Tundra Biomes

The six books in the “Earth’s Natural Biomes” series cover most of the major biomes of Earth. Each book is packed with pictures and sidebars with facts and further information. It is interesting that the pictures do include the large animals that children will know and also many insects and small photogenic creatures that they may not. When relevant, there are vista shots; when not available in the habitat, there are great pictures of the appropriate environment. Perhaps the essence of the series is that, in order to care for nature, young people must learn about it.

Fact Focus: Biome or Habitat?
Biomes are regions of the world that have a similar climate, plants, and animals, such as deserts, forests, rivers, oceans, tundra, and grassland. A habitat is the specific place in a biome where a plant or animal lives.

With some variation, each of the books first defines the particular biome along with the plants and animals that inhabit that biome and the different types of that biome that exist. Each of these topics is presented in a two-page spread with large photographs and short, informative text bubbles. A world map shows the major areas where the biomes exist, and other maps show the location of examples given in the text. There are sections on the food chain, people in the area and resources. The information is rounded out with a look at the threats and future of the biome. Each book ends with a glossary, places to look for more information and an index.

Tundra is located mostly in the cold polar regions although it also appears in the higher cold regions of mountains. Often considered barren because there are no trees, there are still a wide variety of plants and animals and people in these environments. The sections in Tundra Biomes are different from others in the “Earth’s Natural Biomes” series by the additions of going underground and by treating seasonal changes. Tundra is particularly suitable for pictures of the vista, and several are included.

Tundra Biomes is a pleasing book with some of the text bubbles shaped like the animals or plants to which they refer. Enticing creatures, such as the wood frog that can be frozen during the long winter, draw the reader into the book. The resources section is also noteworthy as it is about oil and mineral extraction.

The “Earth’s Natural Biomes” series is a wonderful introduction to the wide variety of habitats on Earth. Louise and Richard Spilsbury have chosen a diverse range of plants and animals to entice readers into the environments. The books in the series would be a beneficial addition to a classroom or school library as they can expand on the information found in textbooks. They will also be useful to individuals who want to see pictures of nature while they also absorb a few facts.