Curious About Fish
by Cathryn Sill
illustrated by John Sill

Welcome to the fascinating world of fish! These beautiful, diverse creatures come in all shapes and sizes, and now even the littlest ocean enthusiasts can start learning about our finned underwater friends. A simple, realistic first glimpse into the natural world of fish, Curious About Fish is the fourth addition to the Discovering Nature board book series.

From the award-winning team of the acclaimed About… and About Habitats series comes another early nature introduction for toddlers and preschoolers to learn basic facts about the world around them. Author Cathryn Sill offers easy-to-understand descriptions of how fish look, where they live, what they eat, and how they move around, and noted wildlife illustrator John Sill’s detailed and realistic art brings this colorful book to life. A dependable and informative resource for budding oceanographers as well as for early childhood education units on animals, environments, fish, oceans, and pets, and perfect for a first trip to the aquarium with little ones hoping to spot sharks, seahorses, clownfish, and more!

Get to know some of the fish from the book in this excerpt.

Explore the Sills’ award-winning About… and About Habitats picture book series, perfect for further exploration with young nature enthusiasts.

Check out the rest of the Discovering Nature series, and download the activity sheets for more nature fun!

Mars Is
Stark Slopes, Silvery Snow, and Startling Surprises
by Suzanne Slade

Think you know Mars? Think again!

Have you ever wondered about life on Mars? Do you imagine there could be deserts or volcanoes just like we have here on Earth? What if people could actually live there someday? You’re not alone! For centuries, people have been intrigued by the mysterious Red Planet, and over time, scientists have made some exciting discoveries. For example, Mars experiences Earth-like weather and seasons! But curious humans still want to know more.

And so NASA’s HiRISE (High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment) camera came to be. Scientists loaded this powerful camera onto a rocket on August 12, 2005, and seven months later, it began orbiting Mars. Thanks to this incredibly advanced camera, we now have stunningly detailed photographs that can show the world what Mars really is: buried bedrock, stark slopes, mighty mesas, and more amazing than anyone ever imagined!

Join award-winning author and former mechanical engineer Suzanne Slade (Countdown: 2979 Days to the Moon, A Computer Called Katherine) for a remarkable exploration of the striking beauty of Mars. This timely, photo-packed space extravaganza is a visual feast perfect for space enthusiasts, STEAM fans, and young readers following NASA’s Mars Exploration Program who can’t wait to see what future discoveries made on the extraordinary Red Planet may hold.

Start exploring the Red Planet below, and read an excerpt!

Your mission to Mars begins April 1st when Mars Is arrives at your local library, indie bookstore, or Barnes & Noble. And don’t forget to check out the rest of our brand-new picture books and middle grade and YA titles coming to Peachtree this season!

Spi-Ku
A Clutter of Short Verse on Eight Legs
by Leslie Bulion
illustrated by Robert Meganck

We’ve met tiny critters living in the leaf litter layer, soared with the best and brightest denizens of the bird world, and bounced along with the lively participants of the amphibian acrobat show. Now, dive back in to the entertaining world of science poetry with Spi-Ku, a humorous exploration of the silk-spinning, bungee-jumping, hunting, trapping, trick-filled world of spiders!

Meet spitting spiders spinning prey-pinning silk, scuba diving spiders donning snazzy silver bubbles, bulky, burrowing, trap-setting spiders, and so much more. Watch as the Tiger Wandering Spider attracts mates with her perfumed silk trail, or perhaps hitch a ride with some Dock Spider eggs as they travel in their mother’s jaws. Award-winning author and master of science poetry Leslie Bulion’s clutter (a collective noun for spiders) of Haiku and other short poems pairs wonderfully with Robert Meganck’s humorous illustrations to celebrate the amazing attributes of Araneae.

Read on for helpful sidebars, call-outs, and backmatter, including a glossary of science terms, notes about the poetic forms, a list of common and scientific names, a spider-hunting adventure how-to, resources for further study, and a relative-size chart. This must-read is sure to entertain little scientists, young animal fans, and lovers of all things with eight legs!

See more of these fascinating creatures in this excerpt, and the eight-legged fun never has to end with this teacher’s guide.

Explore more science poetry from Leslie Bulion!

