Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?: questions to ask and activities to try
Polar bear hears a lion roaring, and the lion hears a hippo snorting. Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? is a joyful Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle book about listening, animal sounds and joining in.
What age is it for? Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? is best from birth to age 4. Good for: Animal sounds, listening and joining in with repeated words.
Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? (Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle)
- Age
- 0-4
- Best for
- Animal sounds, listening and joining in with repeated words
Make each animal’s sound together, as loud or as quiet as you like. Soon your child will join in with the repeated words.
What it helps with
- Listening
- Animal sounds
- Joining in with repeated words
- Early language
Comprehension and discussion questions
Pick two or three, not all of them. “I don’t know” is a fine answer, and you can always come back to it another day.
- “What did the polar bear hear?”
- “Which animal made the loudest sound?”
- “Can you make the lion’s roar?”
- “Which animal was your favourite?”
- “Who heard the children at the end?”
- “What can you hear right now?”
5-minute activities to try together
Listening walk
Go for a short walk and stop three times to listen. What can you hear?
Guess the animal
Take turns making an animal sound for the other person to guess.
Free printables: Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? worksheet and activity pack
This book’s one-page worksheet with the questions and activities above, plus our activity pack: printable scenario cards, three 5-minute activities and a “What could I try?” page for practising everyday skills together. Enter your email and download them straight away.
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If your child liked this, try
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? (Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle)
- Best for
- Colours, animals and joining in with repeated words
- Age
- 0-4
The Very Hungry Caterpillar (Eric Carle)
- Best for
- Growing and changing, and waiting for something good
- Age
- 2-5
Where's Spot? (Eric Hill)
- Best for
- Lifting flaps, first words and finding Spot
- Age
- 0-3
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By the Growing Wise team · Last reviewed: 16 October 2026
Growing Wise offers educational ideas for parents and carers. It is not a substitute for professional medical, developmental or mental-health advice. As an Amazon Associate, Growing Wise earns from qualifying purchases.