Art copyright © 1962 by Maurice Sendak, copyright renewed 1990 by Maurice Sendak. Permission to reproduce and distribute this page has been granted by the copyright holder, HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.Art copyright © 2017 by Jessica Olien. Permission to reproduce and distribute this page has been granted by the copyright holder, HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.

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ABOUT THE BOOKKarl and Hazel are polar bears. They are not friends.

Until . . . CRAAACCKKK!

Of all the polar bears, Karl is stuck with one who doesn’t like to talk.

Of all the polar bears, Hazel is stuck with the one who talks too much.

And now they’re drifting out to sea together. . . .

STORYTIME ACTIVITIES• KIDS HAVE CHARACTER: Ask the children to describe

Karl and Hazel. As you list their character traits (Karl is friendly, talkative, and energetic; Hazel is quiet, kind, and shy) have children provide evidence from the story to support their idea. For example, when Hazel keeps her concerns about the ice melting to herself because she doesn’t want to worry Karl, she is being kind and thoughtful. Then ask children to share two character traits that describe themselves.

• SAME AND DIFFERENT: Pair up children and then give them a blank Venn Diagram to share. Each child should write his or her name above a circle. Then have the children chat about their likes and dislikes. If they have different favorite colors, each child should write (younger children can draw) their favorite color in their own circle. But if they both love the pizza, they should write “pizza” in the space where the two circles overlap. This is also a fun way for children to get to know each other!

• ARCTIC ANIMALS: Read a nonfiction book to learn about some other arctic animals (such as reindeer, Arctic fox, narwhal, walrus, seal, ox, moose, orca, and snowy owl). Children can choose an arctic animal and create a poster depicting the animal. Older children can include an interesting fact about their animal on the poster, such as where they live or what they like to eat.

• BUBBLING OVER: Since the author often uses speech bubbles to convey Karl and Hazel’s conversations, have children create a story using speech bubbles to show the dialogue between two characters.

• STORYTIME!: Hazel loves to read. Have the children choose one of their favorite stories to share with a partner. Older children can read the book to their partner, and younger children can retell the story while sharing the illustrations.

ADRIFTB Y J E S S I C A O L I E N

SAME AND DIFFERENTIn Adrift, Karl and Hazel are unlikely friends because they’re so

different. What do you have in common with your friends? Write or draw the things you each like in your circles, and the things you and

your friend both like in the space where the two circles overlap.

Art copyright © 2017 by Jessica Olien. Permission to reproduce and distribute this page has been granted by the copyright holder, HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.

www.harpercollinschildrens.com

YOUR NAME YOUR FRIEND’S NAME

Art copyright © 2017 by Jessica Olien. Permission to reproduce and distribute this page has been granted by the copyright holder, HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.

www.harpercollinschildrens.com

BUBBLING OVERIn Adrift, the author often shows Karl and Hazel talking to each

other using speech bubbles. If you wrote the story, what would

they say? Write your own dialogue in the speech bubbles below!