Summer Ice: Life Along the Antarctic Peninsula [Hardcover]

Bruce McMillan (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

Antarctica, at the bottom of the world, is an island of ice. Even in the summer, temperatures aren't much above freezing. Astonishingly, though, the peninsula is a place where life thrives. Penguins raise their young while warding off scavenging birds, whales feed among the ice floes, seals talk underwater in songlike trills, and ice cliffs are painted with the reds and greens of tiny plants. Bruce McMillan, known for his lively and informative nature books, traveled to the Antarctic Peninsula to capture that surprisingly vigorous environment on film. In stunning color photographs and language suited to young naturalists, he brings us his unique view of survival in a land like no other - a land of summer ice.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-6?McMillan's fascinating offering documents the majestic beauty of the Antarctic and its variety of life forms. He includes informative sections on land plants, seals, whales, and penguins. The material on penguins is a special delight, discussing the order Sphenisciformes in general as well as individual species such as the chinstrap and Adelie. Even more interesting, however, are the facts given on such creatures as the krill, a tiny, shrimplike animal that is a vital part of the area's food chain. As is usual in McMillan's books, the full-color photography is brilliant in its beauty and attention to detail. However, the text is lively and knowledgeable, and could stand alone and still catch readers' interest. Few available titles on the topic for this age group provide such interesting glimpses of the region's wildlife. A wonderful find for report writers and browsers alike.?Melissa Hudak, North Suburban District Library, Roscoe, IL
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 4^-6. This photo-essay introduces readers to the animals and plants of the Antarctic Peninsula, the spur of land that stretches across the Antarctic Circle toward South America. After showing the landforms and glacial iceforms there, McMillan turns to the unexpected wealth of summer wildlife: algae and moss, plankton and krill, humpback whales and orcas, skuas and shags, seals and (of course) penguins. While the exceptionally clear, full-color photos are the highlight of the book, the text is informative not just in describing individual species, but also in showing how they relate to each other. A handsome introduction to the wildlife of the Antarctic Peninsula. Carolyn Phelan

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children (September 25, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395665612
• ISBN-13: 978-0395665619
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 9.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,385,028 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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