raz_ls35_polarbearspromise_clr

Polar Bear’s Promise LEVELED BOOK • S

A Reading A–Z Level S Leveled Book PolParromBiesaer’s
Word Count: 1,071
Written by Rus Buyok • Illustrated by Anita Barghigiani
Connections
Writing www.readinga-z.com
Use a Venn diagram to compare this
story to the classic fairy tale “Little Red
Riding Hood.” Then write a paragraph
explaining how the stories are alike
and how they are different.
Science and Art
Research how global warming is
affecting polar bears and their habitat.
Create a poster for your class
showing what you learn.

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PolParromBiesaer’s Words to Know

appetizing recede
crimson savor
devoured scrumptious
frigid suspicious
peculiar

Photo Credits:
Page 6: © iStock.com/FANTRAZY

Written by Rus Buyok Polar Bear’s Promise Correlation
Illustrated by Anita Barghigiani Level S Leveled Book LEVEL S
© Learning A–Z
www.readinga-z.com Written by Rus Buyok Fountas & Pinnell O
Illustrated by Anita Barghigiani Reading Recovery 34
Focus Question
All rights reserved. DRA 34
What is the polar bear’s promise, and
why did he make it? www.readinga-z.com

Once upon a time, a hungry polar bear One day, the bear discovered a human
hunted for his next meal. He had lived in the village. These weren’t the first humans he’d
Arctic since he was a cub and remembered encountered, so he knew they could be
when the ice extended far into the ocean. dangerous. He decided to avoid the village,
Back then, he only had to search for a hole or but then something peculiar caught his eye.
crack in the ice and patiently wait for a seal
to emerge to breathe. One seal would provide A small child was marching with a heavy-
several days of food. looking pack. The bear only noticed her because
she wore a bright red coat, which stood out
In recent years, though, the ice had started against the white surroundings. He watched
to recede, which meant seals were difficult to her walk farther from the village than he’d
catch. Sometimes, he would dangle his paws ever seen a child wander before.
in the frigid ocean water and gaze out at the
horizon, remembering where the ice used to
be. He’d imagine all the delicious seals that
were now too far away to reach.

Polar Bear’s Promise • Level S 34

Polar Bear Names

Polar bears live throughout the Arctic
Circle. This means they can be found
in a number of different countries.
The people in these places have
special names for polar bears.

Canada (Inuit)
Nanuk (NAH-nook)
Meaning: an animal worthy of great respect
Pihoqahiak (pee-HOH-wah-hayk)
Meaning: the ever-wandering one

The bear thought this was curious and Russia Norway and
stepped out from behind a snowbank. Beliy Medved Denmark
(BYEH-lee myid-VYEHT)
“Oh, hello, human child!” the bear said, Meaning: the white bear Isbjørn (EESS-byurn)
pretending to be surprised. “What is your
name?” Eastern Greenland Meaning: the ice bear
Tornassuk
“Hello to you, wandering one,” the girl- (toh-nah-SOOK)
child said politely. “My name is Amka.”
Meaning: the master of
W Word ise helping spirits

The people of the Canadian Arctic are known as
Inuit (IN-yoo-it). Amka is an Inuit name that means
“one with a friendly spirit.”

Polar Bear’s Promise • Level S 5 6

“Well, Amka, it is a lovely day, and I was “Amka, is that you?” came a voice from
wondering if you might know the location of inside.
any seals for my supper.” The bear licked his
lips. He’d never had much interest in eating The bear knocked again, and an old woman
humans, but any animal looked appetizing opened the door. She wore a coat of white fur.
to him at that moment. He considered gobbling
up the little girl right there, but he hesitated 8
because the other humans might see.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t. Now I must be on my
way,” Amka said. “My mother said I should
head straight to my grandmother’s house, near
the rock coming from the ice. I’m not supposed
to stop or speak with anyone.”

“I understand completely, and your mother
is correct, little crimson coat,” the bear said. “I
shall bother you no more.” The bear knew the
rock coming from the ice well, and he knew a
faster route to get there. His patience had paid
off, for now he had two meals instead of one.

Soon the bear reached the grandmother’s
house, where he thumped on the door with
a massive paw.

Polar Bear’s Promise • Level S 7

“Perfect,” the bear growled and swallowed “Grandmother, it’s me,” Amka called. The
her whole. She wasn’t as scrumptious as a seal, bear leapt into the grandmother’s bed and
and he felt guilty about eating her because concealed himself beneath the covers.
she had seemed nice enough. On the other
hand, it felt wonderful to have something “Come in,” he said to the girl, who came
in his stomach. inside, set down her pack, and opened it.

Inside the house, a delectable-smelling stew “You sound strange, Grandmother.”
bubbled on the stove. He was about to taste it
when someone knocked lightly on the door. “I’ve been feeling under the weather, but
you’re here now to make everything better,”
Polar Bear’s Promise • Level S 9 the bear responded.

Amka removed packages wrapped in paper
from her pack and placed them on the table.
The bear recognized the scent of seal meat,
and his mouth began to water. When she
finished unpacking, she approached the bed.

“When did you grow so huge?” Amka
asked. The bear hadn’t expected any questions,
but he quickly thought up a response.

“I’ve been freezing, so I covered myself
with all my blankets and coats,” the bear
explained.

“Does one of your coats have furry
white ears?”

10

“Why, yes,” said the bear. “It’s my new
favorite.”

“Why are your eyes big and black?”

“The light in here is dim, my dear,” the
bear said. Each time he responded, Amka
looked more suspicious.

“Your nose looks a lot bigger than it
used to, Grandmother.”

Polar Bear’s Promise • Level S “I’ve been blowing my nose so much that
it has started to swell,” the bear replied,
knowing she wouldn’t believe it. He was
bored with talking anyway, so he flung off
the covers, grabbed the girl, and swallowed
her whole.

For the first time in a long time, the
bear felt no hunger pangs. He had missed
the sensation of fullness, so he decided to
savor it for a while. The fire still burned,
and the grandmother’s bed was incredibly
comfortable.

11 12

He was just dozing off when the first pain “Why did you eat us?” Amka asked, her
jabbed into his stomach. The stabbing pain face more concerned than angry.
climbed into his chest and continued climbing
until he felt a scratch in his throat. Moments The familiar feeling of hunger returned to
later, Amka hauled herself out of the bear’s the bear’s stomach, but now he felt worse than
mouth, pulling her grandmother behind her before. These were kindhearted people who
until they both collapsed onto the floor. The didn’t deserve to be devoured.
grandmother was laughing. “It’s been years
since I’ve had such an adventure!” she cried. “I apologize,” the bear said. “I don’t want
to eat humans, but I’m near starving. The ice
Polar Bear’s Promise • Level S 13 recedes farther each year, and I cannot catch
seals because they are too far out for me to
swim to.”

Amka and her grandmother spoke quietly
to each other, then turned their attention back
to the bear.

“Our people have great respect for your
kind,” the grandmother said. “We would like
to help.”

“There are many hunters with boats in our
village,” Amka said.

“I do not want someone to hunt for me,”
the bear replied. He was a proud animal.

14

“They know how to drive the seals closer appetizing Glossary
to the remaining ice,” Amka explained. “If you (adj.)
promise never to eat another person again, I crimson (adj.) causing a feeling of hunger
will ask them to help you in your hunt and not or need (p. 7)
hunt you.” devoured (v.)
frigid (adj.) having a deep, rich red color
The bear considered the proposal and soon peculiar (adj.) (p. 7)
agreed. The three of them relaxed on the rug, recede (v.)
eating seal stew. Then the bear walked Amka eaten quickly or greedily (p. 14)
home, where she fulfilled her promise. savor (v.)
extremely cold (p. 3)
From that day forward, the hunters scrumptious
assisted the bear in his hunting. In return, (adj.) unusual or strange (p. 4)
the bear upheld his promise and never ate suspicious
another human. (adj.) to move or pull back from
a previous position (p. 3)

to taste or experience with joy
or appreciation (p. 12)

very delicious or pleasing
(p. 9)

believing or creating the
feeling that someone
or something is wrong
or dishonest (p. 11)

Polar Bear’s Promise • Level S 15 16