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An iceberg shears from a glacier and begins a journey that takes it through Antarctica’s seasons.
Follow the iceberg in the spring as it watches penguins trek across the ice to their winter homes and senses krill stirring underneath the ice. With summer comes more life: the iceberg sees humpback whales spiral and orca gather. And the iceberg moves too, ever shrinking as the sun softens its edges and undersea currents wash it from below. When autumn arrives with cooling temperatures, the sea changes and the iceberg is trapped in the ice for the winter freeze. Then spring returns and the iceberg drifts into a sheltered bay and falls, at the end of its life cycle.
But if you think this is the end of the journey, look closer — out in the ocean, an iceberg shears from a glacier and settles to the sea, beginning the process anew. Ocean, sky, snow and ice dance a delicate dance in this evocative portrayal of the life cycle of an iceberg.
The poetic text and beautiful illustrations make this a unique nonfiction offering for young readers. This book ends with an author’s note explaining the effects of climate change on the Arctic and Antarctic regions, as well as a map and a glossary.
Key Text Features
additional information
author’s note
glossary
map
gatefold
Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.1.4
Ask and answer questions to help determine or clarify the meaning of words and phrases in a text.
“An evocative view of a timelessly ancient natural cycle.” — Kirkus Reviews
“The watercolor illustrations aptly capture both glistening, sunshine-filled days and the dark mysteries of the depths … [A] handsome offering.” — Booklist
“Poetic depictions of a newly calved iceberg across the seasons characterize Saxby's witness to abundant Antarctic biodiversity.” — Publishers Weekly
“From the very endpapers which set the mood with their soft blues and greys to the lyrical text with its rich vocabulary, Iceberg: A Life in Seasons is 'quiet' yet powerful.” — CM: Canadian Review of Materials
“Each illustration in this book is a work of art, accompanied by a wonderfully descriptive narrative.” — Calgary Herald
“Saxby's prose is poetic and easy to follow ... Racklyeft has brought such vibrancy to a land that we often associate with being desolate. Teaming with wildlife, both Saxby and Racklyeft bring so much wonder to the Antarctic.” — Cloud Lake Literary