Big & Little Meet in the Middle

A whimsical picture book about a polar bear in the Arctic and a penguin in Antarctica who cross the American continents to find one another. This educational story is packed with watercolor illustrations and playful rhymes that teach young readers about the natural world and encourage curiosity about travel, animals, and other cultures.

Introduced by a globe-traveling arctic tern, Big the Bear and Little Penguin set off across North and South America, respectively, to meet each other face-to-face in “the middle.” Along the way, they make new friends of all kinds: wolves, bison, monkeys, jaguars, and more, who help them reach their destination.

This playful and engaging picture book introduces young readers to the wonders that lie between the two ice caps at the North and South Poles, as well as reminding us of places that are essential to preserve in the face of climate change and of the importance of the interconnected ecosystems that sustain the health of our planet. Through Big and Little’s journey, children will learn about the geography of the Americas, the Arctic, and Antarctica, and about all the diverse and delightful sights along the way.

Ian Webster is an author-illustrator who splits his time between Brooklyn, New York, and the Catskill Mountains. He spent one year traveling the same route as Big and Little, and spends his days dreaming of reasons to go visit them where they live again.