Polar - by L E Carmichael (Hardcover)

About the Book

"At opposite ends of the Earth, the polar regions could not be farther apart. And yet the animals who live in the Arctic and Antarctica have a lot in common. They have adapted to live in the world's harshest environments, surviving extreme cold and continuous days of darkness. In this beautiful book, author L.E. Carmichael and illustrator Byron Eggenschwiler take readers on a journey to explore the animal adaptations that make life possible in these polar habitats. Readers will learn about a lynx's "snowshoe paws" that help it move across the Arctic snow, how a penguin "toboggans" over the ice to reach Antarctica's waters and so much more. But the planet is changing -- faster than scientists could have predicted. And the polar regions are warming faster than any other part of our planet. What does this mean for the creatures that live there? And what does it mean for us? Incredibly timely and relevant, Polar offers a glimpse into two of the most fascinating -- and rapidly changing -- places on Earth."--

Book Synopsis

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.

Review Quotes

... a fabulous resource for language arts and science.--Hakai Magazine

Carmichael's often lyrical text engages the reader and perfectly captures the setting while Eggenschwiler's illustration style and his use of murky blues, teals and golden-browns not only suit the text but have a nostalgic feel, harkening back to the illustration style of the past.--CM Magazine

First-rate from top to bottom.--Kirkus Reviews, starred review

A fascinating introduction to the world's largest biome.--School Library Journal (Praise for The Boreal Forest)

An informative introduction to the boreal forest.--Booklist (Praise for The Boreal Forest)

Excellent for the natural history and science shelves.--Kirkus Reviews, starred review (Praise for The Boreal Forest)

About the Author

L. E. Carmichael is the author of more than twenty informational books for children, including the critically acclaimed The Boreal Forest. She is the winner of the Lane Anderson Award, which recognizes excellence in science writing for kids, and the Governor General's Medal for her PhD thesis about northern wolves and arctic foxes. She lives with her family in Trenton, Ontario.
Byron Eggenschwiler is an award-winning illustrator whose books include Polar, The Strangest Thing in the Sea and The Little Ghost Who Was a Quilt. His work has appeared in the New Yorker, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and GQ. Byron lives in Calgary, Alberta, with his wife and two cats.