At the Poles
- Publisher
- Candlewick Press
- Initial publish date
- Oct 2023
- Category
- General, Polar Regions, General
- Recommended Age
- 3 to 7
- Recommended Grade
- p to 2
-
Hardback
- ISBN
- 9781536205992
- Publish Date
- Oct 2023
- List Price
- $24.99
Classroom Resources
Where to buy it
Description
The author of At the Pond and In the Woods takes readers to the most remote regions of our planet in this beautifully illustrated poetic ode to the creatures that inhabit the North and South poles.
The stark, cold landscapes of Earth’s poles may seem inhospitable, but their snowy hollows and glacial waters hide an astounding variety of creatures, from the tiny, fascinating tardigrade to the mysterious giant squid, from the fleet-footed Arctic hare to the majestic polar bear. Perfectly adapted for the climes they call home, these animals defy logic and invite awe. New York Times best-selling author David Elliott turns his eye—and his pen—to the Arctic and Antarctic with lively poems filled with humor, admiration, and love, while illustrator Ellen Rooney’s vivid multimedia art brings touches of warmth and beauty to the austere landscapes of the poles. Complete with notes on each animal in the back matter, At the Poles speaks to the preciousness of life at the ends of the Earth.
About the authors
David Elliott, a lifelong resident of Toronto and a graduate of both York University and the University of Toronto, has worked for a decade as an addiction counsellor. In retirement he splits his time between creative writing and volunteering as spiritual director at Punanai House. Find out more at davidelliottwriter.com.
Ellen Rooney is an award-winning designer, artist and children’s book illustrator. Her textural mixed media artwork combines many traditional art techniques, like pencil drawing, painting, printmaking and collage, often combined with digital techniques. She is the winner of the 2021 Christie Harris Illustrated Children's Literature Prize for Grandmother School. Originally from Massachusetts, she now lives in the southern Okanagan Valley in British Columbia.
Editorial Reviews
That paragon of poetic pith Elliot (In the Woods, rev. 3/20; and others) returns with another winning entry. . . . Many of the fifteen brief poems use direct address, the better to connect creature with readers. . . Rooney’s eye-catching portraits—created using printmaking ink, gouache, crayon, and digital and traditional collage techniques—vary to match the tone of each poem, from lighthearted and humorous to majestic and haunting (see her shivery Greenland shark).
—The Horn Book
The confident metrics and wordplay that mark Elliott’s previous sets of wildlife-themed poems is on bright display here. . . Respect and appreciation for the natural world shine brightly throughout this seamless mix of words and pictures. A pleaser for animal and nature lovers.
—Kirkus Reviews
The icy, snowy environs of Earth’s two poles are host to a bounty of intriguing animals, especially to young nature lovers, and here Elliott offers up a variety of poems that highlight the diversity of those creatures. . . Each poem is accompanied by a full-page spread foregrounding the animal, and the multi-media art infuses scenes with energy and movement.
—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
