Avati: Discovering Arctic Ecology

by Mia Pelletier, Sara Otterstätter (Illustrator)

The Arctic is not a barren, frigid landscape filled with only ice and snow. It is a complex ecosystem that contains many thriving habitats, each supported by dozens of ecological relationships between plants and animals. From the many animals that live and hunt at the floe edge to the hundreds of insects that abound on the summer tundra, this book gives a detailed bird’s-eye view of the fascinating ways that animals, plants, and insects coexist in the Arctic ecosystem.

Genres: Animals, Nonfiction

44 pages, Paperback

First published May 31, 2013

Reviews

[Manybooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

So yes and of course, if I were just, if I were only to consider the combination of Mia Pelletier’s informative text and Sara Otterstätter’s full colour accompanying illustrations, I would definitely be rating their 2013 picture book Avati: Discovering Arctic Ecology with a high four stars, for an educational introduction both textually and visually to Arctic wildlife and ecology (and specifically in Nunavut, Canada), in the sea, in the air, on the ground, from zooplankton to polar bears, and how the Arctic is actually not barren and empty but in fact teeming with life and also an important breeding and feeding resource for migrating birds, whales and fish (but definitely with the caveat that the verbal denseness of Mia Pelletier’s narrative does make Avati: Discovering Arctic Ecology most suitable for older children above the age of seven or so, although of course, if parents, teachers etc. would consider reading Avati: Discovering Arctic Ecology aloud with necessary reading breaks and discussions if questions arise, even younger children from about the age of four to six with an active interest in zoology and ecology would likely enjoy Avati: Discovering Arctic Ecology, as Mia Pelletier’s words are most definitely engagingly and informatively penned and Sara Otterstätter’s artwork provides a delightfully both realistic and imaginative colourful and aesthetically stunning visual accompaniment).

But unfortunately, I do have a few personal reading issues that prevent me from rating Avati: Discovering Arctic Ecology with more than three stars. For one, while I do very much appreciate and have enjoyed the many Inuktitut words used within the text proper (and that Mia Pelletier also immediately explains their meanings in English), for me, it would make sense for Pelletier to also include with her excellent and informative glossary a list of the Inuktitut words and their English equivalents. And for two, and much more frustratingly, I really do not understand why with all that factual information presented in Avati: Discovering Arctic Ecology, Mia Pelletier does not bother with including a detailed bibliography with suggestions for further reading and research, an oversight I might be grudgingly willing to ignore in a very simple picture book but that because Avati: Discovering Arctic Ecology is really not all that simple, this is for me a huge academic lack that rather lessens the educational value of Avati: Discovering Arctic Ecology.

And by the way, it seems that Avati: Discovering Arctic Ecology is also available in an Inuktitut version, which I for one think is great, although personally, I would also want a dual language Inuktitut/English edition to have been published, to be available.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well-illustrated science book teaching children flora and fauna.

[Gustav · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a lovely non-fiction book. Rich in detail, yet clearly written. The author takes the edge off of what could easily have been just plain scientific facts by weaving them into a gentle, almost poetic prose. This is a difficult subject matter to simplify, yet concepts and relationships are made clear through a narrative that follows the sun and the seasons across the Arctic landscape. Along the way, readers are introduced to some of the many plants, animals, and lifestyles which can be found in this diverse and dynamic region. I'm not certain that the previous reviewer had a hard copy version of the book, as the illustrations are certainly in full, vivid color, and provide a good visual reference for the relationships introduced. While the text is most suitable for a Grade 4+ reader, this book is a favorite of my 1 1/2 year old neighbor, who enjoys watching the Arctic year roll by page by page.

[Clare · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a unique and beautiful book. It is foremost a learning tool for a fascinating and little-known place. Best suited to middle elementary school kids, young readers are guided through seasons of sun and ice, over the tundra and under the frozen sea. As each series unfolds, the author teaches new vocabulary (both scientific and Inuktitut) using a strong glossary of terms while the lovely and detailed illustrations lead readers from one discovery to another.

[Theediscerning · Rating 4 out of 5]

A year in the life of the Canadian Arctic, as we see page after page of dramatic displays of nature. We also read about it – after a brief introduction the format of the book is to have illustrations that are nearly full-spread, but that leave a right-hand column for the text, which can actually make this fairly wordy at times. The dioramas are packed full of incident, detail and species, which is matched by the text, although they don't always perfectly correspond – in one scene a wolverine is described as being "in the distance", when in the artwork it's almost front and centre. But this does succeed with its intentions of showing the to and fro of Arctic life – the rise and fall of the plants, the cycle of the ice, the life of the birds, aquatic mammals, land predators, the cursed mosquitoes and so on. Some readers might appreciate a species-by-species breakdown rather than the calendar of all critters, and as I say this is no light primary school read (the glossary is on six and a half pages), but this is worthwhile for the communities it's aimed at, and others who need to know their Arctic life.

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.

[Halon W · Rating 4 out of 5]

gorgeous art, and whole pages dedicated to arctic insects, which i find fascinating, and arctic terns, my favourite bird! absolutely jam-packed with info

[Lisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a highly detailed book about a very divergent region... the Arctic. It is non-fiction and written as plain, informational text. It could have been a great narrative non-fiction but it is not. The artwork is pleasing, but the illustrations limit the impact. A book of this subject matter needs full color illustrations. There is a daunting glossary, but that is all for the end matter. There are no other helpful book parts. I found the text to be too small and dense to appeal to the age this book is meant to serve. There are much better choices in this topic area.