Madeline Dumphy aided by the illustrations of Alan James Robinson deftly presents the quiet and austere beauty found in the frigid arctic in her book Here Is the Arctic Winter. Young children will be mesmerized by the various animals to be found in the arctic.

I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to present values to children at a very young age. Among the values which should be introduced is the positive view of nature and beauty. Any book that helps children understand and appreciate the beauty of nature should be praised and certainly Here Is the Arctic Winter is among those.

The prose is told as a cumulative story with each page adding another line to the verse. Those familiar with some basic principles of reading instruction will recognize the value of this kind of tale. An added bonus to this is children learn such names of animals as caribou, narwhal and ptarmigan.

The prose expresses the quiet beauty of the arctic during its long snow covered night. We can well imagine the howl of the wolf breaking the silence.

"Here are the wolves
who howl at the sky
that is dark day and night,
where the sun does not rise
in this cold world of white:
Here is the Arctic winter"

Robinson's illustrations are gorgeous and skillfully match the prose provided by Madeline Dumphy. I love the image of the polar bear walking through the fields of snow and ice. Parents will enjoy pointing out the various animals seen on the pages of this book.

I gladly recommend this book as a gift to a child as a way of encouraging an appreciation and love of nature.

I would very highly recommend Here is the Arctic Winter for kids up to 8-9 years old. Her haunting, cyclical verse and the beautiful illustrations create a tale my children demand to hear over and over. Actually, all of the books in Ms. Dunphy's "Here Is..." series are excellent --check them out!

This is a wonderfully exciting account of the career of a scientist and explorer who, unfortunately for him, happened to be the wrong thing (Italian) at the wrong time. The author makes a good case for giving Umberto Nobile credit for being the first man to cross over the North Pole by air (in a balloon!), yet rather than being hailed in his country, he was practically court-marshalled. A reminder of the important role government plays in either fostering or undermining its citizens' genius.

This book has everything you'd want in a good read. The subject piques your interest, and the story itself, as well as the author's excellent writing style, compels you on. I would recommend it also as a book likely to help foster an interest in history and technology in young people. It's a story you'll never forget.

The Story of the airship Italia and her crash in the arctic in 1928 is an incredible tale that brings together many personalities from the surrounding nations. The author puts you inside the minds of the chief characters involved, while not forsaking a complex story of early aviation, with it's limitations. The redemption of Umberto Nobile, the captain of the airship, is dealt with, as well as the distortions that the political forces of Fascist Italy brought to bear against this martyr to airship exploration.

Excellent book and excellent adventure book. I especially enjoyed the updates provided in the book which is a reprint by the Cook Society. I am only vaguely aware of the controversy because of a friend who is invloved in high arctic camping. No matter what, Dr. Cook and his Inuit friends are cut of exceptional cloth to have endured so much, almost casually. However, I will say that Dr. Cook appears to be a more pleasant person than Admiral Peary.

Although the Cook/Peary North Pole controversy still rages after over 90 years, I believe that this republication of Frederick A. Cook's My Attainment of the Pole should help immeasurably in eliminating all doubt about Cook's accomplishment.

The book not only is a faithful, easy-to-read republication of Cook's 1911 opus, it contains up-to-date data from well-established polar explorers and historians that validate Cook's original observations. It also confronts the Peary arguments (and what appear to be "dirty tricks") head-on, and emergesw victorious.

After reading the book, I was convinced that Cook was the first to attain the Pole and believe you will reach the same conclusion.

Collaboratively compiled and edited by Michael Bravo (Science and Development Research Group, Sott Polar Research Institute, Cambridge University) and Sverker Sorlin (Chair of Environmental History at Umea University, Sweden), Narrating The Arctic: A Cultural History Of Nordic Scientific Practices is an outstanding collection of seminal essays by erudite authors concerning the history of arctic exploration. From Inuit exploratory ventures, to conflicting claims of history, to the Danish arctic research of eighty years ago, to Swedish arctic travels of a hundred and fifty years ago, Narrating The Arctic is a vivid, intense examination and scholarly analysis of the historical quest to venture onto, and discover more about, the very top of the world.

Collaboratively compiled and edited by Michael Bravo (Science and Development Research Group, Sott Polar Research Institute, Cambridge University) and Sverker Sorlin (Chair of Environmental History at Umea University, Sweden), Narrating The Arctic: A Cultural History Of Nordic Scientific Practices is an outstanding collection of seminal essays by erudite authors concerning the history of arctic exploration. From Inuit exploratory ventures, to conflicting claims of history, to the Danish arctic research of eighty years ago, to Swedish arctic travels of a hundred and fifty years ago, Narrating The Arctic is a vivid, intense examination and scholarly analysis of the historical quest to venture onto, and discover more about, the very top of the world.

