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This Place Is Cold
Focuses on the land, animals, plants, and climate of Alaska, presenting it as an example of a place where it is so cold your hair can freeze and break off.
32 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 1989
27 people want to read
About the author
Vicki Cobb
114 books106 followers Vicki Cobb, the “Master Chef of Hands-on Science,” a graduate of Barnard College and Columbia’s Teachers College, is a former science teacher with a M.A. in secondary school science. The publication of her classic book, Science Experiments You Can Eat, (an updated, revised edition was released in 2016 by HarperCollins) established her as an innovator in hands-on science. Take a look on her website www.vickicobb.com to get a sense of her playful and accessible approach to science in her 90+ books for grades K-8 that cover physics, chemistry and biology, biographies, geography, and the human body.
She is also pioneering a video project based on her book We Dare You! Check out the hilarious videos at www.wedareyouvideos.com
She has performed “Science Surprises,” her interactive and engrossing show for kids, in 49 of the fifty states (missing only North Dakota) as well as internationally. A veteran motivator/professional development presenter of day-long in-services/keynote speaker, Vicki uses her expertise, humor, wit and background as an educator to inspire teachers to make science teaching the highpoint of their day. Currently she is president and founder of iNK Think Tank, Inc., a nonprofit company that focuses on the contribution that nonfiction literature and its authors can make to education. She contributes to: The Nonfiction Minute, www.nonfictionminute.org/ (which has had 5+ million page views over the past five years) and has been a Contributor to the Huffington Post and has recently launched www.vickicobbsblog.com in connection with the Nonfiction Minute, where she writes commentary on education and reviews nonfiction books as inspiring reading for children hungry to learn about the real world. .
Vicki Cobb received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2012.
She is also pioneering a video project based on her book We Dare You! Check out the hilarious videos at www.wedareyouvideos.com
She has performed “Science Surprises,” her interactive and engrossing show for kids, in 49 of the fifty states (missing only North Dakota) as well as internationally. A veteran motivator/professional development presenter of day-long in-services/keynote speaker, Vicki uses her expertise, humor, wit and background as an educator to inspire teachers to make science teaching the highpoint of their day. Currently she is president and founder of iNK Think Tank, Inc., a nonprofit company that focuses on the contribution that nonfiction literature and its authors can make to education. She contributes to: The Nonfiction Minute, www.nonfictionminute.org/ (which has had 5+ million page views over the past five years) and has been a Contributor to the Huffington Post and has recently launched www.vickicobbsblog.com in connection with the Nonfiction Minute, where she writes commentary on education and reviews nonfiction books as inspiring reading for children hungry to learn about the real world. .
Vicki Cobb received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2012.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
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January 29, 2024This book is over 30 years old, so some facts are, most likely, out of date.
That said, I actually did learn some interesting things from it. For being a picture book, it's packed full of information! It does not always specify what part of Alaska it is referring to, though.
One more note to add that it uses a term for the Inuit, Yup'ik, and Inupiaq peoples that is often considered to be a slur now. I still hear it used here in Alaska, even by some Indigenous people. But I've heard that in other places, it's considered offensive. So I'd suggest either not reading this to children or using it as an opportunity to talk to them about the ways we refer to people.
That said, I actually did learn some interesting things from it. For being a picture book, it's packed full of information! It does not always specify what part of Alaska it is referring to, though.
One more note to add that it uses a term for the Inuit, Yup'ik, and Inupiaq peoples that is often considered to be a slur now. I still hear it used here in Alaska, even by some Indigenous people. But I've heard that in other places, it's considered offensive. So I'd suggest either not reading this to children or using it as an opportunity to talk to them about the ways we refer to people.
August 13, 2017
Great book! Informative but interesting storyline and fun illustrations.
May 22, 2023
Fascinating information. The Barbara Lavallee illustrations are great.
April 29, 2014
I thought the bright and vivid illustrations were a beautiful addition to the informational text. There was a lot of information and my daughter's attention was lost at times, but the pictures kept her attention. I liked the question/answer format which I think is a valuable way to introduce a lot of facts and information. This format was helpful for my daughter who at first didn't want me to read a book with so many words. Once I read each question, she wanted me to keep reading the book.
The book is an informational book as it walks the reader through questions and facts about the Arctic. It provides information about plant life, animals, people, customs, permafrost, and living in light or darkness. My daughter was amazed at the idea of living in a place that was either completely light or completely dark 24 hours a day. The Arctic is a fascinating place to explore with young learners to not only teach the scientific facts about how the direction of the sun impacts daylight/darkness, or how animals and plant life can survive in such harsh weather, but also as a tool to expand cultural understanding. This would be an excellent book for a classroom library for middle elementary in science that can reinforce science concepts being learned and give students the opportunity to do more personal research on the subject.
This book would be best used at the 3rd and 4th grade levels. I could ask students to draw a picture of what they see when I am reading this book (visualization) and use the book to teach students how informational books are typically organized. I could also use this book to begin teaching the skill of note taking.
The book is an informational book as it walks the reader through questions and facts about the Arctic. It provides information about plant life, animals, people, customs, permafrost, and living in light or darkness. My daughter was amazed at the idea of living in a place that was either completely light or completely dark 24 hours a day. The Arctic is a fascinating place to explore with young learners to not only teach the scientific facts about how the direction of the sun impacts daylight/darkness, or how animals and plant life can survive in such harsh weather, but also as a tool to expand cultural understanding. This would be an excellent book for a classroom library for middle elementary in science that can reinforce science concepts being learned and give students the opportunity to do more personal research on the subject.
This book would be best used at the 3rd and 4th grade levels. I could ask students to draw a picture of what they see when I am reading this book (visualization) and use the book to teach students how informational books are typically organized. I could also use this book to begin teaching the skill of note taking.
February 23, 2016
The artwork on the front cover is what originally drew me to this book. The artwork on the copy I have is different from that shown on this site. It is very reminiscent of the Inuit book that was brought to class when we were exploring illustrations. The faces in this book are all rendered two-toned and approximately symmetrically as they were in the other. This book is mostly about Alaska, but ties into other parts of the world that are above the Arctic Circle as well. I thought there was a lot of information, maybe too much to take in in one sitting. The information is also fairly far reaching, and the sugues are not always very smooth. Overall I enjoyed the book, there was a lot of interesting information, and some science thrown in as well, but I think it could have been paired down a bit and maybe organized a little better.
July 25, 2013
Focuses on the land, animals, plants, and climate of Alaska, presenting it as an example of a place where it is so cold your hair can freeze and break off.
August 28, 2013
Henry and I read this on August 27th. He enjoyed the narrative on the different Alaskan animals, but was rather bored by the remainder. Would be a good resource for kids on Alaska though.
March 16, 2015
I enjoyed reading this book about Alaska. It is such a different climate and environment. Students from everyone would enjoy a glimpse into life there.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews