?
The story.
April Wood has never forgotten Bear, the polar bear she befriended on Bear Island. When she learns that Bear may be in danger again, she is pulled back toward the Arctic and into another journey across ice, weather and wild uncertainty. This sequel keeps the emotional power of The Last Bear while giving the story a more direct rescue-adventure engine: April is older, determined and still convinced that individual action can matter, even in the face of climate change and adult doubt. The bond between child and animal remains the heart of the book, but the stakes feel wider because the Arctic world itself is changing. Levi Pinfold's illustrations again add beauty and atmosphere, turning the landscape into something both magical and fragile. It is a strong continuation for readers who want hope, peril and environmental purpose in the same story.
Fit check
Right for your child?
Where it lands by age
- 1
- 3
- 5
- 7
- 9
- 11
- 13
- Best fit · 8–11
- Read aloud · 8–11
- Independent · 8–12
Prose load
Moderate
Visual support
Moderate
Reluctant-reader friendly
Workable
Read-aloud quality
Excellent
Works well for
- Reading aloud
Preview before sharing if a child is sensitive to: animal harm, scary imagery.
Bedtime suitability
3 / 5 · Workable
Sensitive-child
2 / 5 · Use judgement
Graphic intensity
2 / 5 · Mild
Best for
- Animal lovers
- Eco adventure
- Polar bear story
- Sequel to last bear
- Moving read aloud
Avoid if
- Has not read the last bear
- Very sensitive to animal peril
- Wants comedy first
Particularly good for children who are…
- Interested in science
- Anxiety and worry
- Low self esteem
In the classroom
How it works in school.
Hannah Gold's moving polar-bear adventure — a wonderful class novel and read-aloud about climate and courage, and a companion for environment topics.
A book children love that happens to support school — never a stand-in for the texts a class is taught with. Reviewed for the classroom · June 2026.
Why it lands
Why they love it.
Why kids love it
The specific feeling is returning — April, older and more determined, going back to the Arctic for the bear she couldn't stop thinking about. A reader who loved the first book gets the rare middle-grade satisfaction of a sequel that earns its existence. Levi Pinfold's illustrations carry the cold.
- Animal companions
- Making a difference
- Adventure and freedom
- Surviving danger
Why parents love it
The sequel to The Last Bear, written for any nine-year-old who loved the first book and asked what happened to Bear. More rescue-driven and adventure-paced than the original; same emotional weight, same gift-book illustrations. The two together are the modern children's polar bear shelf.
- Beautiful illustrations
- Conversation starter
- Great writing
- Bedtime appropriate
In the series
The Last Bear.
2 books · open the series →
About the creators
About the creators.
If you liked this
Three ways out of this book.
If you liked this, try…
Lateral matches. Same shelf, different texture.
Come into this from…
Easier or preparing reads — perfect lead-ins.
Where to go next…
Escalation reads — a step up in scale, silliness, or stakes.
More like this…
Books that share themes and topics with this one.
Buy or borrow
Pick up a copy.
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