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Hello everyone, I hope you're all happy and safe. We are going to be reading The Little Polar Bear

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because on the 23rd of April it's International Book Day. This is by Hans the Bear and it's a

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book that I used to read when I was little. So, Little Polar Bear. It was a big day for Lars.

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he was going with his father on his first hunting trip. Lars was white all over, just like his

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father. In fact, at the North Pole where Lars lived, everything was white because it was covered

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in ice and snow. So here we have Lars with his father in the North Pole. Lars' father showed him

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how to do all kinds of things, follow tracks, swim and dive. He talked and talked and Lars listened

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silently, paying close attention. Once his father disappeared underwater and stayed so long, Lars

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began to worry. But when his father finally reappeared, he had a big fish for supper.

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When it was time to go to sleep, Lars's father said, make a big pile of snow to protect yourself

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from the wind like I do. Lars was very proud of his pile but also very tired. He quickly fell

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asleep just like his father but during the night the ice began to crack. The piece where Lars was

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lying broke off. When Lars woke up it was morning. He was all alone in the middle of the sea.

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It was getting warmer and warmer and the piece of ice and Lars's pile of snow were getting smaller

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and smaller. When the ice was completely melted, Lars saw a big barrel drifting by.

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Luckily, Lars was able to reach the barrel and climb on top of it. Then a storm began

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to rage. As Lars clung to his bobbing barrel, he missed his father and his pile of snow

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more and more. So here we can see Lars all on his own with the snow melting and him on

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his barrel in the sea. After the storm, Lars drifted on the sea for a long time. At last he

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saw land but could not see any snow or ice. Almost everything was green and the sun was very warm.

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Lars carefully slid off the barrel and stepped onto the beach. The beach was hot and yellow.

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It burned Lars's paws. He ran to a river nearby, but just as he was about to plunge in, a very big

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tan animal sprung out of the water. Boo, it said. Lars quickly ran to hide. I was only joking,

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called the big tan animal. I'm Henry, the hippopotamus. Who are you and why are you so

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white? Lars didn't know the answer to the last question. Where I come from, everything is white,

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he said. And here we have Henry jumping out of the water to scare Lars. And here he is

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again. He told Henry about his long journey and asked him how he could get back to his

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father. Henry listened sympathetically. He seemed confused. He wiggled his ears and squirmed

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and finally said, the only one who can help you is Marcus, the eagle. He has travelled

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all over the world. He will know where you come from and how you can get back there but will have

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to cross the river, go through the jungle and climb the mountains to reach him. Lars was happy to go

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but when he looked at the river he said the only problem is I can't swim very well yet.

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No problem at all said Henry and laughed. Climb on my back I won't sink. Lars was astonished by

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all of the things he saw in the jungle. Henry patiently explained everything. Lars especially

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liked the tall brown stalks that Henry called trees. They were such fun to climb. In one brown

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stalk sat a funny green animal, which suddenly turned white, just like Lars. It's a chameleon,

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Henry said. It can change its colour. Lars thought that this was a handy thing to be able to do.

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and here we can see Lars in the tree saying hello to a chameleon. At the edge of the jungle

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the mountains began. It was a bit cooler and Lars felt more comfortable. Henry found climbing

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difficult but Lars helped him by telling him where to step. After a while Henry was exhausted.

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That's enough for today he said. Tomorrow we will continue. Let's rest here and look at the nice view.

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As Lars looked out over the land and sea, he began to feel homesick.

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Cheer up, said Henry. You'll be home again soon.

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The next day they climbed higher. Henry had to stop often to catch his breath.

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But at last he called, here comes Marcus.

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As a huge bird swooped near Lars, Lars ducked.

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Don't be afraid, said Henry. Marcus seems gruff, but he's really quite friendly.

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Henry said good morning to Marcus and politely explained why they had come.

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The eagle looked at Lars and then said,

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Well, well, a polar bear in the tropics.

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You're a long way from home, aren't you, young man?

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Fortunately, I can arrange your passage back.

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Tomorrow morning I will have Samson fetch you from the beach.

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Thank you very much, sir, Lars said shyly.

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and here we can see the eagle Marcus here flying down and here he is again the next morning Henry

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and Lars met Marcus on the beach right on time said Marcus proudly as a huge grey whale arrived

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although Henry was happy for Lars he was also sorry to see him go take care of yourself he said

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sadly. Thanks for everything Henry. Lars called as the whale swam away. Marcus flew along a bit

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to set them on their way. Henry stood alone on the beach. He kept watching for a long time

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after Lars and the whale had disappeared. And here we can see Samson, the whale, and Henry

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a little bit sad that his new friend is having to leave. Samson swam a long way until they were

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surrounded by ice and snow. We must be near your home now, he said. At the same moment, Lars called.

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There he is, my father. Father, I'm back. Lars's father couldn't believe his eyes. There was Lars

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riding on top of a whale. Lars's father was very tired from looking for Lars, but he wasn't too

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tired to catch a big fish for Samson to say thank you. Samson waved as he swam away. And now, said

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Lars, Lars's father, we must go straight home because your mother is very worried. On the way

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home Lars rode on his father's back. Everything was white and he was surrounded by snow and ice

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but this time Lars talked and talked while his father stayed silent. He told his father about

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all of the amazing things he'd seen. Henry, the tall brown storks, Marcus and much more.

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you didn't meet anyone who was white asked his father in surprise nobody except a chameleon said

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Lars but that doesn't count Lars had to laugh by himself because his father didn't understand his

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joke the end and here we have Lars and his father walking home and all of the amazing

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things that Lars had seen on his journey thank you very much for listening