Gone Forever

In our region of northern Michigan, the two worst storms of winter 2017-2018 arrived in April.  This was followed by a summer leaving us categorized with severe drought.  Then the rains came in September . . . for weeks.  On the heels of this non-stop rain, our first snow arrived on November 10, 2018 and it's here to stay.  The seasons of my childhood and early adulthood are no longer present.  Our resilient but fragile planet and its inhabitants are in danger.  The National Snow & Ice Data Center recorded in October 2018 the third lowest extent of ice in the Arctic region between the dates of 1979 and 2018 according to satellite records.

The 12 lowest September ice extents over the satellite record have all occurred since 2007.

If Polar Bears Disappeared (Roaring Brook Press, August 28, 2018) written and illustrated by Lily Williams discusses polar bears, other Arctic animals and their habitats.  More importantly this is tied to the current and future state of sea ice in the region.  Lily Williams clearly presents how all areas and life on this Earth are critically tied together.

THIS IS THE ARCTIC.  It's an ecosystem in the far northern region of the globe.  

Of the limited animals residing here, they've adapted to the conditions.  One of these creatures is the polar bear.  Descended from brown bears it changed its habits (and its color) to revolve around sea ice. Sea ice is essential for food (and travel and reproduction.) The lack of sea ice and thus, food, for polar bears creates a ripple effect.

Without polar bears the population of ringed seals, their main entree, would rise but they would soon find themselves in the same position, without any sea ice, as polar bears.  Orcas, like polar bears, feast on seals.  Without sea ice access is easier but the numbers of seals would drastically decline.  Forced to move south for food, the presence of orcas would be problematic for other large predators.

Sea ice shields the landscape from the sun.  The increase in heat would be devastating for plant life.  Animals needing plants for food, like caribou, would suffer.  Land animals who rely on snow for shelter and protection would be victims of these new conditions.  Patterns in the lives of birds would not be maintained without their food, insects.  Everything is tied together.

With the sea ice gone the effects would spread from ecosystem to ecosystem around the world.  Can we save polar bears? Is there a possibility of stopping this?  Yes!  We are not alone in our desire to save these majestic beings.  Great minds are at work.  Read. Search. Act.


For her intended audience (for all of us) Lily Williams writes with clarity.  Her facts and explanations reveal knowledge born of careful research.  Each portion of her narrative is connected to the next with a repetitive phrase.  Although the presented possibilities are frightening, we are given direction and hope.  Here are several passages.

Without enough snow, subnivean
mammals like lemmings, who make
their dens in the snow, would lose
their homes,
exposing them to the harsh
weather and predators, and
decreasing their populations.

With many of the herbivores gone, non-apex
predators such as the snowy owl and Arctic
fox would be the next to lose their main
food sources.


The limited color palette on the opened and matching dust jacket and book case is reflective of the Arctic region and its inhabitants.  The hues of blue and the stark white depict the frigid temperatures and the harshness of the sea and landscape.  It also allows for the startling contrast of red in the title text and the dotted lines around the polar bear.    On the front two characters, seen exploring and learning about the region throughout the book, are introduced.

To the left, on the back, two small cubs on the extended sea ice are outlined in red.  Three seals are featured above them.  In the far distance a large group of animals gather.  The opening and closing endpapers are a breathtaking vista of the northern lights; an upward swirl of greens and purples.  Along the bottom three smaller black figures stand; the three polar bears.

Double-page pictures beginning with the title and verso pages take readers into the Arctic.  The two girls and adult woman on a four-wheeler are buzzing over the snow.  Each illustration elevates the text with a visual interpretation.  Four of the pages contain a grouping of smaller images to coincide with the narrative.  When necessary Lily Williams labels elements in the pictures; names of animals in cross-sections under the snow and how the sun is reflected or absorbed on sea ice or the water.

One of my favorite illustrations is toward the conclusion.  It is a view of mountains of snow and ice.  In the foreground dusk is settling.  Between two peaks the dying rays of the sun shed a pale peach light.  Along the bottom on the left, close to readers, are the two girls and the woman.  They are watching the polar bear and two cubs in the distance.  The cubs are playing. This image leads to the final picture, one filled with hope.


Informative words and illustrations contribute to the power found in If Polar Bears Disappeared written and illustrated by Lily Williams.  At the end of the book readers will find a glossary, passages titled The Arctic Is In Trouble and How You Can Help Save Polar Bears, an author's note, acknowledgements, a bibliography and additional sources.  This back matter is welcome and important to readers.  I highly recommend you include a copy of this title in your professional and personal collections.

