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

by Marianne Berkes (Author), Jill Dubin (Illustrator)

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.

Product Description
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 the illustrations - all done in cut paper - vividly convey the dramatic landscape of the Arctic. This is the latest from bestselling children's book writer Marianne Berkes, author of Over in the Ocean: In a Coral Reef, Over in the Jungle: A Rainforest Rhyme and Going Around the Sun: Some Planetary Fun. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Dawn Publications (CA) (September 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1584691107
• ISBN-13: 978-1584691105
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 8.7 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #85,013 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

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

By	K. MacCabe "Mother Nature" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

1 of 1 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 (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

"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.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lot's of opportunities for your child to participate, September 10, 2008

By	Reader Views "www.readerviews.com" (Austin, Texas) - See all my reviews

Marianne Berkes
Dawn Publications (2008)
ISBN 9781584691105
Reviewed by Cayden (age 4) and Max (age 2) Aures and Mom for Reader Views (8/08)

"Over in the Artic" is a "Sharing Nature with Children Book" from Dawn Publications. It is a counting book that teaches about a variety of animals that live in the Arctic like polar bears, wolverines, walruses, and whales. At the end of the book there are various activities along with more information about the animals.

Cayden: "I like counting books!"
Max: "One, two, three!"

Cayden: `The Arctic looks like a very cold place!"
Max: "Brrrrrr!"

Cayden: "I wonder if that water that the walruses are swimming in is as cold as the water that comes out of our hose."
Cayden: "Walruses use their flippers to help them swim."

Max: "Grrrrrr!!"
Cayden: "I think wolverines are mean!"

Cayden: "I liked counting the baby animals and then naming them in that game at the end. I also liked going through and finding the other animals that were hidden on the pages. I liked learning more about the animals when you read those other parts at the end too, like that the polar bears have fur between their toes so they don't slip on ice."

Parent's comments:

"Over in the Arctic" is a great, fun, educational nature book! I love how the book presents so many different opportunities for the child to participate from counting to finding hidden animals. I found the facts about the Arctic and its inhabitants at the end of the book to be very interesting and my children learned a lot. We definitely will be trying some of the extended activities listed in the "Tips from the Author" section like filling spray bottles with water and food coloring and painting the snow, and doing the blubber activity with shortening. "Over in the Arctic" by Marianne Berkes is an excellent book and we highly recommend it!