Iceberg

This picture book is stunningly attractive! Not only are the colours particularly beautiful but the central pages open out into a panoramic illustration of sea creatures in Antarctica. I am sure the hardback edition will be even more alluring.

In taking as her theme an iceberg’s journey from one springtime to another, the author has chosen an unusual subject, but one that is very interesting and informative. Whilst shining a light on the problems of global warming, award-winning Claire Saxby looks at the positive side of the iceberg. We see penguins, whales, squid, birds, seals and many other polar creatures appear as temperatures change. The text is particularly poetic and comes alive with the wonderful illustrations. We learn how Antarctica is a very special place and is full of life.

The beauty of the natural world appears on every page; I particularly enjoyed the colours of summer arriving and the darker shades of autumn. Author and illustrator work well together throughout the life cycle of our iceberg: from when it first floats away until ‘In another pale Antarctic dawn an iceberg calves, settles to the sea.’

This book would be a welcome gift for any young person keen on animals, geography, Antarctica and the issue of climate change. The surprise and beauty of the central panorama add a great deal to this volume. Classrooms and libraries would appreciate this book enormously too; it covers a serious issue in an inspiring way.