TUNDRAS

The 10th in the Sills’ About Habitats series tackles the tundra biome, which covers about one-fifth of the Earth’s land.

“Cold, dry areas with no trees,” tundras are largely found in polar regions and near the summits of very tall mountains. The text addresses some of the adaptations plants and animals require to live in the tundra (low-growing, clumped plant species, animals with warm feathers or thick fur, for example). In summer, when the tundra snow melts, animals can raise their young and find plenty to eat. Two final pages address threats: “Tundras are in danger because of pollution, rising temperatures, and harm to the land caused by too much building. // Tundras are important places that need to be protected.” As in the previous entries, Cathryn Sill provides simple, straightforward text in a large font on left-hand pages, while John Sill provides watercolor artwork on right-hand pages. Strengths continue to be the marvelously detailed, lifelike pictures and the careful identification of each subtype of habitat (here, Arctic, Antarctic, and alpine) and its plants and animals. The series’ largest weakness, though, is that further vital information about each illustration plate is buried in the aftermatter, forcing interested readers, whether curious lapsitters or older readers looking for information, to flip back and forth.

This solid addition to an established series covers an often overlooked habitat.