Welcome to our little book club. This month my kids selected The Very, Very Far North by Dan Bar-El from our stack of unread books. Our goal is to finish at least one novel a month as a family read-aloud. You are invited to join us in our goal, with a book we’ve selected or one of your own choosing.

First, I’ll break down some of my thoughts on this book, without any big spoilers, so you can still enjoy the story along with your kids. Later, I’ll suggest discussion topics that came up while reading and ideas for book themed activities to explore with your kids.

Be sure to read till the end for a sneak peek at our next selection!

Make a Plan for Reading Success

Grab a copy of this wonderful book and gather your kids together. It’s time to slow down, unwind, and enjoy some high-quality family time.

If you are new to read alouds, start small. Commit to reading as many or as few chapters a week as is sustainable for your family. With 14 chapters and a conclusion, we easily got through at least one chapter of The Very, Very Far North, every other day.

Be sure to pick a time of the day that will set your family up for success and allow you to soak up this bonding time without distractions.

Our Reading Habits

This month, we switched up our usual routine and did most of our reading before leaving for school in the mornings. Cozying up together with a book helps us bond and set the tone before we separate for the day.

If I don’t think there’s enough time—without us feeling rushed out the door—I will read to the kids while they eat breakfast. This routine worked well for our schedule this month and allowed us to focus our evenings on other activities and independent reading.

What Is This Book About?

Duane the polar bear moves into the Very, Very Far North and gets acquainted with his new neighbors. Together, they embark upon adventures, solve problems, and enjoy the simple things in life. Each character has something special to teach Duane about friendship and community, as he learns to love and appreciate all the unique personalities that make up the Very, Very Far North.

Who Is This Book For?

Fans of Winnie-the-Pooh will love this modern story with a similar flare and tone. Duane the polar bear is the main character in The Very, Very Far North, but from the first chapter, I was reminded of another beloved bear and other characters from my own childhood.

Even if you aren’t a fan of Winnie-the-Pooh, you may still enjoy this book. After all, we began The House At Pooh Corner years ago and never finished it! At the time, neither of my kids could stay engaged in the story for long. However, they absolutely loved Duane and his friends. After reading The Very Very Far North, I foresee another attempt at Winnie-the-Pooh in our future.

If your family loves wholesome and gentle books—with quirky talking animals—this book is for you!

What We Love About The Very, Very Far North

1. Characters & Narrator

The kids loved getting to know each character’s unique personalities and quirks, and the narration helped bring them all to life. Every character contributed something unique to the story, and each had an introduction into the story line that was fun and engaging. Duane’s first encounters with Major Puff and Magic were favorites of ours and had us laughing out loud in surprise and amusement!

We are big fans of books with talking animals at the heart. Exploring life lessons through animals, with human-like personalities, adds a softness to big topics and helps capture the attention of younger audiences.

2. Themes & STEM

I loved the wholesome plot and real-world conversations that I felt inspired to engage in with the kids. Talking points included friendships, personal boundaries, and the consequences of betraying your inner voice. There was nothing too heavy in the approach of these important themes, and they were addressed naturally within the plot in age-appropriate ways.

On a lighter note, there is a fun and delicious little science lesson the characters engage in (chapter 5) that had my kids completely enamored. STEM themes are always a big hit with my kids, who love to ask questions and carry out experiments to find the answers. By complete coincidence, this corresponded perfectly with a STEM kit they received for Christmas, which we hadn’t gotten around to using.

3. Cover & Illustrations

The vibrant color profile and overall beauty of the cover contributed to my purchase of this title. The back cover has portrait-style illustrations of each character from the story and easily became a tool to make reading fun. My kids were so intrigued by the sneak peak of the characters, and as the story progressed, they had fun predicting which character they would meet next.

This title also contains black & white illustrations in every chapter, and they are wonderful!

The Very, Very Far North: Discussions & Questions

• A lot of the characters in this book feel afraid or worried at some point in the story. Discuss some things the characters were afraid of. Think about a time when you felt afraid or worried about something. What was that like? How did you get through it?

• Do you like hugs? A character in this book does not. Discuss physical boundaries with your child. Explain the importance of asking permission when you aren’t sure how someone feels about physical contact.

• In chapter 8, what happens when Duane ignores his inner voice to go on an adventure with Magic? What are the consequences? What does Duane learn from his mistake?

Take the Story Beyond the Pages

My kids love exploring story time further with hands on activities and crafts, adding a dash of fun to the books we read. This is one of my favorite ways to engage my kids in joyful reading.

Below, you’ll find a list of awesome ideas to help take this story beyond the pages. Many of these ideas, inspired by the book, overlap with the usual methods I use to bring more fun into reading. Feel free to engage your kids in these activities as you see fit, during or after reading The Very, Very Far North.

Fun Activities Inspired by The Very, Very Far North

• Make your very own Snow Delights with the KiwiCo Science of Cooking: Ice-Cream.

• Have your child make a self-portrait or draw themselves as an animal that embodies their personality. Don’t forget to add a name under the portrait. What names might Duane the polar bear give to the members of your family?

• Go exploring the way Handsome likes best. What kinds of reflective surfaces can you locate in and around your home or on an outing?

• Have a snow day! This can be literal, if you are reading the book during winter and live where there’s snow. Otherwise, bring the spirit of the arctic into your home with snow themed crafts and hot chocolate or some Snow Delight treats.

• Pick out a thoughtful gift for someone special. Consider the gift Duane picked out for Handsome in chapter 7. What made the gift so thoughtful?

• Have a family tea-party! Invite friends if you’d like, and make invitations like Handsome. Don’t forget to practice good manners.

• Bake yummy treats like Twitch.

• Get your kids moving. Practice marching drills like Major Puff and hopping skills like Twitch. Discuss the importance of physical activity.

• Adventuring, fishing, hiking… Get out in nature, whatever way your family loves best!

• Capture something by painting a canvas.

• There is an illustration of the Very, Very Far North on the title page of this book, but no labels. Use this as a guide to make your own map or locate key places together in the provided illustration. Here’s a checklist of some important places and landmarks to include:
  • the Shipwreck
  • Duane the Polar Bear’s Cave
  • Handsome’s field
  • the river below Rocky Ridge
  • Cold, Cold Ocean (or Mainly Frozen Cold Ocean)
  • Whaleback Hill, Double Whaleback Hill, Baby Whaleback Hill
  • the burrow
  • the painter’s easel
  • iceberg

• The book ends with a special letter to the reader from Duane the polar bear. Write a letter in response to Duane or a letter to a friend or relative telling them about the book.

Final Thoughts

We hope you enjoy this one as much as we did. This book was so much fun to read and explore together. The characters and narrator were lovable and engaging, and we cannot wait to read more of their stories in the sequel, Just Beyond the Very, Very Far North!

Stay tuned for our next read aloud adventure.