A Walk in the Tundra Book

Takes readers on a walk in the tundra, showing examples of how the animals and plants of the tundra are connected and dependent on each other and the tundra's soil and climate. ...

Children's Literature

This book is one in a series entitled Biomes of North America. Unfortunately, this is not an eyecatching title. Nonetheless, this fascinating description of the cold, treeless plain near the top of the world, called the tundra, draws the reader in from the first page. The author engages the readers by inviting them on a walk with her, on which she discovers many things. Along the way, she uses the seasons as the backdrop to describe this both breathtaking and brutal area. The shades of black and white in the illustrations combine with photography that resembles the work of a gifted National Geographic photographer. The book is informative, introducing vocabulary particular to the terrain, vegetation and life on the tundra. This book will be a welcome addition to the school library. It is likely to be frequently used, not just for the information it provides, but the pleasure it gives. 2001, Carolrhoda Books, Ages 8 to 14, $??. Reviewer: Kathleen Orosz