Over in the Arctic: Where the Cold Winds Blow (Sharing Nature with Children Books) [Paperback]

Marianne Berkes (Author), Jill Dubin (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2008 | Age Range: 3 and up | Series: Sharing Nature with Children Books | Lexile Measure: 650L (What's this?)

Teachers and parents, here is another favorite from Marianne, who has a special talent. The kids think it is entertainment while teachers and parents think it is a great lesson about the Arctic! This book combines singing, counting, and full-body action with terrific cut-paper illustrations that kids will want to imitate. Over in the Arctic, the snow goose honks and the wolf howls. Children too will joyfully honk and howl while they count the baby animals and sing to the tune of Over in the Meadow. And they will hunt for hidden animals on each page. A big plus for educators are several pages of extension ideas for curriculum and art projects as well as resources on the web and elsewhere.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 1—Following Over in the Ocean (2004) and Over in the Jungle (2007, both Dawn), this latest spin on the familiar "Over in the Meadow" rhyme takes readers on another adventure. Each page highlights a different animal, including a polar bear and her cub, an Arctic hare and her leverets, and a wolf and his pups. The last verse tells of 10 "surprise" animals hiding in the previous pages and invites children to go back to the beginning for a closer read. An author's note gives more information about the Arctic tundra and explains that while most of the details in the book are factual, the number of babies each animal would have according to the rhyme is not accurate. Spreads feature chunky cut-paper collages in a cool palette. An artist's note explains the process for creating the illustrations. Other interesting back matter includes tips for extended activities and notes for the traditional "Over in the Meadow" tune with the altered Arctic lyrics. This book serves as a useful introduction to the area.—Julie Roach, Cambridge Public Library, MA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

Modeled after the traditional song "Over in the Meadow," this (for the most part) easily chanted rhyme introduces a variety of land and sea animals and birds found in the tundra. Standard number-recognition and counting concepts are augmented by additional ideas and vocabulary in the active text, which highlights the Arctic climate, animal habits and the proper names for the animals' young. "Over in the Arctic / Where some creatures migrate, / Lived a mother snow goose / And her little goslings eight. / 'Honk,' said the mother. / 'We honk,' said the eight. / So they honked and flew south / Where some
creatures migrate." Graceful, stylish cut-paper collages in a mixture of bright colors and patterns create icy backgrounds for each scene. Well-conceived extension ideas for curriculum and art connections follow a "hidden animal" game and a "Fact or Fiction" explanation about the rhyme's tundra environment. A value-added exploration of the Arctic for preschoolers and early elementary-age children. Picture book. 3-7) --Kirkus Reviews

Designed to be sung to "Over in the meadow," this rhyming counting book features arctic animals, parents and offspring doing something they would actually be doing in the wild. Different action verbs are used with each animal. There is a good amount of information following the text: extra facts about the tundra, extra arctic animals "hidden" in the illustrations, and animals covered in the regular text. This is followed by tips from the author on activities to use with the books, and a short bibliography; tips for the illustrator, the music to the song and colophon information. The text is large print, mostly black, except the featured number is in a color. The bright cut paper illustrations look like something done by a scrap booker gone wild. There are patterns on almost everything. While some of the wild patterns are a bit much for a close-up, from a distance they work well together. This book has been carefully designed for use with young children to get them moving and participating with the storyteller or reader, but group use would probably be more fun. --Barbara A. Rose, Washington Public Library

This counting book, cleverly illustrated by Jill Dubin, features Berkes' charming counting rhyme filled with interesting facts about animals of the Arctic. Included in each picture are hidden animals that will encourage readers to search the illustrations to learn more about the Arctic region. Both the author and the illustrator provide tips for using the book with children. Berkes includes several suggestions for extended activities, as well as a list of other print and web resources on arctic life. The final pages also include information about the Arctic Tundra, Hidden Arctic Animals, a brief paragraph about each of the Arctic animals in the rhyme, and the text put to the music of "Over in the Meadow," which can also be used to teach this counting exercise. Dubin offers information on her illustrative style for the book, which uses cut-paper illustrations to create beautifully-rendered examples of the animals and their Arctic habitat. This engaging book can be read, sung, or studied by individuals and groups as they learn how to count these amazing animals. --Naomi Williamson, Children's Literature
--Naomi Williamson, Children's Literature