To learn more about Lily Williams and her other work, please visit her website by following the link attached to her name.  At a publisher's website you can view eight interior images.  Lily Williams maintains an account on Twitter, and Instagram.  Lily Williams and her editor, Emily Feinberg chat with teacher librarian Matthew Winner on The Children's Book Podcast.  

Holding On To Beauty

They walk among the towering fifty foot tall ponderosa pines and tamarack trees grazing on grasses and bushes.  You can see them as darkness falls away to daylight, in the mid-morning or late afternoon hours, and at twilight.  They can be heard munching on apples at two am if you have to go outside with your dog.  Chain link fences surrounding homes built more than thirty years ago mean nothing to them.  This is their land.  It has been for centuries.

Gliding through our city and outlying suburbs alone, in pairs or large groups, the white-tailed deer are a reminder of our need to protect and preserve.  As stewards of our fragile planet our vigilance is not an option.  Counting Lions: Portraits from the Wild (Candlewick Press, October 13, 2015) writing by Katie Cotton, illustrations by Stephen Walton and a foreword by Virginia McKenna draws readers into the wild with stunning artwork and poetic observations.

One lion
sits and watches his rough-and-tumble pride.
He surveys the golden savanna, and a flicker catches his eye---something moving in the grass.

This big cat, a monarch, a sentinel and a soldier, ever attentive, rules, observes and fights to safeguard his family.  It seems fitting the group is called a pride.  His look is fierce and filled with purpose.

As a page is turned the numbers advance.  Two gorillas, a mother and child, nose to nose, are so close they are sharing the same air.  Tiny at birth, the baby will stay near for several years.

Tall, graceful and spotted they reach for leaves.  Three giraffes roam the grasslands on long legs with stretched necks.  Nestled near three cubs a majestic tiger stares and dares anyone to come near her family.

Did you know elephants walk from the day they are born?  Five search for food and water where others have traversed before them.  They are not found anywhere else in our world, these Ethiopian wolves.  Even though they are six in number, they work as one.

Seven cuddle and get cozy as a storm swirls about them in Antarctica.  Wearing no crown, these Emperor penguins live an unimaginable existence in a land of ice and snow.  Every two to four years these female turtles move en masse to lay their eggs.  Eight swim toward the sands.  How much longer will these creatures grace our oceans?

Wearing bold-hued feathers nine macaws line a limb.  Their chatter informs each other of the latest forest gossip.  Displaying coats which leave no doubt as to their identity, ten zebras lean down to quench their thirst.  Though their heads are bowed, their eyes miss nothing.  Others seeking them for dinner need the water too.  Fifty-five animals altogether, from one to ten, counting on us.


For each specie Katie Cotton has penned sentences lyrical in style.  We are taken to the place, we are keenly aware of the animals' physical qualities, and we are asked questions.  Each piece begins and ends with a number followed by the name.  This along with vivid description, alliteration and the repetition of the number followed by a noun in the next to last line create a pleasing rhythm.  Here is the completion of the first.

...A challenger to his throne?
His muscles tighten.  He throws back his huge head,
about to roar---but it is only a lioness, returning with a kill.
He settles down to keep watch again.
Who knows what he has seen?
One king.
One lion.


Mesmerizing is a word which comes to mind when first looking at the matching dust jacket and book case.  These images rendered by Stephen Walton in charcoal reach out, grab you and don't let go.  You can't turn away.  You want to sit and study every single one.  On the back, to the left three giraffes look at you from the left-hand corner. The orange color of the title text is replicated on the opening and closing endpapers.

Throughout the book the only colors are the white background, the orange text and shades of charcoal.  The first image is the only one on a single page.  The rest span both pages, the narrative placed outside the scope of each picture.  You will find yourself frequently reaching out to the page wanting to touch one of the featured animals.

Light and shadow and fine lines create beings ready to break free from the confines of the page at any moment.  You believe if you close your eyes and then open them; the animals might be alive in the room with you.  The way they stare right at you is marvelous.

One of my favorite illustrations of several is the five elephants ranging in ages.  The younger ones stay close to their parent in the grass.  The notched ears and wrinkled skin are exquisitely portrayed.  You can almost hear them breathing.  For the moment they have paused to eat but you know they'll move on soon.


