The Snow Baby: The Arctic Childhood of Admiral Robert E. Peary's Daring Daughter

by Katherine Kirkpatrick

Born in a two-room, tar-paper-covered house in the far north of Greenland, Marie Ahnighito Peary was destined to have an exciting childhood. Her parents, the famous explorer Robert E. Peary and Josephine Peary, had shocked Victorian society by starting their family so far away from "civilization." Fair-skinned children were so rare in the far North that the local Inuit called Marie "Snow Baby." Map, time line, bibliography, index.

A Booklist Editors' Choice Book
A Booklist Top 10 Biography for Youth
An Orbis Pictus Award Recommended Title
A Cooperative Children's Book Center Choice Book
A James Madison Book Award Honor Book

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, History, Picture Books, Childrens, Middle Grade, Survival

48 pages, Hardcover

First published February 28, 2006

Reviews

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating look at the childhood of Marie Peary, who was born in far northern Greenland in 1893, only a few hundred miles from the north pole. Maybe the first non-Inuit US child born that far north? (Not sure about this). Anyway, the author talks about her relationship with her father, her mother, and her friendships with Inuit children and adults. She shares how Marie hated all the years that her father spent away from home, trying to reach the arctic. She talks about the time she spent in the far north with her father and mother, and the time she spent in the US with her mother and German grandmother. Although the book is about the size of a picture book, it is 50 pages in length, and much more wordy than a picture book, although it is well-illustrated with photographs. This book is probably best for about 4th grade and older.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

avl. on openlibrary

Not a picture-book, but a biography for age 10 up. Plenty of photos and back-matter, though. Such an interesting story... imo it wasn't told as engagingly as it could have been, though. Recommended if you're interested.

[Willow · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was interesting and well-written; what a fascinating true story!

However, this includes mention of Peary's Inuit mistress and illegitimate children. I don't think that was an appropriate inclusion for the target audience, though it was written with tact and compassionately mentions Mrs. Peary's private sadness.

As a side note, I am continually disappointed to read historical accounts of men and their infidelity and immorality. Seems like there were/are no faithful people out there. I feel terrible for the wives and families that live with the hurt and consequences of their man's selfish choices.

[Ma Jiani（Marjorie） · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book can be used as a model writing text for topic writing and tour history, it tells about the unusual life of a special child and the journey to make her father famous. The story of the article tells about the greatness of fatherly love and the spirit of courageous adventure. This is a very good demonstration as a writing theme. For example, Mary and her mother continue to spend time in Peary's journey in the Arctic, between two adventures. Return to the United States. In addition, the use of illustrations can guide students in describing the content of the story.

[NuNu · Rating 4 out of 5]

A biography of Marie Ahnighito Peary daughter of Admiral Robert E. Peary and Josephine Diebitsch Peary who was born in the icy northern reaches of Greenland. Much of her early years was spent in the Artic region among the Inuit natives. The book includes many period photographs of Marie, her family and her early life. Recommended for middle grade children.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting but lacks the appreciation of the Native culture of Greenland.

[Barb Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

very interesting and educational

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall this was an enjoyable way to learn about Peary and his daughter, with heavy emphasis on life of a child in two different worlds. I have a few issues, the biggest is inclusion of information about Peary's infidelities and illegitimate children. Not because I think it should be hidden, but because the whole story is told from the perspective of his daughter and what she saw and understood was going on. And she didn't have any idea about this until she was a grown up. I would have preferred to stay with a consistent tone and allowed this to be about the child and her view of her father. Similarly, I would have preferred more information about the child and childhood in that period, and less about her father. The second issue is smaller, I wish the contemporary images of Greenland and the ice were in color, it would have been awesome.

Still contemplating if I should include this in my class presentation on biographies.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Born in Greenland, Marie Ahnighito Peary, daughter of the Arctic explorer, Robert Peary, began life as a celebrity "Snow Baby." People were shocked that Josephine Peary would give birth to her daughter in the northern Greenland, but thrilled when she was born healthy and thrived through her first year there. Marie did not live all her life above the Arctic Circle, but did return several times to visit her father for periods of a year or more during his 23-year quest to reach the North Pole. She relished the freedom she had there
with the Inuit children and the pet status among the expedition crew. She had her fair share of adventures escaping avalanches, playing with the Inuit children and her unique pets such as the musk ox, Daisy.

While told from the viewpoint of Marie's adventures, Snow Baby does not shy away from the controversies of Commodore Peary's life, but does frame them with explanations of social norms of the time. A book both adults and children can learn from and enjoy.

