HERE IS ANTARCTICA
by Madeleine Dunphy & illustrated by Tom Leonard
A rhythmic, cumulative text and detailed acrylic paintings emphasizing the pinks, blues and grays of the icy sea and sky introduce the relationships among animals in the Antarctic ecosystem. Each double-page spread adds another animal: two species of seals, orcas, krill, petrel, silverfish, skua and three species of penguins. Like other books in the Web of Life series, this concludes with a brief explanation of the area and the animals mentioned (allowing the careful reader to distinguish the different seals and penguins illustrated). While the meter hiccups occasionally, the familiar, House-that-Jack-Built pattern will appeal to young listeners, and the repetition is a boon for early readers. Unfortunately, both the illustrations and the repeated “… icebergs / all jagged and spiked / that rise from the sea / in this cold world of ice” might leave the impression that the penguins have no land home at all; in fact, they breed on land or pack ice, and the presence of icebergs can actually hamper their reproduction. Teachers will welcome this appealing introduction but should supplement it with other information. (Informational picture book. 4-7)