Counting Lions: Portraits from the Wild written by Katie Cotton with illustrations by Stephen Walton and an introduction by Virginia McKenna is an eloquent, poignant look at ten different animals, some needing our help more than others.  At the close of the book several paragraphs are dedicated to supplying more details about each of them.  Information is included about the author, illustrator and the role of Virginia McKenna as a champion for wildlife.  There is also a page of websites for those seeking additional facts.

To learn more about Stephen Walton and his work please follow the link attached to his name to access his website.  This is a link to a blog post, Why I don't edit 'proper books' for grown-ups, by Katie Cotton which gives you a feel for her passion for picture books.  Enjoy the book trailer provided by the UK publisher.




Be sure to stop by Kid Lit Frenzy hosted by educator Alyson Beecher to view the titles selected by other bloggers participating in the 2015 Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge.

Soaring The Skies...

Without fail their very presence gives one pause.  Gliding through the air without a sound or sitting in a tree or nest like a silent sentinel, they are the essence of royalty.  With a wing span between six and eight feet, the bald eagle is one of nature's most impressive creatures.

We nearly lost all this beauty.  Thankfully for now and future generations there were people who recognized the dangers; doing what they could to save this magnificent bird.  In The Eagles Are Back (Dial Books for Young Readers) written by the late Jean Craighead George with paintings by Wendell Minor, readers follow the efforts of one boy; seeing the difference a single individual can make.


Years ago a boy climbed to an eagle nest in an old tree by a remote lake.

He is worried about two adult bald eagles he has named Uncle Sam and First Lady; not having seen them for some time.  As he peers down into the nest he sees two crushed eggs.

The boy knows his friend the ranger is worried about their diminishing numbers.  The boy knows when the bald eagle was chosen as our national bird there were a half a million populating this great nation; a huge part of an ecological food chain.  Now there are only 450 pairs left.

Hunters, loss of habitat and the use of DDT (since banned) are all contributing factors.  Not having eaglets to watch this year will be strange.  Two things happen to the boy as he is leaving the forest; Uncle Sam swoops down to get a fish and his friend, the ranger, has a special treasure to show him.

Another ranger in Alaska sent him an eagle egg. He is hoping Uncle Sam and First Lady will adopt it. In order for this to work though the boy's help is necessary.  Called to duty in another park the ranger asks the boy to watch the nest.

If the pair of eagles do not return to the nest within four days, the boy's duties will no longer be needed. Day one, he whistles. They do not come. Day two, he whistles. They do not come.

On the third day the boy calls to them all day until the sun is setting.  Without warning they suddenly appear, flying to the nest.  The boy watches as first Uncle Sam, then First Lady take a turn sitting on the egg.  They've made the egg their own.

Waiting and watching, watching and waiting, the boy helps as he best knows how. A egg, a pair of bald eagles, two park rangers and this boy turn hope into reality, so that some day a father can bring his son to see more than thirty eagles.  The skies never looked so good.


Over the years reading the works of Jean Craighead George one can't help but fall under the spell of her words; words taking us deep into the natural world, giving us a great respect and appreciation for those creatures sharing our planet.  She informs by weaving what is known to be true into her narratives as well as inviting us to look further, igniting an interest.  In this particular title I was curious to know how close to the truth the story was, so I sent an email to her friend of twenty-two years and collaborator, Wendell Minor.

Mr. Minor's response was:

Jean Craighead George's older twin brothers, John and Frank, were the first raptor keepers in the United States, and were indeed involved in saving eagles.  "The Eagles Are Back" is based on their endeavors, but is told through the fictional character of a young boy."

In the conversation of this email he also informed me there will be one more title released in 2014 illuminating their shared talents, Galapagos George.  He closed the email with good news just received this week about Jean Craighead George.







Wendell Minor welcomes readers to this title with his matching jacket and cover  rendered (as are all the paintings) using

Winsor & Newton designer's gouache and watercolor with pencil on Strathmore 500 bristol board

in rich, warm colors.  The back illustration is taken from within the body of the work; the boy is tossing a fish he caught to the eagle to feed the eaglet.  A close up of an eagle in flight spans the title page followed by the verso and dedication with a two page panoramic view of a valley overlooked by the eagle pair.

