Happy Book Birthday to Polar: Wildlife at the Ends of the Earth! Get your copy from Amazon Canada or Amazon USA, from Chapters/Indigo, from Barnes & Noble, from Target, or (best of all) from your local independent bookstore!!
The best kind of birthday party is the kind where everyone gets presents: I get to see a book I’m incredibly proud of make its way out into the world, and teachers, parents, librarians, and young readers get free resources.
Polar Presentations
First things first! I’m doing a free Polar presentation with Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants today at 12:30 Eastern. Head over to their YouTube channel to watch. You can also catch the recording on demand. And remember you can always contact me to book a virtual or in-person author visit – I’ve got lots of STEM and writing programs to choose from.
I’ll be in Toronto on May 7 for a group book launch, and in Kingston for Science Rendezvous on May 13. Check my Public Appearances page for all the details on these and other events.
Activity Guide
Next up, the official Polar Activity Guide, which includes indoor activities and outdoor ideas for both summer and winter. You can download the free PDF from Kids Can Press. If you’re headed to Kids Can Press, snag your copy of The Boreal Forest Teachers’ Guide as well.
Polar-Themed Articles and Websites
Alaska’s Sea Ice Completely Melted Earlier Than Ever Before
Arctic Temperatures Warmest in More Than 10,000 Years
Australian Antarctic Program – Wildlife Photo Galleries
How Do Emperor Penguin Dads Stop Their Eggs from Freezing?
Latest Sea Ice Conditions in Canada
National Snow and Ice Data Center
Peeking into the Underwater World of Leopard Seals
St. Lawrence Shark Observatory – info on Greenland sharks and other species
Twilight, Dawn, and Dusk – helpful for understanding light conditions in the polar regions!
Understanding Climate: Antarctic Sea Ice Extent
Lesson Plans, Activities, and Environmental Activism
Canadian Geographic Educator Resources – Climate Change and Environment
Center for Biological Diversity
Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants – Livestreamed and recorded presentations by polar experts (and many others!)
Just for Kids: What’s Climate Change? And What Can I Do?
Million Tree Project – an initiative of Canada’s Science Rendezvous
NASA Climate Kids – What Is Climate Change?
NASA Climate Kids – What We Can Do to Help
Polar Bears International: Take Action
Project Drawdown – The World’s Leading Resource for Climate Solutions
Science Books for Adults
For teenagers that want to learn more, or for adults who want more knowledge to help support their children’s learning – here are some of the adult-level books I consulted while researching Polar. Check your local library for borrowing options.
Antarctica: Global Science from a Frozen Continent (2013) (Walton WH Ed.). New York: Cambridge University Press.
Birds of the World. Cornell Lab of Ornithology (available by subscription online).
Crawford RMM (2013) Tundra-Taiga Biology: Human, Plant, and Animal Survival in the Arctic. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Heinrich B (2006) Mind of the Raven: Investigations and Adventures with Wolf-Birds. New York: Harper Perennial.
Pyenson N (2018) Spying on Whales: The Past, Present, and Future of Earth’s Most Awesome Creatures. New York: Viking.
Wadhams P (2016) A Farewell to Ice: A Report from the Arctic. New York: Allen Lane.
Watson P (2017) Ice Ghosts: The Epic Hunt for the Last Franklin Expedition. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart.
Thank you for helping me celebrate the release of Polar: Wildlife at the Ends of the Earth, my 23rd STEM book for young readers! Want to help Polar reach more readers? Thank you! Here are some ways you can spread the word:
- As your school or public library to add Polar to their collection
- Tell your friends about the book
- Tell followers on social media
- Write a book review on Amazon, Goodreads, or your very own website
Don’t forget to check my Public Appearances page for Polar virtual events and live events happening near you! Are you a teacher or librarian? I’m available for author visits in May and June – contact me to secure your spot.