Designed to be sung to "Over in the meadow," this rhyming counting book features arctic animals, parents and offspring doing something they would actually be doing in the wild. Different action verbs are used with each animal. There is a good amount of information following the text: extra facts about the tundra, extra arctic animals "hidden" in the illustrations, and animals covered in the regular text. This is followed by tips from the author on activities to use with the books, and a short bibliography; tips for the illustrator, the music to the song and colophon information. The text is large print, mostly black, except the featured number is in a color. The bright cut paper illustrations look like something done by a scrap booker gone wild. There are patterns on almost everything. While some of the wild patterns are a bit much for a close-up, from a distance they work well together. This book has been carefully designed for use with young children to get them moving and participating with the storyteller or reader, but group use would probably be more fun. --Barbara A. Rose, Washington Public Library

This counting book, cleverly illustrated by Jill Dubin, features Berkes' charming counting rhyme filled with interesting facts about animals of the Arctic. Included in each picture are hidden animals that will encourage readers to search the illustrations to learn more about the Arctic region. Both the author and the illustrator provide tips for using the book with children. Berkes includes several suggestions for extended activities, as well as a list of other print and web resources on arctic life. The final pages also include information about the Arctic Tundra, Hidden Arctic Animals, a brief paragraph about each of the Arctic animals in the rhyme, and the text put to the music of "Over in the Meadow," which can also be used to teach this counting exercise. Dubin offers information on her illustrative style for the book, which uses cut-paper illustrations to create beautifully-rendered examples of the animals and their Arctic habitat. This engaging book can be read, sung, or studied by individuals and groups as they learn how to count these amazing animals. --Naomi Williamson, Children's Literature

Product Details

• Age Range: 3 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Dawn Pubns (September 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1584691107
• ISBN-13: 978-1584691105
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 0.1 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #120,359 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #13 in Books > Children's Books > Travel & Cultures > Explore the World > Polar Regions

More About the Author

Marianne Berkes has spent much of her life as a teacher, children's theater director and children's librarian. She is listed in "Something About the Author," "Who's Who in American Education" and "Who's Who in America."

Marianne lives in Hobe Sound, Florida, where the cacophony of sounds she hears from the pond in back of her home served as the inspiration for her first book, "Marsh Music" published in 2000. She is a favorite presenter at schools and literary conferences, reading her award-winning books and talking about her publishing adventures.

Before moving to Florida over twenty years ago, Marianne was an early childhood educator in New York, and also directed children's theater. Music, theater and writing have been a constant in her life and she puts all this to good use in her eleven (and counting)"interactive" children's picture books.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A great addition to the series January 31, 2009

By K. MacCabe

Format:Paperback

Marianne Berkes introduces the arctic habitat and its animals in a fun sing-song format that will engage babes in arms, young readers, AND their adult caregivers. In addition to learning about the arctic, kids can practice counting skills and learn about the ways we name baby animals. (Did you know that baby rabbits are called leverets?) The end of the book provides a special treat as we learn that each page hides another arctic species, which parent and child can seek together. Content pages complete the book with information about the arctic tundra and about all 20 animal species featured. There are also pictures of the author and illustrator along with activities suggested by each to help young readers experience science and art first hand. The illustrations are beautiful - with surprisingly vibrant colors for a world of arctic white. Reviewed by Kelley Weitzel, author of Journeys with Florida's Indians and The Timucua Indians - A Native American Detective Story.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars She did it again! May 6, 2009

By June C. Parrilli

Format:Paperback

Well, Marianne Berkes did it again! If you have enjoyed her other "Over in the" books (Rainforest, Ocean) you will love this too. The author has included so many facts about the Arctic and its animals, both in the rhyme and in the back of the book. For younger children this is a super counting and searching book. Each page offers a number of things to count. This book also provides a well rounded introduction to the Arctic. Older kids will enjoy learning new words for baby animals as well as being introduced to some lesser known animals (arctic hare, wolverine). This book can be used as a springboard for several research projects including migration, camouflage, change of seasons in extreme locations, adaptation and, of course, the animals and the arctic as a whole. The cut paper illustrations are beautiful and lend a softness to an otherwise harsh environment. I will use this book when I plan collaborative teaching units about ecosystems with the classroom teacher. The kids will love it!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful and informative children's book for ages 3-8 October 11, 2008

By Midwest Book Review

Format:Paperback

"Over in the Arctic Where the Cold Winds Blow" is an enchanting children's work showing and counting arctic creatures in lyrics set to the familiar tune, "Over in the Meadow." The beautiful cut paper full color illustrations contain little hidden secret creatures on each two page spread, in addition to the 10 theme creatures. To maximize its impact as a teaching tool, "Over in the Arctic" contains additional information about the Arctic tundra, hidden Arctic animals in the illustrations, and tips from the author and the illustrator. "Over in the Arctic" is a beautiful and informative children's book for ages 3-8 that uses multifaceted learning approaches, adaptable to many levels.