Minor alternates his painting sizes as a reflection of the text.  All of the double and single page spreads go edge to edge to give the reader a sense of wonder but also an intimacy with the story.  When text appears opposite a one page illustration a wide border is formed with a fine golden line; each of these pages featuring a smaller inset painting.  His perspective, lines, and brush strokes combine to create a living breathing texture; a truly realistic rendition.


The Eagles Are Back by Jean Craighead George with paintings by Wendell Minor portrays the importance, the beautiful unbroken chain, that was and needs to be protected and preserved.  It is meant to and can be enjoyed by all ages.  Please visit the author and illustrator websites via the links embedded in their names.

An illustrator's note on the verso explains the research process Wendell Minor used prior to beginning his paintings. There is a short bibliography of websites on bald eagles at the conclusion of the book.  Mr. Minor and his wife, Florence, were gracious enough to include two additional images in their emails which are shown below.

Stewards of the Earth

Another of the six websites selected by the American Association of School Librarians for their Top 25 Best Websites for Teaching and Learning under the heading of Content Resources is ARKive.  The Standards for the 21st-Century Learner addressed under this category are:  2.1.4 Use technology and other information tools to analyze and organize information, 2.4.4 Develop directions for future investigations and 3.1.2 Participate and collaborate as members of a social and intellectual network of learners.  Since its inception in 2003 ARKive has continued to be guided by this mission statement:

Promoting the Conservation of the World's Threatened Species Through the Power of Wildlife Imagery

They proceed to elaborate further in several paragraphs but the gist of this site is:

gathering together the very best films and photographs of the world's species into one centralised digital library, to create a unique audio-visual record of life on Earth, prioritising those species at most risk of extinction.

My first impression is the site is so full of wonderful resources you could get lost there and not come out for hours.  I will go through everything I believe will be most valuable to get educators using it the quickest.  

Arranged in a block formation the home page offers:

1. an introductory video by Sir David Attenborough
2. a central featured specie
3. the latest from the ARKive blog (up-to-date news)
4. endangered specie (new species highlighted)
5. education resources
6. Arctic
7. climate change
8. jewels of UAE

I am not sure if the last three might be changed from time to time.  If you go along the top of the page, a task bar offers:

1. explore ARKive
2. about us
3. get involved
4. blog
5. contact

Instead of clicking on the education resources box I elected to click the Explore ARKive tab.  A menu appears across most of the screen offering searches by species groups, random species, eco-regions, topics, geography, conservation status, going to Google Earth, fun stuff, games, survival app and education resources by age.  In this list are some of the same items listed in the blocks on the home page.  Either way you get to the same spot.

Under specie groups I choose Mammals.  At the next screen on the left the original list is shown while itemizing the most popular ones first on the right.  You have the option of showing all the mammals.  For each mammal a picture is shown with the common name followed by the scientific name, the beginning of an introduction with a more about choice, and icons for the number of images and videos.  In the case of the tiger there are 157 images and 31 videos.

You can click on the mammal's picture, either of the icons or the more about link.  If you click on the picture you are taken to the home page for this mammal; the description information.  Above this are other items between which you may toggle; facts, status, range, habitat, biology, threats, conservation, find out more, glossary, references (bibliography) or view them all.  

In addition on this left side you can print this information or change between two different text background colors.  This page can be shared with your Google+ connections, tweeted about on Twitter or liked on Facebook. On the right side you can view all the images in a slideshow, embed an HTML code of the central image in a blog or website, send an email with the link to the image listed, add this image to your personal ARKive scrapbook (registration is required), view all images or videos, Flickr images or share this on numerous social networks.

Choosing one of the eco-regions you are taken to a page with similar items of information as previously noted.  The region is described in the center but toggling through tabs will bring up the biodiversity, range, threats, conservation, find out more, glossary and references.  On the left you can view a slideshow of the images, email a link of the image or get the HTML embed code.  

Links to species found in a particular region are on the right side.

If you click on one of the continents in the geography section it takes you to a list of the areas within that continent.  Upon selecting one of them, a specie page appears.  The search options are amazing.  You can change the list from specie to photos to videos to blog posts or all.  But on the left the search can be more refined by keyword searching or searching by a specific group, range, conservation status, topics, taxonomy or last updated.  

When you choose conservation status the page presentation and options are identical to the geography pages.  When you click on the Google Earth link you are taken to a page for downloading the Google Earth Plugin.  This is used to explore the ARKive threatened marine species.  

