Polar: Wildlife At The Ends of The Earth, written by L.E. Carmichael and illustrated by Byron Eggenschwiler. Kids Can Press, 2023. $19.99 ages

"CHASING SUMMER 

For arctic terns, summer lasts all year. 
That's because these birds migrate between 
the Arctic and Antarctica, following long days 
and warm weather from one end of the globe 
to the other. It's a round trip of up to 50.000 km
(31,068 mi.), the longest migration of any animal 
in the world. This extreme adaptation ensures that 
arctic terns are always in the right place, at the 
right time, to feast on seasonal prey." 

Could there be more different creatures living at our planet's opposite poles? As readers learn more about each end of the earth, the contrasts become more evident. In the introduction, the author speaks to the fact that both are harsh habitats. The Arctic is ocean surrounded by land; Antarctica is land surrounded by water. Antarctica is much older than the Arctic. Those are but some of the differences. They are also lands that have a lot in common: cold, wilderness, fierce winds, the number of fully sunlit and always dark days. How can so many animals live in both places? The simple answer is adaptations and behaviors. 

A polar bear makes its way across a snowy plain to guide readers into the book's text. In a series of double-page entries that begin in March, the author compares the two regions and a variety of creatures. The topics are warmth, movement, internal clocks, the survival of insects, polar seasons, visibility and camouflage, feeding the young, breeding and raising a family, cuddling, hibernation, habitats, sounds, moving over snow, survival, and protecting the young.

A petrel leads us away, past craggy rocks and deep snow, toward the impact of climate change, pollution, the value of the polar regions, actions to take, where to learn more online, a glossary, and resources.   

Realistic digital artwork shows detailed images of the animals in nature, and discusses both traits that are the same and those that are different between each region. 13 pairs are presented month-to-month over a full year. The comparisons include a female ptarmigan in the Arctic who trades white feathers for brown in the summer to become almost invisible to predators, and the lanternshark of Antarctica who has spots on its belly to make it look like moonlight underwater, thus protecting it from being seen. 

Ground squirrels (Arctic) and rock cod (Antarctica) hibernate through the cold winter after storing enough food to keep them alive while they sleep. Both the lynx and the hare in the Arctic had big feet that spread out enough to keep them on top of the snow. In Antarctica, chinstrap penguins toboggan to spread the weight across their bellies and keep them from sinking. 

So much to learn in all the best ways!