Barbara Quick's novel draws you in with its promise of an adventure story set in the harsh Arctic wilderness, and this it certainly delivers, with marvelous descriptions of hard-won survival in the stark and surreally beautiful Alaskan tundra. But it is much more than a high adventure tale in the Jack London tradition: tucked within Quick's page-turning episodes of deadly storms, hungry bears, and fatal river crossings is one of the most memorable evocations of female friendships you will ever read. Add to this her many haunting images, such as birds taking their first flights and white-night sunsets, and you have a book that will hasten your reading to the end but remain in your mind for a long time afterwards.

Whew! A real testament to the ability of women to see themselves in a different light when they courageously attempt new adventures. I know this book is out of print but anyone who is interested in good reading should try to track this book down for their library! Guess you could call and beg from the publisher? Superb writing...Barbara's talent holds you to every page. Talk about your surprise endings! Makes you feel good to be female and cultivate any bit of bravery you might have hidden under your curled and sprayed hair. Puts a perspective back into your ironing...enjoyed this so much I would recommend it very highly! Makes you want to take a trip where you don't have to worry if your makeup is smudged. Waiting for the sequel...where does Tay go from there?

I rate childrens books on how much I enjoy reading them the 2nd, 12th, and 500th time. Based on this criteria, this book is a winner! The story is simple and universally appealing. It touches on the themes of the stupidity of violence and anger, and the transcendence of love and loyalty, and provided a good starting point for discussions about these themes with my 5 year old. The resolution of the story is very reassuring, even inspirational, so it also rates high in my comfort book collection (along with classics such as the Runaway Bunny, Goodnight Moon, I Love You This Much, and the Little Bear Books.)

What really makes this book a pleasure to come back to again and again is the illustrations. They are simple but suggestive, rich in emotion, and just plain beautiful. I pored over each picture for a long time, soaking in their atmosphere and emotions which are conveyed sweetly, gently, and strongly. The book gives one a flavor for this distinctive culture while being universally appealing.

Get a copy of this book and snuggle up with a favorite child!

This is a stunning book. The story is simple and universally appealing, dealing with themes of love, loyalty, and mothering that any young child/caregiver will identify with. The pictures are absolutely beautiful - they are simple, yet convey strong, and universal emotions. As I read the book the first time, I savored every page of evocative illustrations, and couldn't wait to start reading it again.This is an incredibly appealing book that , while rich in ethnic/local flavor, could appeal to anyone who experiences basic human emotions. I read the book over immediately, and will enjoy reading it over and over again.

A sure winner - buy it and read it and re-read it with your favorite child!

This book must be added to your collection if you are a true student of the Shakleton story. It combines the best of all the books (picture books, biographies, and personal accounts) out there with beautiful photographs in the tradition of National Geographic and the color shots truly enliven the original black and whites from the expedition. The maps are outstanding and there are reproductions of pages from Shackleton's and Hurley's diaries.
I haven't really found a book on the Shackleton story that is horribley bad. Maybe the story is so inspiring it tells itself. Trapped by The Ice, the picture book for kids by Michael McCurdy, is the worst example I know and I still like that for the rendering of the sea leopard leaping at Ordes-Lee, the officer in charge of food supplies. There are better children's books, Sea of Ice, by Monica Kulling, a fairly easy read for upper elementary students with beautiful watercolors, Trial By Ice, by K. M. Kostyal, a photobiography of Shackleton, Ice Story for middle school students, with black and white photographs and a magnificent large picture book with paintings and photographs, Spirit of Endurance, by Jennifer Armstrong. Get them all!

The major events of the ill-fated voyage of Sir Ernest Shakelton's attempt to cross Antarctica are well known. However, what most do not know or understand is the depth and breadth of this extraordinary man. Shackleton was not only a bonified explorer, more importantly he was a noble leader.

"Leaders do not force their fellow citizens to follow, they inspire them to do so."

If there is one thing to learn from this book, it is the true meaning of leadership and how important willing-loyalty is to our basic survival. Seen in the face of unimaginable odds, they survived - and they survived in whole: worn and frazzled from nearly 2 years of struggle, they were rescued mentaly tough and spiritually whole. In no small part, this was due to the quality of leadership demonstrated by Shackleton: it was embraced and reflected in his men.

