Polar bear, arctic hare Poems of the frozen North

Eileen Spinelli

Book - 2007

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Subjects
Published
Honesdale, Pa. : Wordsong 2007.
Language
English
Main Author
Eileen Spinelli (-)
Other Authors
Eugenie Fernandes, 1943- (illustrator)
Edition
1st ed
Physical Description
32 p. : ill
ISBN
9781590783443
  • Polar bear family
  • Gentle orange-golden bumblebee
  • Snowbirds
  • Champion traveler
  • Arctic sun
  • Arcitc poppy
  • Arctic nursery rhyme
  • Racing the peregrine falcon
  • Caribou
  • Safe and warm
  • Beluga
  • Rude awakening
  • Musk-ox
  • Ptarmigan
  • Shadow
  • Choir lobo
  • Guess
  • Iceberg
  • Hump of snow
  • Snow flea
  • Ocean ice
  • Narwhal sighting
  • Warning
  • Listen.
Review by Booklist Review

From Caribou (Thrumming and drumming / Caribou coming / Romping and stomping ) to Polar Bear Family, cuddling in a sheltered winter place, the rhythmic poems in this picture-book collection combine simple wordplay with exciting biological fact to present the sights and sounds of animals in the wild, icy landscape. A few of the full-spread paintings are too pretty (the beluga whale is almost smiling), but most extend the words and show the animals and landscape close-up: the musk oxen in their shaggy brown coats standing in the snow; the iceberg with jagged spears, shimmering silently. At the end, three illustrated pages fill in facts, including a note about the Arctic tern, which flies 22,000 miles to the Antarctic and back again every year, following the summer sun. This offers plenty to read aloud and talk about in classes across the curriculum. --Hazel Rochman Copyright 2007 Booklist

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review

K-Gr 3-In this precisely rendered collection, 24 Arctic-inspired poems (in a style reminiscent of Aileen Fisher's) are matched with 12 spreads of acrylic paintings of the region's flora and fauna. Subjects include the Arctic hare, lemming, narwhal, caribou, musk-ox, ptarmigan, Arctic poppy, and snow flea. The poetry's natural pacing lends itself to reading the work through as a picture book. The art is done in a bright palette of cold white and chilly blues mixed with the yellows and oranges of spring and summer. In one illustration, a polar bear cub investigates a bumble bee that hovers above his nose, while buntings and terns dart by: "The Arctic bumblebee can sting/if it so has a mind to-/although it's rather nice to know/it seldom seems inclined to." The final pages include additional quick facts on the animals along with a small icon from the original illustration so that children can readily connect the new information with the earlier poem/illustration. Well paced, with a strong relationship between illustration and poetry, this book will help children understand this vital ecosystem and the beauty of its wildlife.-Teresa Pfeifer, Alfred Zanetti Montessori Magnet School, Springfield, MA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review

Spinelli treats her subjects, which range from orange-golden bumblebees to arctic poppies to polar bears, with respect and--when warranted--playfulness (""O ever clever ptarmigan""). Her poetry evokes myriad sensory impressions, suiting form to subject (""Thrumming and drumming / Caribou coming""), and the seemingly textured illustrations invite touching. Three ""Arctic Facts"" pages conclude the volume. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.

(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review

In this natural complement to Judy Sierra's Antarctic Antics: A Book of Penguin Poems (1998), illus by Jose Aruego & Ariane Dewey, Spinelli offers rhymed introductions to an arctic menagerie that ranges from orcas ("What's black and white / [but not a penguin]? / What's fast and fierce / [but not a bear]?") to snow fleas, with the occasional wildflower or iceberg tucked in for good measure. In large painted landscapes that show the arctic in all seasons, Fernandes often places these easily recognizable animals in clusters--to the point, sometimes, that viewers may come away thinking that the "frozen North" is more densely populated than it actually is. Still, such light, inventive, easy-to-understand poetry is worth reading, either alone or aloud. (endnotes) (Picture book/poetry. 7-9) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.