When you select fun stuff blocks provide links to outdoor activities, the Survival app (free), animal masks, origami animals, games, E-cards, ARKive top 10s and scrapbooks.  The app is available for Apple or Android.  Through this game children and adults will learn more about endangered species.

The education resources pages offer a variety of tools for teachers.  There are five different age groupings.  Within each specific focus area there might be teachers' notes, a classroom presentation, a handout, a handout answer sheet, an activity pack or other supporting materials.

Under ages 7-11 I choose Butterflies and Blooms.   The teachers' notes contains how long the lesson will take, the learning outcomes, what materials you will need, a summary, preparation guidelines, how to run the session, discussion questions and extension activities.  The classroom presentation is a nine slide Powerpoint.   The specie study sheet and summer bloom wheel template work together matching three butterflies with their habitats.  

For each age level the United States standards are listed.

ARKive is a stunning, information-rich resource of benefit to anyone regardless of their knowledge level about a particular specie.  Navigation is flawless.  For educators it's a goldmine not to be missed in our efforts inform; to create understanding in order to protect our planet.

It's Still Not Too Late

The world's quite a big place,
you know.  But it's not that big,
when you consider how much
there is to squeeze into it.

Martin Jenkins leads off the narrative in this title published in February of 2011, Can We Save The Tiger? illustrated by Vicky White asking readers to visualize our planet, their place on it along with all the other life forms.  He explains that some of the animals and plants have met and survived the changes humans have made; others have not.  Those we will never see live.  They are extinct.

Highlighting the dodo, Steller's sea cow, marsupial wolf, great auk and the broad-faced potoroo he remarks they are few among many gone forever.  He smoothly transitions to discussing those that are endangered, here but precariously so.  Jenkins focuses on the tiger; an animal that most know as remarkable.

As with the previously mentioned animals he gives their genus and species and where they are found; thankfully he does not need to list the year they were last seen.  But he does describe their size, life span, habits, breeding, diet and the number left.  That number, fewer than 2,500 breeding adults in the wild, is shocking.  He devotes a page to educating readers about the tigers' decreasing space for habitation and interaction with humans followed by others in a similar situation.

Continuing with his careful, conversational tone, he introduces us to the partula snails.  They unlike the tiger do not require space.  They adapted well to the intrusion of humans but humans enjoyed eating the much larger giant African land snail bringing them to the islands.  Their numbers grew and they started to eat the people's crops.  A third snail, rosy euglandina, was introduced to eat the giant African land snail but they liked the partula snails much better.  People tipped the scales; predators introduced have placed other species in a dangerous position.

Jenkins' telling of the plight of the white-rumped vulture illustrates the complexity of numerous situations involving endangered species.  When discoveries are made it is not always easy to eliminate the problem quickly; the ripple effect ensues.  As in his earlier discussions he follows with others unintentionally placed in jeopardy by human actions or disease.

It is at this point readers are shown success stories; the American bison, white rhinoceros, Antarctic fur seal, and the vicuna.  His elaboration on the American bison leads into another animal not quite so easy to follow, kakapos living in New Zealand. The obstacles, necessary to overcome, to preserve their lives were not easy but their number has risen from fifty-one in 1995 to one hundred twenty in 2010. 

Without diminishing its importance for older readers Martin Jenkins has provided factual information easily understood by even young readers.

What makes this volume even more luminous are the pencil and oil paint illustrations by Vicky White.  Rendered on heavy cream paper, many in shades of black and grey and others with partial or full color, their lifelike quality is stunning.  As readers we are seeing biological studies, close-ups with nothing left to the imagination.

Her placement on the pages of the animals, some centered on a single page, some bleeding off, some crossing from one page to another, is a visual gift bringing these creatures from their world into ours.  Large or small Vicky White delivers them to us in all their majesty.

The last two pages include references to be found online and an index.  This title appears on the following lists:  Best Books Of The Year 2011, School Library Journal, Boston Globe Horn Book Honor 2011-Nonfiction, Fanfare 2011, The Horn Book, Editor's Choice Children's Books 2011, Kirkus Reviews, and Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12-2012, National Science Teacher Association.

Can We Save the Tiger? by Martin Jenkins, illustrated by Vicky White, leaves no doubt in readers' minds about the importance of preserving our animal and plant life now, not later; while the work to be done might seem overwhelming it can be done one species at a time.  This volume, a thing of beauty in and of itself, carries a message to be heard and understood by all ages; a message to save the beauty all around us.