Gr. 3-5. Billed as "the official children's companion to the major motion picture," this in no way replicates the power of the film, but it will make a pleasant read for those who enjoyed the movie and will inform those who haven't seen it. Beginning, "This is Antarctica, the harshest place in the world to live," the text goes on to explain in simple terms what was narrated so effectively by Morgan Freeman in the movie: the life cycle of the emperor penguin. An early, effective spread shows an impossibly long line of penguins marching from the sea to their inland home, where they will mate. Most of the book focuses on the egg the mother hatches and then must leave with the father as she makes her way back to the water for sustenance. The father's care, including keeping a meal for the babies in his throat (even though he hasn't eaten for 100 days), will strike readers as remarkable. The photos, which appear to be stills from the movie, are more interesting than stunning, but with the easy-to-read text, this should find a welcoming audience.
Ilene CooperCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
About the Author
Luc Jacquet, prize-winning filmmaker, biologist, and photographer is known for his nature and wildlife documentaries, which draw heavily on his scientific background and his great talent for filmed narrative. The producer and director of March of the Penguins, he and his crew spent 13 months in Antarctica battling blizzards and bitter cold to record the footage that reveals the extraordinary journey of the Emperor Penguin.
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
