Polar Animals

Children's Literature - Jodell Sadler

Saving Wildlife: Polar Animals is an informational guide that explains, in detail, the polar habitats and the animals that live there. This well-researched nonfiction book is broken into manageable segments. There is a two-spread map of the world that shows where these habitats exist. "The polar regions surround the North and South poles at the very top and bottom of our planet. These frozen areas are the harshest environments on Earth and yet animals grow and thrive there." Beautiful photographs bring the animals that live there up close. These animals include the polar bear, the brown bear, wolves, and foxes. There are herds of caribou and Musk Ox. "At the beginning of the twentieth century, musk ox were nearly extinct." There are small mammals like the wolverine and lemmings. During the short summer months, bees help pollinate the flowers in the tundra region. "Penguins have adapted to their icy habitat...their feathers are short and tightly packed, they have a thick layer of fat that extends right down their legs to protect them from the cold." This is a very good resource for those just beginning to understand and research endangered animals. There is a section in the back "What Can We Do?" that includes organizations that are helping and where to contact them on the Internet. There is also a detailed glossary. Reviewer: Jodell Sadler