by Brenda Z. Guiberson
illustrated by Gennady Spirin
Groundwood Books/House of Anansi Press, 2009
ISBN 978-0-88899-956-6
$18.95 (hc), 32 pp, colour illustrations, ages 7+
www.groundwoodbooks.com
Each two-page spread in this strikingly beautiful picture book contains information, through text and illustration, about the wild things that live in the northern boreal forest. This huge forest, stretching across Alaska, Canada, Scandinavia and Russia, covering one-third of the earth’s total forest area, has great importance to the health of the entire planet. Beyond providing nesting habitat for migratory birds and a year-round home for creatures such as beavers, hares, moose, bears, wolves and lynx, it cleans the earth’s air, filters the water, and, especially critical now, it is one of the world’s best places to store carbon, helping to protect against global warming. Despite its vastness, the boreal forest and all the creatures that live full or part time here are threatened by human development—logging, mining and peat harvesting. The boreal forest is disappearing fast. This book aims to teach appreciation for the beauty and benefits of the boreal forest, in hopes that more people will participate in its protection and preservation. Although the text is written for young people, the gorgeous illustrations make this book appealing to all ages.
This review is from Canadian Teacher Magazine’s November 2009 issue.