From the author of the critically acclaimed The Boreal Forest, a
stunning exploration of the animals that have adapted to survive in
Earth's harsh polar regions.
The Arctic and Antarctica, at opposite ends of the Earth, have much in
common: bitter cold, ferocious winds and darkness lasting six months.
Despite these harsh conditions, many animals have adapted to stay alive
in the polar regions. This evocative and beautifully illustrated book
from the award-winning team of author L. E. Carmichael and illustrator
Byron Eggenschwiler explores how animals at opposite ends of the Earth
survive using similar adaptations. There's the arctic fox who is
protected from the ice by the fur on the soles of her feet, the emperor
penguins huddling in groups around their chicks to keep everyone warm,
and the narwhal using echolocation to find a crack in the surface ice to
breathe. It's a fascinating journey through a year in the polar regions,
where animals don't just survive - they thrive!
Each spread in the book is devoted to a month and includes a themed
introduction and two stories on opposites pages, one about an animal in
the Arctic and one about an animal in Antarctica. Extra spreads cover
topics such as seasons, winter weather and types of ice. The book
concludes with a timely description of the disruptions that climate
change is causing to the polar regions, and how this will have global
consequences. A glossary, further reading, author's sources, an index
and ideas for what children can do to help are included. There are
strong life science curriculum applications here in animal habitats and
animal adaptation, migration, hibernation and cooperation.