“Cheerfully illustrated… As always, Bulion uses both evocative vocabulary and a variety of poetic forms; these are chosen with care and defined in the backmatter… Engaging and information rich, this is wonderfully well woven.” —Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW

“Notes on poetic form are on hand for readers who gravitate to the “A” in their STEAM curriculum, but the verses are also effective as mnemonic devices…teasing wordplay…and wry Gorey-esque bait for the spider grossout fans… Meganck’s digital artwork balances light-hearted cartooning with reliably detailed anatomical drawing.” —Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Book

Find Spi-Ku spinning onto a bookshelf near you this March at your local library, indie bookstore, or Barnes & Noble, and be sure to check out the rest of our brand-new picture books and middle grade and YA titles coming to Peachtree this season!

Bird Show
by Susan Stockdale

Take your seats, nestle in—the Bird Show is about to begin!

In a flurry of feathers, the world’s most spectacular birds don their best suits, gowns, scarves, and headdresses in a fabulous fashion show! Speckled, striped, and multicolored, these birds know a thing or two about high fashion. Marvel at the elegant Great Egret in its milky-white lace skirt, and meet the Northern Flicker, dazzling in its dotted vest! Just like people, each bird has unique characteristics, and their diversity makes our world a more beautiful place. With clever comparisons between feather patterns and human clothing, budding birders and future fashionistas will cheer for these stylish models.

Susan Stockdale, award-winning author-illustrator of Fabulous Fishes, Stripes of All Types, Fantastic Flowers, and more delivers another vibrant picture book with an original take on nature nonfiction. Stockdale’s bold color palette, striking portraits, and rhyming text will engage young readers as they learn fascinating facts about 18 familiar and exotic birds. An afterword provides further information about each species’ plumage, behavior, and location, in addition to an entertaining matching game. Bird Show is one delightful display you won’t want to miss!

Take a VIP look at the feathered fashion models in this excerpt!

Susan Stockdale gives a peek into her illustration process for Bird Show in this video!

“With a brief text and clearly delineated, vibrant artwork that shows up well from a distance, this book is a natural for reading aloud during preschool or primary-grade bird units.” —Booklist

“The clever comparisons suggest a new way to see and remember these species….smoothly written couplets… A posh performance to read aloud or alone.” —Kirkus Reviews

Bird Show makes its dazzling debut this March at your local library, indie bookstore, or Barnes & Noble, and be sure to check out the rest of our brand-new picture books and middle grade and YA titles coming to Peachtree this season!

Stan Steiner, PhD was called the Bookman by his students due to his vast knowledge of children’s literature. He was a K-5 elementary teacher for 15 years prior to his professorship at Boise State University, where he teaches courses on children’s and young adult literature. Stan has written and co-authored many articles about children’s literature and education and a book, P is for Potato: An Idaho Alphabet, with his wife Joy. 

Joy Steiner, MA Early Childhood Education, is a former preschool teacher and school librarian. She has traveled extensively as a professional storyteller and enjoys writing original nature tales.

Oh, the wonder!  Oh, the joy!  Oh, the thrill of discovery!

Few things are as powerful as sharing books and adventures with young children. Curiosity is awakened in the outdoor world, prompting questions and rich language exchanges with young learners.  Nonfiction books are an essential part of the experience, expanding and increasing the learning.

We strapped our baby daughter into her piggyback backpack, fastened her wide brim hat, and took to the high mountain air.  We talked and sang along the way, while she bounced happily, and upon our destination, snuggled close to the edge of a crystal clear alpine lake.  Small brook trout flashed in the water.  “Look!  Fish,” we exclaimed.  “See the fish?”  After returning home, we bundled our little one for bed and read a board book with large fish pictures and just a few words (try Stockdale’s, Fabulous Fishes or Sill’s About Fish).  The next evening, our baby pronounced her very first word.  We were sharing tiny bites of fish and vegetables in her bowl; behind her, colorful carved fish hung from our apartment ceiling.  She turned around in her high chair, pointed to the hanging fish, and said, “Ish?”  She was barely nine months old.

