Frozen Extremes

Children's Literature - Elizabeth D. Schafer

This "Extreme Nature" series book provides readers basic information about Earth's two polar regions. The text differentiates between the Artic and Antarctic, explaining that the Arctic is an ocean covered by ice and the Antarctic is a landmass topped by an ice sheet with thicknesses of 2.5 miles occurring in places. Concise paragraphs summarize such polar concepts as why freezing temperatures are constant and contrasting sunlight extremes happen in summer and winter. Readers learn that polar areas can be considered deserts due to limited precipitation. Sections identify plants and animals that live in these frigid locations. Plankton thrives in the polar seas, and mosses, lichen, and shrubs grow on the tundra. The text describes the variety of animals, representing fish, birds, mammals, and insects, which populate polar regions or migrate to them. This book tells how plants and animals have adapted to survive. Human experiences as adventurers, residents, scientists, and tourists are depicted. Indigenous Arctic people, the Inuits and Saami, are featured. The narrative notes motivations for polar exploration and development of research stations. Global warming's possible impact on polar regions is briefly mentioned. Sidebars contain facts relevant to each topic. A glossary, bibliography listing books and websites, and abundant illustrations, including photographs, a satellite image, and map, complement the text. The enticing subject and attractive presentation will appeal to many reluctant readers. Useful for preparing reports Reviewer: Elizabeth D. Schafer

School Library Journal

Gr 3–5—Frozen Extremes demonstrates that the Arctic and Antarctic regions are hospitable to a range of species. A brief discussion of exploration is included, and global warming is briefly mentioned. Rain Forest Extremes offers information on a variety of animals, plants, and peoples and suggests what to take along on trips to the deepest jungles. Deforestation is mentioned briefly but readers are assured that "Local groups have been given control of their lands and national parks protect forest wildlife." Deep Sea Extremes concentrates on oceans' lower depths and the unusual creatures living there. Printed on mostly black pages, a variety of sea life, ranging from plankton to the great blue whale, is presented. Oddly, in discussing how underwater volcanoes can bring the temperature up to 660 F, an accompanying photograph shows an underwater photographer wearing only regular scuba-diving gear. Hyde notes that trawlers are harvesting into deeper areas, but overfishing is ignored. Mountain Extremes covers the largest mountains of the world and their various inhabitants and includes many examples of worst-case scenarios in which climbers can die. A sidebar describes a mudslide in Colombia that was caused by a volcanic eruption, resulting in 23,000 deaths, although there is no other discussion of volcanoes. There are many excellent photographs in these books, but they are layered upon each other and the accompanying captions are often difficult to attach to the appropriate illustration. The myriad facts are often interesting, but have little focus. Students may not be able to maneuver through the hodgepodge of extremes.—Eva Elisabeth VonAncken, Trinity-Pawling School,Pawling, NY