BookBright
ABOUT THE BOOK
NO SPOILERSDuane is a polar bear who wanders into the Very, Very Far North one summer and decides to stay, drawn by a perfect beach, plentiful food, and a cozy rock cave. On his first day he meets C.C., a bookish snowy owl who lives on a wrecked ship offshore and becomes his first friend. Told in a series of linked stories, the book follows Duane as he explores his new home, survives a blizzard, and slowly builds a circle of friends, each with a distinct personality, including a self-admiring musk ox, a mischievous arctic fox, a puffin convinced of his own military greatness, a nervous but capable hare, a shy caribou, and a fearless girl in a red parka.
Free Battle of the Books questions for The Very, Very Far North
SPOILERSEvery one of these has the same answer, and that is the point. In a real battle the question is read aloud with a dozen other books in play, and students have a few seconds to place it. Here is what a battle might ask about The Very, Very Far North. Use them as a quiz, a trivia round, or BOTB practice.
Where in the book they come from
- Early in the book
In what book does a polar bear find his new neighbor staring lovingly at his own reflection in a pond?
✓ Answer
The Very, Very Far North by Dan Bar-el
On his very first evening, Duane stands at his cave mouth and spots the musk ox by a pond, gazing adoringly at himself. Duane hopes they might eventually become friends.
- First half
In what book do an owl and a polar bear thank each other by smiling and blinking three times?
✓ Answer
The Very, Very Far North by Dan Bar-el
Duane almost hugs C.C. after she helps him invent his new ice dessert, then remembers she does not like to be touched. Three blinks become their wordless thank you, and C.C. blinks them back.
- First half
In what book is a hidden trickster covered in bright blue powder and revealed to be an arctic fox?
✓ Answer
The Very, Very Far North by Dan Bar-el
The fox's snow-white fur made her invisible while she popped between secret tunnels and called hellos. The blue cloud settles on her and turns her as bright as lapis lazuli, giving away her trick.
- Second half
In what book does a puffin shout "Eeek!" when a voice answers from the corner of an empty burrow?
✓ Answer
The Very, Very Far North by Dan Bar-el
Major Puff thinks the burrow is empty until a furry white hare reveals she has spent the day cleaning. His shocked reply is the proper response of his warrior clan.
- Second half
In what book does a polar bear hop in time with a hare so he can talk to her?
✓ Answer
The Very, Very Far North by Dan Bar-el
Talking to the hopping hare breaks Duane's sentences into bits. He solves the problem by crouching down and rising in the air right alongside her.
- Near the end
In what book does a polar bear count steps but switch to blackberry, huckleberry, and strawberry?
✓ Answer
The Very, Very Far North by Dan Bar-el
Preparing for his big slide, Duane tries to count to fifty steps but his mind drifts to flavors of Snow Delights. So he may have taken fewer than fifty steps, or perhaps many more.
