Polar: Wildlife at the Ends of the Earth

Despite the harsh and often uninviting climates of the world’s polar regions, many plants and animals thrive there. Polar: Wildlife at the Ends of the Earth explores those areas in a unique way. The book begins with a brief introduction as well as an explanation of where the polar regions are and how their location determines the amount of sunlight that they receive at different times of year. Afterwards, it launches into a month-by-month comparison between the Arctic and the Antarctic in a variety of topics. These include the physical and behavioral adaptations of animals, migration, flexible circadian rhythms, polar seasons, feeding the young, protection from predators and the elements, breeding seasons, hibernation, communication and movement. There is also information about the interdependence between animal species (for example, ravens feed on scraps from a wolf pack’s kill) or animals and plants (when some algae are eaten by krill, for instance, they release a scent which birds can detect, thereby drawing the birds to the area to feast on krill). Finally, the effects of pollution and climate change on polar regions are discussed along with a few ideas for social action in order to protect these areas.

Carmichael’s often lyrical text engages the reader and perfectly captures the setting while Eggenschwiler’s illustration style and his use of murky blues, teals and golden-browns not only suit the text but have a nostalgic feel, harkening back to the illustration style of the past. Even the texture of the paper has an “old” feel to it. Maps, diagrams and charts also enhance the text.

A table of contents, a glossary, an index and a very short list of related books for further study are provided.

Though there is nothing really new in Polar: Wildlife at the Ends of the Earth, its interesting concept, the juxtaposition of comparative facts within the context of a year-long journey through the polar regions, is unique and makes the book well worthy of purchase.