Nonfiction books inspire scientific explorations close to home, as well.  Our growing preschooler and her new brother witnessed a miracle in our backyard rose bush.  After reading The Ladybug by Gallimard Jeunesse (also read Curious About Insects, Sill and A Place For Butterflies, Stewart), we discovered the striking appearance of ladybug larvae and searched for them in our yard.  There they were, devouring aphids in the rose bush.  To our amazement, a larva stopped, glued itself to a leaf, and squeezed sticky bug juice from its backside.  The goo hardened into a pupa and our young scientists patiently observed the changes.  Ten days later, we held magnifying glasses and watched a tiny set of mandibles chew through the pupa, struggle to push out, and emerge as a glistening yellow beetle.  The sun dried the new ladybug, yellow darkened to orange, and spots appeared.  We were in awe.

Later, Joy taught preschool children with developmental delays.  One three year old came to school with no language.  He enjoyed playing with friends, but communicated with facial expressions, physical action, roars, engine sounds, and laughter.  By chance, Joy’s co-teacher discovered the boy loved horses.  They transformed the classroom into a ranch with horse pictures and toys, cowboy hats, boots, a saddle, and piles of horse books (try Touch and Feel Ponies and The Everything Book of Horses and Ponies, published by Dorling Kindersley).  They read one on one with the boy, making sure he focused on the clear pictures and repeating the words.  The highlight of the horse study was a trip to a working ranch to watch cowboys skillfully guide their horses as they cut and culled the cattle.  In the weeks that followed, Joy overheard the boy and his friends as they mounted the imaginary horse in the dramatic play area.  He was telling them to, “Hold on!  Sit saddle!  Go!

Real life experiences teamed with realistic pictures and clear text in nonfiction board books encourage literacy in young children.  Embark on outdoor discovery adventures with little ones.  Prepare to be surprised by wonder.

Curious About Insects
by Cathryn Sill
illustrated by John Sill

Insects are fascinating and often misunderstood creatures, and no two species are exactly alike. Some insects come out during the day, and others come out at night. Some get their food from plants while the peskier insects find food in your pantry! From the author and illustrator team that brought you the acclaimed About… series, Curious About Insects introduces the youngest readers to the diverse world of insects through basic facts about what they look like, where they live, what they eat, and how they move.

This new addition to the Discovering Nature board book series provides early opportunities to compare, contrast, and observe physical and behavioral patterns in nature. Educator and author Cathryn Sill’s simple vocabulary and wildlife illustrator John Sill’s realistic portrayals of insects and their habitats are perfect for young outdoors enthusiasts learning to describe what they see outside the classroom and in their own backyard. From the helpful Honeybee to the beautiful Luna Moth, the variety of fascinating creatures introduced is sure to captivate bug buffs and little explorers alike.

Meet some of our six-legged friends in this excerpt.

Discover the Sills’ About… and About Habitats picture book series for more educational opportunities, perfect for young nature enthusiasts.

Praise for About Insects

“In image and text the Sills succeed in conveying a great deal of information at a very basic reading level. Excellent classroom or pleasure reading for science and nature fans and for any beginning readers drawn to nonfiction.” —Booklist

Look for Curious About Insects this March at your local library, indie bookstore, or Barnes & Noble, and be sure to check out the rest of our brand-new picture books and middle grade and YA titles coming to Peachtree this season!

During a pause in the conference, a few of us at Peachtree along with Don Tate and some of our industry friends had the pleasure of getting a personal guided tour of William Still’s handwritten records and other significant documents related to his abolition work.

Beth Twiss Houting, Senior Director of Programs and Services, and Melvin Garrison, former head of the Social Studies for the School District of Philadelphia (who helped make African- American history a mandatory part of the Philadelphia curriculum), introduced us to some amazing original documents, including William Still’s own handwritten notebook. Intriguingly, the handwritten journal is labeled “Journal C,” indicating that there might have been “A” and “B” journals, although those were not found.

We actually got to look through the journal and see Still’s own handwriting – an incredible experience. And as Don (carefully) flipped through the pages, he eventually found the passage about Harriet Tubman, which made it into Don’s picture book as the endpapers!

It was fascinating to see that pages in Still’s journal had pen slashes through them, which was probably his way of keeping track of which entries he put in his published book. As a publisher, we couldn’t help but appreciate that even Still was editing his own work to decide what from his notes should be kept for the published book.

We also looked at the published book The Underground Rail Road.

