Book Review: In Arctic Waters

In Arctic Waters
Written by Laura Crawford, illustrated by Ben Hodson
Ages 4-8, 32 pages
Sylvan Dell Publishing

Curious youngsters who wonder which animals live in the bitter Arctic Circle will find answers in the delightful rhyming picture book, In Arctic Waters. This cumulative tale introduces the hardy Arctic fish, "small and quick," that circles an ice floe in the frigid water. He is chased by the beluga whale, "blubbery and thick," who in turn discovers that a narwhal, "big and strong" is right on his tail! Seal then comes "bouncing along," and so the story continues as the walrus and polar bear join in the merry chase. But their play is abruptly aborted when an Inuit, armed with a harpoon, lands on their iceberg. Sensing danger, the animals know they must flee the hunter, but how? Luck is with them, and the animals hurry, scurry splash, and dash to another, safer piece of ice.

Geared for children ages four to eight, In Arctic Waters offers a spirited introduction to the Arctic ecosystem. Crawford’s joyful, repetitive text follows the pattern of "The House that Jack Built," which makes for a delightful read-aloud, while Hodson’s cheery illustrations add a dash of whimsy through the animals’ comical facial expressions.

A five-page educational supplement at the end of the book called "For Creative Minds," contains amazing facts about the featured animals and their frigid environment. Additional activities and resources are posted on the publisher’s website. Ideal for classroom use, "Learning Links" and "Teaching Activities," can be found at http://www.sylvandellpublishing.com/.

Reviewed by Heidi Bee Roemer.