ALL ABOUT ANTARCTICA

The Antarctic awaits.

Fear not—this beautifully illustrated field guide may be heavy on text, but it’s nonetheless compelling. Arranged as if preparing readers for an expedition to Antarctica, the work is less narrative and more reference, with two-page spreads arranged by topic and detailed accordingly. Sections such as “Natural Wonders” and “Research Stations” will captivate the scientifically inclined, while topics like “What To Pack” and “Food and Waste” offer slice of life–style insights into the more personal elements of Antarctic living. Animal lovers will adore spreads devoted to marine life and penguins; concluding sections “Climate Change” and “Been and Gone” (about invasive species that have posed threats to Antarctic ecosystems) implicitly speak to the urgency of conservationist action. Roughly a dozen blurbs, all accompanied by related visuals, dominate each fold; delightfully evocative of knolling-type (i.e., overhead) photography, the aesthetic effect proves more inviting and immersive than overwhelming. And though the complexity level naturally varies widely from item to item—the two-sentence description of an instrument known as a saoz is far denser than that of sea ice, for instance—every reader will find something of interest. Martin’s second-person language assures buy-in from adolescent adventurers, and his watercolor maximalism proves a visual feat, a thorough accounting of travel to the polar south.

Perfect for perusal across reading levels, ideal for the seriously intrepid.