Antarctica

Antarctica by Moira Court (Fremantle Press) HB RRP $24.99 ISBN 9781925815757

Reviewed by Nikki M Heath

Antarctica is a mysterious place with a wealth of unusual animals, and Moira Court brings ten of them to the page in this striking book. From orcas and two different types of seal, to blackfin icefish and ‘shrimpish, pinkish’ krill, this nature information book offers a few surprises.

Each spread incorporates counting, colours and descriptions of the creatures and their behaviours, making for a multi-dimensional experience with much to explore. The language is vibrant and incorporates sophisticated vocabulary which will be a stretch for younger readers (and even some older ones). The main spreads are followed by four pages of quirky facts about Antarctica and the featured animals.

Court’s hand-made, layered illustrations are striking, using bold yet natural colours and geometric shapes. The creatures are rendered with surprising depth of character, joyous breaching whales contrasting with trudging penguins and beady-eyed squid.

With so much going on, this book will keep readers coming back repeatedly. While the publisher nominates an age range of 3 to 5 years, the book would also be a valuable classroom resource for junior primary students.

Penguin Problems

Penguin Problems by John Dory, illustrated by Lane Smith (Walker Books) HB RRP $24.99 ISBN 9781406375992

Reviewed by Ashling Kwok

Penguin Problems is the story of a grumpy, yet loveable penguin which spends his days whinging and whining about his conditions.

Penguin lives in Antarctica but instead of relishing in the beauty and freedom of his surroundings, he constantly complains about how difficult life as a penguin can actually be.

He whines about the cold, the snow, the sun, the noise, his waddle, and the fact that the ocean is too salty and inconveniently full of predators. And can you imagine how hard it is to find your mum in a big crowd of identical penguins? Well, it’s almost impossible, according to Penguin.

One day while Penguin is busy complaining, a clever walrus offers him a more balanced view. Walrus tries to make Penguin realise that things aren’t as bad as he thinks. He encourages Penguin to focus on the good things in life and to remember how much he is loved.

Just when it seems like Penguin concedes with Walrus’ point of view, Penguin’s cranky old ways resurface and readers are once again reminded about why life in Antarctica is so terribly difficult.

This hilarious picture book is the first collaboration for John Dory and Lane Smith, a four-time recipient of the New York Times best illustrated book award.  It is delightfully witty and face-paced, and is overflowing with quirky illustrations that will put a smile on the face of anyone who reads it.

Penguin Problems is perfect for readers aged 3-8 years but even adults will find themselves laughing out loud when reading to their children. It is a delightful, fun-filled book and a wonderful bedtime read.

No Return: Captain Scott's Race to the Pole

No Return: Captain Scott's Race to the Pole by Peter Gouldthorpe (Lothian/Hachette)
PB RRP $17.99
ISBN 9780734412799
Reviewed by Hilary Smillie

No Return first emerged as a hard back picture book in 2011. Now Lothian have published it as a paperback, however there is no separate map which accompanied the hard back version. My review of the original publication was posted on Buzz Words Books on 15th November 2011.

Tasmanian-located Peter Gouldthorpe is a CBCA award winning author/illustrator and his talented artwork is showcased in this recounting of the race to the South Pole by Robert Falcon Scott.

Lieutenant Scott heads The National Antarctic Expedition in 1901, sailing from London in the Discovery. He hopes to fulfil his dream of being first to reach the South Pole. A secondary purpose is to gain scientific knowledge of plant life, the climate and the geology of this frozen land.

Among Scott's party are Ernest Shackleton and Edward Wilson and 19 huskies. The men trek to within 850 kilometres of the South Pole, but are forced back by terrible deprivation and the loss of all the dogs. Nevertheless, they remain there for two years before arriving back in England in 1904 with their data of new scientific discoveries. Scott is hailed as a national hero and promoted to Captain.

Interest revives in the South Pole after Robert Peary conquers the North Pole in 1909 and Shackleton’s own expedition to Antarctica comes close to reaching the Pole. Scott, spurred on by this news, forms a second expedition funded by himself. On June 1, 1910, the Terra Nova sets sail for Australia. While docked in Melbourne, to Scott’s dismay, a telegram arrives to say Roald Amundsen, a Norwegian explorer, was challenging him in the race to the Pole.

Once in Antarctic waters, it takes a month for the ship to navigate through the pack ice. The Terra Nova anchors off what is now called Cape Evans, and the preparations for the race to the South Pole begin in earnest. Within two weeks, a hut is built to house the men in the bitter Antarctic winter ahead.

Scott sends out two exploration parties. One returns with the news that Amundsen's ship has anchored in the Bay of Whales. Scott works out that the Norwegian will be 97ks closer to the Pole than his own party. Wondering whether his rival will reach the Pole first must have lain heavily on his mind through the long winter months.

The many experiences of the twenty-five men who remain behind after the ship returns to New Zealand are recorded in both text and brushwork. Peter Gouldthorpe's detailed and powerful illustrations magnify the horrendous conditions and challenges Scott's exploration party face. -44°C temperatures without modern thermal clothing would have been daunting enough, but along with the blizzards, the men suffer fatigue, hunger, frostbite, painful snow blindness, and loss of companions and horses (whose meat provided valuable food). The picture book's title is well chosen and the reader is in no doubt of the outcome.

No Return: Captain Scott's Race to the Pole pays homage to Captain Scott and his team. Their courage, determination and sacrifice is an inspiration and has reserved them a well-deserved place in history. A map is printed on the last page of the book showing the adventurers' routes. There is also a time line which is an excellent tool for an instant overview of the race to the South Pole.

NO RETURN Captain Scott’s Race to the Pole

 Captain Scott's Race to the Pole (No Return) by Peter Gouldthorpe (Lothian/Hachette)
HB RRP $28.99
ISBN 978 0 73441 220 1
Reviewed by Hilary Smillie

Peter Gouldthorpe is a CBCA award winning author/illustrator and his talented artwork is showcased in this recounting of the race to the South Pole by Robert Falcon Scott.

Lieutenant Scott heads The National Antarctic Expedition in 1901, sailing from London in the Discovery, specially built for hazardous ice conditions. Apart from gaining scientific knowledge of plant life and unearthing geological secrets, Scott hopes to fulfil his dream of being first to reach the South Pole.

Among Scott's party are Ernest Shackleton and Edward Wilson and 19 huskies. The men trek to within 850 kilometers of the South Pole, but are forced back by terrible deprivation and the loss of all the dogs. Nevertheless, they remain there for two years before arriving back in England in 1904 with their data of new discoveries. Scott is hailed as a national hero and promoted to captain.

Interest revives in the South Pole after Robert Peary conquers the North Pole in 1909 and Shackleton’s own expedition to Antarctica comes close to reaching the Pole. Scott, spurred on by this news, forms a second expedition funded by himself. On June 1, 1910, the Terra Nova sets sail for Australia. To Scott’s dismay, a telegram arrives while docked in Melbourne to say Roald Amundsen, a Norwegian explorer was challenging him in the race to the Pole.

Once in Antarctic waters, it takes a month for the ship to navigate through the pack ice. The Terra Nova anchors off what is now called Cape Evans, and the preparations for the race to the South Pole begin in earnest. Within two weeks, a hut is built to house the men in the bitter Antarctic winter ahead.

Scott sends out two exploration parties. One returns with the news that Amundsen's ship has anchored in the Bay of Whales. Scott works out that the Norwegian will be 97 kilometers closer to the Pole than his own party. Wondering whether his rival will reach the Pole first must have lain heavily on his mind through the long winter months.

The many experiences of the twenty-five men who remain behind after the ship returns to New Zealand are recorded in both text and brushwork. Peter Gouldthorpe's detailed and powerful illustrations magnify the horrendous conditions and challenges Scott's exploration party face. -44°C temperatures without modern thermal clothing would have been daunting enough, but along with the blizzards, the men suffer fatigue, hunger, frostbite, painful snow blindness, and loss of companions and horses (whose meat provided valuable food). The picture book's title is well chosen.

Captain Scott's Race to the Pole (No Return) pays homage to Captain Scott and his team. Their courage, determination and sacrifice is an inspiration and has reserved them a well-deserved place in history. A poster showing maps and a time line is included with the book and is an excellent tool for an instant overview of the race to the South Pole.