Meet the animals and landscapes of the Arctic and Antarctica.Poems in a lilting meter provide insight about the Arctic or Antarctica or one of each region's unique animals, with a bit of interesting information included. There are lots of surprises in the inventive wordplay along with twisted syntax that gets the point across while invoking giggles from young readers. The leadoff verse introduces both regions as remote and farthest from the equator, calling their frosty climates "an Earth refrigerator." Krill is the food choice of many polar sea animals, eaten by "Millions! Billions! Trillions! Krillions!" The narwhal with its front-end spear is "very hard to ignar!" The silent P in ptarmigan is carried throughout the poem as "it ptoddles on the ptundra." Notes containing fascinating facts about habitats, food sources, predators, and more enhance the poems and just might lead to further investigation by readers. Some serious issues regarding climate change and other endangering problems are addressed as well. Full-page illustrations, rendered in colored pencil and pastel, accompany the verses and capture the essence of each creature with great imagination and childlike innocence. Color abounds, not only in the illustrations, but also with bright blocks of orange, purple, blue, yellow and more that background the poems. Florian is a master of light verse with a purpose, and he matches it with art that charms.Thoughtful, fun, and delightful. (bibliography) (Picture book/poetry. 6-9)

Twenty-one humorous poems, each with an accompanying whimsical illustration (an emperor penguin sitting on a throne, wistfully looking at birds in flight, for example), introduce readers to Florian's (Friends and Foes, rev. 9/18; Poem Depot, rev. 7/14, and many more) survey of the polar regions. Here readers will find four selections about the land, sixteen about the animal inhabitants, and one devoted to the threat of climate change to the regions. Wordplay abounds: Antarctica is "an ICE place to visit!" The polar bear "slum-bears when / the year is late / (but doesn't truly / hi-bear-nate)." "Blue whales eat krill by the millions: / Millions! Billions! Trillions! Krillions!" Informative facts about the regions and animals appear as mini notes below each poem, letting readers know, for example, that a blue whale, Earth's largest creature, is "as long as an Airbus A319 jet and can weigh up to 200 tons" and that seals can remain underwater for fifteen minutes. Florian's signature impressionistic illustrations in colored pencils and oil pastels add verve. Appended with a bibliography of adult and children's books and internet resources. Betty Carter

Meet the animals and landscapes of the Arctic and Antarctica.Poems in a lilting meter provide insight about the Arctic or Antarctica or one of each region's unique animals, with a bit of interesting information included. There are lots of surprises in the inventive wordplay along with twisted syntax that gets the point across while invoking giggles from young readers. The leadoff verse introduces both regions as remote and farthest from the equator, calling their frosty climates "an Earth refrigerator." Krill is the food choice of many polar sea animals, eaten by "Millions! Billions! Trillions! Krillions!" The narwhal with its front-end spear is "very hard to ignar!" The silent P in ptarmigan is carried throughout the poem as "it ptoddles on the ptundra." Notes containing fascinating facts about habitats, food sources, predators, and more enhance the poems and just might lead to further investigation by readers. Some serious issues regarding climate change and other endangering problems are addressed as well. Full-page illustrations, rendered in colored pencil and pastel, accompany the verses and capture the essence of each creature with great imagination and childlike innocence. Color abounds, not only in the illustrations, but also with bright blocks of orange, purple, blue, yellow and more that background the poems. Florian is a master of light verse with a purpose, and he matches it with art that charms.Thoughtful, fun, and delightful. (bibliography) (Picture book/poetry. 6-9)

Gr 1-4 Florian spotlights the animals and geography of the polar regions. Poems about animals, the tundra, krill, and climate change are accompanied by his illustrations. Each poem features a short but detailed paragraph of information. For example, following the poem "Arctic Hare," readers learn that these animals are "active all year long and do not hibernate." Florian includes familiar mammals (polar bears and whales), as well as lesser-known animals (the ptarmigan and the wolverine). Each poem uses humorous wordplay. A moose is "un-moose-takable" and blue whales eat krill by the "trillions!" and "krillions!" The delightful illustrations are a highlight. Each poem is complemented by at least two of Florian's pastel drawings. There are subtle but discernible references to climate change throughout. The final poem, "Climate Change," captures what is happening in the arctic regions. The descriptive blurb explains that human activity is changing the natural habitat of the polar regions and offers specific suggestions on how to fight climate change. There is a website to visit to learn more. A bibliography is included. VERDICT This title is a terrific example of poetry and the wonder of the natural world. Although the collection only covers the polar regions, it could be used in the classroom to write poetry, draw, and learn facts about different biomes. Susan Lissim, Dwight Sch., New York City