You're Snug With Me; Chitra Soundar, illustrated by Poonam Mistry

Winter has arrived and it is time for Mama Bear to hunker down for the cold months that lie ahead. She curls up in her new home, waiting for her two cubs to be born. Like all young, the two cubs are curious about the world outside of the den and need the answers to lots of big, important questions. Mama Bear tells them of lands of ice and snow, of oceans, of light and dark, of other animals, and about growing up. Overwhelmed by all of this and the vast world that lies outside of the snug den, Mama Bear reassures them that they need not be afraid and offers the most comforting of words, “Hush now, you’re snug with me.”

I love the story and the messages that Chitra Soundar includes in her narrative. Soundar tells an informative story set in the polar lands of a polar bear surviving the winter months and her nurturing responsibilities as she raises her cubs. Woven into this narrative are messages on the importance of nature and how it should be respected, only taking what we need and encouraging us all to be more careful with resources.

The illustrations are exquisite and are made up of dots and swirls. The shades of blues and creams are perfect for the icy landscape of the frozen polar lands.

The authors note at the back is full of fascinating information about polar bears and the lands that they inhabit. It also includes a message that this planet is our only home and that we all have a duty to look after it. And as Mama Bear tells her cubs, “We should only ever take what we need.”

A lovey book that celebrates the nurturing of two young cubs and the special relationship between mother and offspring. The added bonus of informative and timely advice on the environment and delightful artwork make this a hit of a picture book.

Recommended for 6+.