[Kristi Scramlin]

The Snow Baby is written about the daughter of Robert Peary who is supposedly the first person to find the North Pole. His daughter Marie Peary has quite a childhood starting from the day she was born. Marie was born in Greenland at the housing place of her mom, father, and hiss expedition men who were getting ready to set out on the first of many journeys. Most of her childhood was spent on a ship or in Greenland playing with the Inuit children while her dad went on his journeys. The other part of her life she spent with her mother and her family in D.C. during one journey with her mother to go looking for her father because he hadn’t returned their ship got stuck in between ice sheets and they were stuck for almost an entire year. Finally, after many journeys her father reached the North Pole in April of 1906 when she was 16. Marie then went to school to later become her father’s personal secretary.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Because of her light skin and bright blue eyes, the Inuit people of the Arctic regions dubbed Marie Peary 'Snow Baby'. Daughter of Admiral Robert E. Peary, Marie was born on September 12, 1893 in a rugged lodge on the edge of the world in northern Greenland. Over the years, she and her mother traveled with her famous father and experienced a life far-removed from her contemporary counterparts. Her life was rich with travels, sights, and education that a life solely spent in the United States could never given her.

Full of black and white photographs, Snow Baby: The Arctic Childhood of Admiral Robert E. Peary's Daring Daughter is a biography for the young enthusiastic history/geography buff and a short, concise memoir for an older reader.

[Salsabrarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating story about a unique childhood. Also piqued my interest in learning more about Robert Peary's expeditions.

An account of Marie Ahnighito Peary, the daughter of North
Pole explorer Robert E. Peary. Marie was born in northern Greenland
while her father was on expedition. Her unusual and fair apprearance
inspired the Inuits to dub her "Snow Baby." Her unique and adventurous
upbringing exposed her to the Inuit population and culture; she had Inuit
playmates and wore warm clothing made by Inuit women. In spite of the
harsh weather and her father's long absences, Marie seemed to flourish
there during her and her mother's occasional stays.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting life of Marie, the daughter of Arctic explorer Robert E. Peary. I found the old photographs of her especially intriguing because of the Eskimo clothes she was wearing. Also, for a Victorian-era girl (born 1893), they allowed her to ramble around like a tomboy rather than to dress and act like a little lady. Pair this with Pam Conrad's picture book Call Me Ahnighito.
This book also made me want to read more about Peary and his exploits.

[Aleisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating look at a part of history I knew nothing about, this book is also a fascinating look at a remarkable family and group of people whose courage, fortitude, and determination is incomprehensible. I couldn't stop reading it. It's size and format makes it look and feel like a children's book but I suggest that it is not. It's a long read (the illustrations are few, and all photographs) and it briefly discusses Peary's affair with an Inuit woman and his fathering of two of her children.

[Nadine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great photos and a fascinating story. If the Peary's had been your Ma and Pa, you would have been sledding on glaciers and climbing the rigging on sailing ships instead of being carpooled to soccer practice and play dates. Good one for helicopter parents and kids trapped into the dreaded biography assignment.

[Crista Goluch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part biographical, part informative of the trials and tribulations of Artic explorer Admiral Robert E Peary and his family.

Set for middle school age students discussing: exploration, the 1890's early 1900's. Evolution of science during that time, the ways of Inuit people.

Authentic family photos really bring the story to life.

[Brenda Kahn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Were it not for the children's librarian at my local library putting this like new book out in a display of wintery books, I would not have known about this one. In some respects, it's more a biography of Admiral Peary than his daughter but fascinating nonetheless and illustrated with amazing black and white photos. Glad I read it.

[Rory · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like my friend Erika, I'm easily taken with Arctic stories. I'd never heard of little Ms. Peary, but even the pictures and their captions made this children's nonfiction book worth picking up. Fascinating!

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a nice, quick read- the best part was the pictures. A lot of the book is an outline of what they did (went here, went there) and I wished it said more about what life was like for them. Towards the late-middle to the end there were a few stories and experiences that were fun.

[Donna Jo Atwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

This little book (48 pages) packs a lot of information about polar exploration into its 48 pages. There are a lot of pictures and explanations within.
I think this would be a good book for an elementary-age child who likes adventure.

[Bethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bookaday #7. Written by the author of the YA novel I just finished, had to read her previously published children's bio about Marie Peary, a character in the novel. Very interesting, chock full of photos, maps, well researched.

[Paula Hollohan · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is a good example of biography for the beginner. Loads of primary source photographs and reproductions of letters. And a good story. I would use this as a biography example starting in grade 3 and use it right up to grade 6.

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an interesting biography. Makes me want to study this subject more.

[Jenifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This just caught my eye. I don't think I could ever handle the artic circle, much less have a baby there. Interesting. It's always nice to find a short and sweet book to read in 30 min or less.

[Janice · Rating 3 out of 5]

This has been on my to-read list since 2008. Glad I finally got around to reading it. Short, fast interesting read.

[Paige · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had a hard time getting into it...a total "skimmer."

(what I caught was good though)

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an entertaining and informative biography of Marie Peary. The narrative and the photographs really bring Marie to life for the reader.

[Bridgid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great use of primary sources to tell an exciting story. Kirkpatrick uses sensitivity to describe relationship between Peary and indigenous people.

[Tonya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story. The pictures that are included are amazing for their time period.

[Ghislaine]

{refer to Minik book}