It is amazing, this entity we call 'the human spirit'. If trained - but, not broken - like a fine horse, it has great wonders to show and is a true beauty to behold. Such are the many lessons learned from the tales of this "Endurance" voyage: did anyone ever wonder about the naming of that ship? What started out as a championing exploration, became a struggle with life itself to survive.

Likewise, what most will perceive as an "interesting read", will soon become an invaluable source for life-guiding principles. Get the book - read it - and put these incalculably precious lessons into practice in your own life. You never know when you'll need the endurance.

How many of us have thought we were born at the wrong time? For most of us, the era of barnstorming heroes is long gone, but Gus McLeod brought those times back with his bare hands and an ancient biplane. The results are both harrowing and humorous. Gustavus balances wry wit with self-effacing humor. He also fills the story with well-observed, quirky characters (including an Inuit, rechristened Studley, who need help handling the ladies). This is a FUNNY book. My daughter said she enjoyed listening to me chuckling out loud as I read it.

At the same time Gustavus brings together bits of history and contemporary concerns to draw us into the meaning of his quest. This is a spiritual journey as well as a man against nature tale. Gustavus struggles with his identity in a society that wants to categorize him according to only part of his rich heritage, and he shows how to win some battles. He also survives against punishing odds, repeatedly tipped against him by frostbite, failing equipment, loneliness, exhaustion and unrelenting cold.

The main creation of this book is a full, complex character, a man of charm and intelligent observations. You won't meet another like him.

Solo to the Top of the World is a great American adventure story. This is a lively historic account of how the first person reached the magnetic and geographic North Pole in a open cockpit airplane, a 1939 Boeing Stearman biplane, respectively in 1999 and 200, after several others had failed, died or disappeared in the Arctic. The book has all the elements of a great thriller- danger, excitment, high risks, success against tremendous odds, but it is even better than most thrillers because it is true. Readers will not want to put this book down.

In the Foreword, Roland Huntford describes Amundsen's narrative as "all that Scott's is not". How right he is! This a very large book, but nonetheless an easy read. Amundsen relates a fascinating tale of fortune, misfortune, hardship, and ultimately - success. The narrative is detailed, but not overly so. In many places, a dose of humor is weaved in. Complete with numerous photos, maps, and scientific data, this book should be considered one of the great narratives of exploration. The great moral lesson of this tale is that preparedness ultimately leads to success. Is it any wonder that Roald Amundsen and his comrades won the race to the South Pole?

Recent years have seen a re-examination of the Golden Age of Antarctic Exploration. Roland Huntford in his excellent books "The Last Place on Earth" and "Shackleton" helped to debunk the myth of the glorious failure (Scott the Martyr) as an example to follow.

The greatest tale of this age was surrounded by no great tales of hardship, no honeyed or sanitised versions of the deed. In this book we hear in the words of the greatest exponent of the art of polar travel, the story of that rarest of plans - the perfectly executed coup.

For a coup it was. When Amundsen turned from the North Pole to the South after the question of "the great nail" had been settled by Cook & Peary, his decision was treated in many sectors (most notably an unbalanced and jingoistic British Press) as underhanded and double dealing. Amundens account of the reasoning behind it makes clear that any deceit was necessary to ensure no forestalling of his plans by others - not only Scott. To ensure the future of his extended plan (the drift across the Arctic which was eventually carried out in the "Maud") he knew the Press Barons would need an exclusive and juicy story. The South Pole would give him this currency.

The book is written in an honest and clean style - an extension of the Man and his nature. The hardships faced are almost disguised by the simple tale of their telling. To strike up an unknown glacier and forge his way over virgin ground on the way to the polar plateau and the Pole itself displays fortitude and grit we can only marvel at in todays world. But his description of the task is hidden behind a work-a-day narrative. To truly appreciate the splendour of the achievement is difficult in our modern era.

One cannot help but admire the total outcome of the plan. There are few tales in history and few great men who can truly say they accomplished exactly what they set out to do in the manner in which they planned. Those who can are Masters of their field. Amundsen is such a man - and master.

A feature of this book is the credit given by Amundsen to those who went with him. Where others claimed responsibility for the great deeds of their men, Amundsen retreats to the background and gives the credit to those who did the act. Natural humility is a trait of the Norwegian nature and Amundsen shows this in the writing of the book. There is no playing to the crowd but deeds are allowed to speak for themselves.

To appreciate the tale, read the book and marvel.