The Very Very Far North Homeschool Study and Book Review
The Very Very Far North by Dan Bar-El is a fun winter-themed chapter book for kids. Without a doubt, this is a gentle read for readers of all age with sweet characters and fun adventures.
This title was a fun and popular read in my online School Year Book Clubs for ages 8-10 in 2024. We had a great discussion about the delightful adventures of the main characters in this fantastic story.
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The Very Very Far North
Dan Bar-El
Genre: Fiction
Length: 288 pages
First Published: 2020
View on Amazon | View on Goodreads
The Very Very Far North
Publisher’s Description
“In the Very, Very Far North, past the Cold, Cold Ocean and just below the hill that looks like a baby whale, you’ll find Duane and his friends.
Duane is a sweet and curious young bear who makes friends with everyone he meets—whether they’re bossy, like Major Puff the puffin, or a bit vain, like Handsome the musk ox, or very, very shy, like Boo the caribou. For these arctic friends, every day is a new adventure!”
My Goodreads Review
If you head to the very, very far north you’ll find Duane the polar bear and his friends. Don’t be nervous though, Duane is a kind and curious polar bear who makes friends with everyone he meets, including a puffin, an owl, a musk ox, and even a caribou. Join Duane and his friends on their adventures in the very very far north.
This is such a sweet and gentle story for elementary school readers. One of the major themes of this book is friendship as Duane the polar bear gets to know each of the animals in the north. Each of the characters has a unique personality that they bring to this community of animals. The bossy puffin, Major Puff, and the vain musk Ox, Handsome, are just two of the characters in this wintery tale.
Duane has a series of adventures with his beloved friends in the north, but nothing is too serious or scary. This makes it a perfect read for even sensitive readers.
This was a popular book with the 8-10 year olds in my book club with over 90% of the students giving it a thumbs up!
Discussion Questions for Your Homeschool Study
1. If you could pick one of the characters in the book to be friends with, who would you choose and why? If you spent a day with them, what would you want to do together?
2. Each of these characters has a very distinctive personality. Pick one or two of the characters. What adjectives would you use to describe these characters?
3. What specific things do the characters that live in the far, far north do to show they are good friends?
Take a peek as I share more details about a meaningful discussion with your kids:
Homeschooling with Books:
Discussion Questions to Get You Started
Grab this set of questions designed to facilitate discussion about any book:
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Next Homeschool Study
Check Out the Sequel:
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She believes that creativity, laughter, and fun are the backbone for engaging and inspiring homeschools. You can find her encouragement and tips on this blog, Mary Hanna Wilson.
She is an enneagram 7 and an extrovert. She enjoys traveling, tea (iced or hot), good conversations, and books. You can connect with her on Instagram and Facebook.
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