Life in the Boreal Forest [Hardcover]

Brenda Z. Guiberson (Author), Gennady Spirin (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

The great northern forest—the boreal forest—is home to a unique ecosystem of animals and plants. It covers one-third of the earth’s total forest area and is home to so many birds that it is known as “North America’s bird nursery.”

The forest is a treasure trove of riches, but it’s threatened by increased human development and climate changes. This gorgeous book teaches readers about the boreal forest and reminds them that it’s up to us to make sure the beauty and bounty survive.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3–5—A vast, yet endangered, ecosystem flourishes in this slim, elegant pictorial book. Spirin's dramatic, realistic illustrations spill over the pages, compressing Guiberson's lyrical text into bamboo-toned columns on the side. Exploding with the sounds of the boreal forest (in spring, a Tennessee warbler sings "tika tika swee swee!" while a moose "squish squosh"-es in a beaver pond), the text describes the interaction of entwined lives in this special ecosystem. (One small note—the air hole depicted in the snow-covered beaver lodge seems a tad large—a predator could gain easy entry.) Taking readers through the seasons, Guiberson and Spirin present a verbal and pictorial treasury for nature lovers and young researchers alike.—Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY END

Review

“This non-fiction book shows why the boreal forest, home to a unique ecosystem of plants and animals, is as big and important as tropical rain forests.”—USA Today

“Gorgeously intricate illustrations perfectly complement equally evocative text in this introduction to the great northern, or boreal, forest, which sprawls across the entire northern hemisphere…Guiberson and Spirin manage to successfully convey the beauty and majesty of this forest and its denizens in two dimensions, and a list of organizations devoted to preserving the forest provides further information. An author’s note adds urgency to the message about the importance of preservation.”—Booklist, Starred Review

“Taking readers through the seasons, Guiberson and Spirin present a verbal and pictorial treasury for nature lovers and young researchers alike.”—School Library Journal

“Beautiful and useful.”—Kirkus Reviews

 

“Each of the stunning paintings in this catalog of the Boreal Forest, the great northern forest, is breathtakingly beautiful. They are in the style of Audubon and other great naturalist painters. They breathe life into the creatures, give texture to their fur and feathers and capture a sense of place…”

                                             —The Oppenheim Toy Portfolio

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) (September 29, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805077189
• ISBN-13: 978-0805077186
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 10.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #765,318 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This stunning book about the boreal forest will mesmerize any reader, young or old! "Hush-a-shush" the forest is disappearing!, October 24, 2009

By 

D. Fowler "Dragonfly77" (Vermont) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Life in the Boreal Forest (Hardcover)

Before the terrain became snow clad, billions of birds who had dotted the landscape and raised their young, they had to "double their weight" before their fall migration. They had made their home in the boreal forest that stretched across "Alaska, Canada, Scandinavia, and Russia." The word "Boreal means northern," but now when it is mentioned people think of the word "threatened" for this forest is disappearing quickly because logging crews have moved in to cut the trees. The migratory birds are not the only creatures who live in the Boreal. The animals, in part, include the beaver, snowshoe hares, bears, moose, lynx, wolves, voles, squirrels, fox and the mighty caribou.

When their habitat is threatened, all animals will eventually have to fight to survive or quickly face extinction. The bear, who in a "frenzied day gobbles 70,000 berries," would certainly perish if the ground cover was destroyed. The snowshoe hare is already starving because there is not enough food to feed them. The lynx, who is its predator, will have an unknown fate if the snowshoe disappears. According to the author, "The boreal is disappearing fast." One by one the animals will perish or become extinct because their home is dwindling. Will mankind act soon or will this vast forest be gone forever?

This book was simply outstanding. The text was highly interesting and the stunning artwork meshed extremely well with the message the author wished to convey. This book was well researched and so well written it had just the right amount of tension to pull even the most reluctant reader to the end. In the back of the book there is a small global map illustrating the boreal territory and a note from the author discussing the dire consequences that have occurred due to the destruction of forest lands. In the front of the book are numerous recommended web site resources. This is an amazing book you might want to consider adding to your shelves!

5.0 out of 5 stars Great conservation message, February 18, 2010

By 

Z Hayes (TX, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Life in the Boreal Forest (Hardcover)

I love Gennady Spirin's illustrations, and one of my favorites is THE ENCHANTER'S SPELL: FIVE FAMOUS TALES which is a frequent request at our home (I have a 5-year-old). When I saw this new book with Spirin's illustrations, I knew we'd be in for a treat. The message inherent in this book is of the threat to the great northern forest, i.e. the boreal forest. As the years pass, the forest suffers with dwindling trees, and lack of food for the animals. The predicament of the boreal forest and the animals within it is evocatively told through the text and illustrations, depicting how the animals struggle to survive in an increasingly inhospitable environment - the lynx does not have enough hares to feed on, and the hares in turn starve for lack of low-growing food, and so on. Yet the cycle of nature continues. There is a list of resources with weblinks for students to do additional research and an author's note detailing the importantance of the boreal forest to the world's ecosystem. Recommended for ages 5 and up.