"Beyond the glacier, sea otters dive for food in
the fjord that the powerful river of ice carved
long ago. They find clams and mussels on a sill,
an old moraine far below the water's surface.
That sill provides a good habitat for shellfish,
sea stars, and anemones."
The benefits that a glacier has on the environment are explored in this welcome book. So much happens when a glacier forms, and the support it provides for both flora and fauna has real impact. The plants and animals that benefit from the thick layers of firm ice are plentiful as Ms. Miller shows in her straightforward, accessible text.
Young readers learn how the glacier first forms, and then carves a valley as it makes its way to the sea. Seasonally, it supports the growth of pink algae which feeds ice worms that make excellent meals for snow buntings. Its massive rock piles provide safe nesting places for seabirds. Ice climbers find adventure on its icy surfaces. When it reaches the sea, it offers beauty for passing kayakers, safety for seals, and freshwater for the sea. Animal life there reaps the many benefits of its presence.
Climate change is impacting the life of glaciers as is happening everywhere else in the world. It is not an idle threat, and loss of these glaciers will have significant repercussions for the health of our planet.
"With warmer weather, glaciers melt and shrink.
Some glaciers are losing so much ice that they will
eventually disappear.
Where will the murrelets raise their chicks without
tidewater glaciers? Where will these harbor seals
have their pups if there are no icebergs?"
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