Product Description

World-class photographer and science writer Wayne Lynch takes us to one of his favorite parts of the world: the Arctic. Using a plant, an animal or a phenomenon for each letter of the alphabet, Lynch describes the unique ways in which systems for living differ where temperature and light can be amazingly extreme. But Lynch also dispels the myth of the Arctic as a perpetually frozen landscape by introducing us to the birds, mammals, insects and plant life that thrive in the short yet glorious sun-filled days of summer.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1045300 in Books
• Published on: 1999-09-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Library Binding
• 32 pages

From School Library Journal
Grade 4-6-Inspired by his love of the arctic environment, wildlife-photographer and science-writer Lynch shares his knowledge of its animals, plants, and landscape, combining two-to-three paragraph explanations and half-to-full-page background image photographs, one for each letter of the alphabet. The scope is lopsided, as it includes 18 animals, 3 plants, and 5 other arctic phenomena such as glaciers and Inuit. The use of a singular term when more than one of the creatures is illustrated might be confusing. Another odd feature is the use of multiple animals for one letter, e.g., "Voles & Lemmings" for the letter "V." In three instances, the photograph does not match the text. The most glaring error is for "Mosquito," which shows a photograph of a marmot. (The photo for "Hibernation" appears to be a squirrel holding a chipmunk in its mouth, and "Zooplankton" depicts two polar bears.) A few of the letters and corresponding words are quite a stretch, e.g., "Under the Ice" for "U." Despite these faults, the book is engaging. The introductory description of the Arctic is particularly useful. However, the lack of an index makes locating information difficult. Donna Walsh Shepherd's Tundra (Watts, 1996) is a more effective title for this audience.
Mollie Bynum, formerly at Chester Valley Elementary School, Anchorage, AK
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews
paper 1-55209-334-4 A flawed collection of full-color photographs and half-page descriptions of 26 animals, plants, and phenomena associated with the arctic region. Lynch organizes his material alphabetically, but aims his comments at far older children than the usual ABC-audience. He first provides three different ways of defining ``arctic region,'' but doesn't tell readers which one he's electing to use. He covers, briefly, such topics as the Aurora Borealis; the jaeger, a bird, who steals food by dive-bombing successful hunters; and the lousewort and how it received its name. An extremely questionable inclusion in an alphabet of mostly plants and animals is I for ``Inuit,'' ``smart people who lived where no white person was able to live.'' Despite the authors many careful firsthand observations, which intrigue, answer questions, and raise new areas for investigation, this volume is of limited use.(Picture book/nonfiction. 8-10) -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Review
Exceptionally fine photos, one on each page, illustrate the text. (Carolyn Phelan Booklist 20000201)

Clear color photographs accompany each half-page-long profile. (Horn Book Guide 20000116)

Full of amazing photographs taken by the author. (Pippa Wysong Toronto Star 20000301)

This is a fantastic book for teachers and students alike. It is written in an informative and easy-to-read style. (Joanne de Groot Resource Links )