Avati: Discovering Arctic Ecology

Gr 2–4—The Arctic is not the barren wasteland that many believe it to be. Instead it is a complex and integrated ecosystem relying on complicated and necessary relationships between animals and plants. The book follows the life and habits of the many creatures from the coldest and darkest of winters to the lush and sunlit summers. Rich watercolor illustrations spreading over a page and a half embellish the detailed text, showing the land and sea animals and the many types of birds that make the Arctic their seasonal home. Pelletier concentrates on a positive outlook for this habitat and d oes not address the changes being brought about by global warming. Unfamiliar words in the text are italicized and explained in an extensive glossary. Though the picture-book format might imply a simpler text than is presented, the author offers a lot of good information for students studying ecology, environment, and the Arctic. The title comes from the Inuit word for environment.—Eva Elisabeth VonAncken, formerly at Trinity-Pawling School, Pawling, NY