Enter the dark Antarctic winter, where a pair of emperor penguins
share the task of keeping their young one alive--and discover how
fighting climate change is key to their survival.
As harsh winter descends and other birds move toward warmth, lines of
emperor penguins appear in search of the perfect ice for breeding and
raising their chicks. One wise old empress finds her mate, and after
laying a single, huge egg, heads to the stormy ocean to hunt for fish.
For weeks, her mate must warm the egg in his pouch, huddling against
blizzards and bitter cold. When his mate returns, the two take turns
fishing and minding their newly hatched chick until it's big enough to
stay warm on its own. Luminously illustrated by Catherine Rayner, Nicola
Davies's engrossing narrative expands the focus from one emperor family
to the plight of the breed as it faces displacement due to climate
change. An afterword details the loss of many emperor chicks at Halley
Bay after a storm broke up the ice under one of the largest penguin
colonies--and encourages readers to help protect the environment so
these extraordinary survivors will continue to be found in the Antarctic
for generations to come.