Antarctica: The Melting Continent

by Karen Romano Young, Angela Hsieh (Illustrator)

Antarctica–vast, cold, and mysterious. This frozen continent is full of incredible stories. Here you can discover incredible wildlife, awe-inspiring landscapes, and adventurous scientists and explorers.

Join author Karen Romano Young on a trip across Antarctica, hanging out with people and animals and learning about how this special place is changing, and what it means for our planet. Hang out with some of the coolest creatures on earth above and below the ice as you meet emperor penguins, killer whales, and elephant seals. Suit up for the cold and explore some of the harshest landscapes on earth, following in the footsteps of brave explorers. And learn about how scientists survive here today and what they do all day–from studying climate change to investigating ice cores almost a million years old to learn about the history–and future–of our planet.

Genres: Nonfiction, Nature, Animals

64 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2022

About the author

Karen Romano Young is the author of young adult novels as well as nonfiction books and magazine articles. Although Small Worlds: Maps and Mapmaking is her first book for Scholastic, she has contributed to Scholastic magazines for the past twenty years. Her other credits include Cricket, National Geographic World, and The Guinness Book of World Records.

Member: Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, Authors Guild, National Marine Educators Association.

Honors Awards: Smithsonian Best Book Award, and Oppenheimer Toy Portfolio Gold Medal, both 2002, both for Small Worlds: Maps and Mapmaking.

Reviews

[Kailey (Luminous Libro) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author tells all about their expeditions to Antarctica, the animals that live there, the different types of ice, and how scientists are still learning more about the southern continent. We learn about the history of exploration in Antarctica, and how the South Pole was discovered. We learn about the different glaciers and science stations with maps to show their locations.

It really gets on my nerves when science books talk about scientific theories as if they were fact, and they don't tell the reader that it's just a theory. It's so unethical, and it's misleading. It makes me not trust anything else they say, because who knows what else they could be lying to the reader about. If you don't have the evidence to prove something, then you shouldn't be pretending like it's a fact. That's dishonest. It would be so easy to clear up these misunderstandings if they would just admit that it's a theory!

I loved the beautiful illustrations in this book! Every page is so attractive and colorful. The text is really interesting, and the design of the page layouts makes it easy to read.


Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

[Virginia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a great book to read to Robin, so she can start learning about Antarctica and climate change and science! She was really into looking at the pictures (except for the pages on seals 🦭, she was not a fan)

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

In addition to being the author of middle grade books such as Hundred Percent, A Girl, a Racoon and a Midnight Moon, and Stuck in the middle, Romano Young is a polar explorer and scientist. Antarctica: The Melting Continent is her illustrated memoir of her time at a scientific station there, as well as an explanation of what is occurring on this continent in the way of climate change, research, and exploration.

Since most middle grade readers won't be terribly familiar with Antarctica, there is a nice description of the topography, complete with illustrated maps that describe the differences between areas and are accompanied by lists of applicable vocabulary. This is very helpful in understanding the impact of climate change that is discussed. There are also chapters on the fauna that live in the region and the impact that these changes are having on them. There are especially nice charts of the different type of giant animals, and even a discussion about non-native life.
Good Points
One very interesting thing about the book is the number of short biographies about scientists that study Antarctica that are included. From explorers of the past to scientists of today, there are descriptions of a number of people who devote their studies to various aspects of this particular climate, from studying animals, to core samples of old air and ice, to worm farms! It's interesting to see the wide range of science fields represented.

The information about how to travel to Antarctica, where to stay, and how to dress are quite interesting. I was a bit concerned, though, since the scientists dress in layers roughly equivalent to the ones I wear walking to school! I think I would need some extra layers to keep warm in such a cold place!

The end of the book has a nice glossary, an index, and some source notes for further research. This is a complete discussion about an area many readers won't get a chance to visit, and is a good next step for young readers who love science related picture books like Lang's Leaf Detectives and Messner's Over and Under in the Forest. Romano Young also has some picture books that are science related, a few National Geographic illustrated titles like Mission: Sea Turtle Rescue, and Try This!: 50 Fun Experiments for the Mad Scientist in You for readers of a scientific bent.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This love letter [3.5 for me, and I gobbled up every word] to the continent that seems to be disappearing as glaciers and ice shelves crash into the ocean contains interesting tidbits about Antarctica, including information about early exploration and research stations, the animals that live there, and some of the research being conducted there now. It's clear from the author's writing and from recent news report that there's a sense of urgency about learning as much as possible about this remote area of the world, something she stresses repeatedly, and finding a way to stop the devastating melting that will spell doom for many of its inhabitants and the coastal cities of the world. The ice on the continent holds secrets about our planet's past and its possible future, and there are many scientists at work there. The author has a great sense of humor too as she describes the smelliness of penguins and all the effort that goes into making sure the human inhabitants of the area are safe. She even describes a moveable research station that can travel by skis and how waste products are managed. Relying on first-hand observation and notes, research, interviews with scientists, and vetting from experts in all things related to Antarctica, the book provides a fine introduction to the topic, complete with various colorful diagrams or the area, necessary clothing and equipment, and profiles of some of the scientists working there. Readers are sure to feel the same sense of loss when they close the book as the author experienced when she had to leave Antarctica. This is important, necessary reading for those who doubt the importance of this continent and the need for quick action. Perhaps more suggestions about what to do or next steps would be helpful since the book certainly stirs up a sense of wonder and a need for advocacy and activism.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a non-fiction text about Antarctica and includes topics such as pollution/global warming, research on the continent now and in the past and animals who live in and around this continent. Broken into chapters, this book covers a lot of great content related to this largely unfamiliar and often ignored portion of our globe. With lots of great pictures and diagrams this book will captivate readers. I would recommend this book for children and teens in the 9-13 age range. I think that it would be a little on the challenging side for younger readers but the pictures will be accessible to them and will keep them interested if someone is reading to them. As a grade 3/4 teacher I could definitely see this book in my classroom library and would also recommend it to teachers in the grades above mine. Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book!

[Stephanie Tournas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This inviting book about Antarctica is written by a woman polar explorer. Her engaging style of writing combines her personal narrative with facts about people, animals and, of course, the land itself. The geological history of the continent, including the current changes due to global warming; how scientists stay alive in the extreme cold; new scientific discoveries; food chains and living creatures, from the smallest tardigrades and plankton, to the giant jellyfish and colossal squid; and the consequences of rising temperatures are covered. The illustrations support the text nicely, and there are maps, diagrams and wonderful images of animals that live there. A table of contents, glossary, source notes and index make this a good resource for young researchers.

[Robin]

Thank you to Publisher Spotlight, What on Earth Books, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of Antarctica: The Melting Continent.

This gorgeously illustrated book is packed with facts about all aspects of Antarctica - its climate, varied inhabitants, life at the research stations, and lots of information on the types of research being done there. I would recommend it for grades 3-8.

[Andréa]

Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

[Cecile · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wonderful illustrations. Evolutionary dating closed the book for me. I wish a publisher would use the wonderful graphics with facts instead of an unproven theory.

[Will · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful and brilliant book to introduce anyone to this vital continent.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this with my seven year old. Wonderful!

[Sharon Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent