Review of Dasher and the Polar Bear

by Cynthia K. Ritter
Nov 24, 2025 | Filed in Book Reviews

Dasher and the Polar Bear Dasher and the Polar Bear
by Matt Tavares; illus. by the author
Primary    Candlewick    40 pp.
9/25    9781536236316    $18.99

Reindeer Dasher is back for a third time (most recently Dasher Can’t Wait for Christmas, rev. 11/23), here befriending a polar bear named George while enjoying the northern lights. Dasher tries unsuccessfully to teach George how to fly; on Christmas Eve, Christmas works its magic for George (and Dasher) when Santa helps George “know how it feels to fly.” Tavares’s splendid digital illustrations of snowy Arctic scenery and soaring sleigh rides complement his heartfelt holiday story of new friendship.

From the November/December 2025 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.
Cynthia K. Ritter
Cynthia K. Ritter

Cynthia K. Ritter is managing editor of The Horn Book, Inc. She earned a master's degree in children's literature from Simmons University. She served on the 2019 Boston Globe–Horn Book Award committee.

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