Don, who had reviewed the published book at the Free Library of Philadelphia when he was doing his research, asked why the published version we were looking at was different than the one he reviewed a while back. It turns out that Still had published different formats of his book with different casings and bindings to allow for different price points, making the book available for a wider range of people. So not only was Still an incredible note-taker and editor, but he was also a brilliant book production and marketing strategist!

Still was also a pioneering book publicist. He collected reviews and endorsements of his book from prominent figures, including William Lloyd Garrison, Senator Charles Sumner, and media outlets like the Philadelphia Inquirer and The Nation. He published these reviews and quotes in a “circular” to help market the book. He also hired his own sales force of men and women, Black and white people, to help sell the book.

Everyone who took part in the tour was very grateful not only to get an early introduction to Don’s book, but also to get an introduction to William Still (whom not many of us knew about before). It was such an honor to feel like we were part of the book’s research process, seeing historical artifacts that would eventually make it into William Still and His Freedom Stories. For all of us, being immersed in the history on display at the Historical Society really brought William Still and his work to life.

Introducing Young Readers to William Still: Resources and More

With the help of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, we are now able to use Still’s records to know what the Underground Railroad was like, helping further educate ourselves and future generations. On their website, The Historical Society provides a wealth of resources about William Still and the Underground Railroad, as well as lesson plans on how to include William Still and his work into classroom discussions.

The Historical Society has also been putting together an important digital history project, “Uncovering William Still’s Underground Railroad.” This project weaves new connections between the manuscript journal and the published book of William Still to help provide insight into the experiences of enslaved individuals and families who passed through Philadelphia between 1852 and 1857 as well as the covert networks that aided their escape. The first phase of the project includes an interactive website with tons of useful information  about the Underground Railroad.

The project also includes a relationships “social network,” connecting people William Still had written about in his journal with various people those freedom seekers knew or encountered. It includes a map of locations on the Underground Railroad that were described in Still’s journal.

These valuable resources would not have been available without Still’s stories. And without his stories, we might not know as much as we do about freedom seekers who escaped slavery or about the Underground Railroad and its success. William Still showed how important it is to tell stories. And now with Don Tate’s William Still and His Freedom Stories, young readers can learn about the incredible man known as the Father of the Underground Railroad.

Start young readers on their exploration of William Still and the Underground Railroad with Don Tate’s powerful picture book William Still and His Freedom Stories, available November 1st, and be sure to download the free teacher’s guide!

Dear Reader,

As a child, reading for the joy of reading was not a part of my everyday reality. Around the house we had a few Dr. Seuss books and Berenstain Bears, but sadly, we didn’t have many books that featured people who looked like me. We definitely didn’t have books written and/or illustrated by people who looked like me. Had those books existed, maybe the dream of becoming a published author would have happened way before I hit my mid-forties.

I became an avid reader as a young adult, after discovering classic Black authors like Richard Wright and Claude Brown, authors who wrote about Black boys. I also loved biographies, especially of Frederick Douglass and Malcolm X, and the more contemporary memoirs of Nathan McCall and Antwone Q. Fisher. These stories featuring Black men made me feel seen, valued, important, in ways that Dick and Jane simply did not.

Knowing about my love of biographies, a few years ago my mom mailed to me a copy of The Biographical Dictionary of Black Americans by Rachel Kranz. It was a battered old library book, something she likely discovered while rummaging at a garage sale. While reading the book one day, I came across the name of William Still, “leader of the Underground Railroad.” He was a free Black man who worked for the Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society, assisting freedom-seeking people who were escaping their enslavers in the South. William Still eventually began to keep meticulous records about the freedom seekers who passed through his office, documenting their personal stories, with the goal of helping to reunite families torn apart by slavery. One of those stories included the harrowing escape of Henry “Box” Brown, who had mailed himself to freedom. There was the story of Harriet Tubman who arrived one night with six “passengers.” And the story of William and Ellen Craft, who escaped to the North in disguise. William Still hid those stories in a cemetery vault. Wow!—Thanks to my mom, I’d discovered the subject of my next book!

The more I researched and learned more about William Still, the more impressed I became. He was one of the most successful abolitionists of his time. He was a fighter for Civil Rights. He started a YMCA for Black kids. So why his relative obscurity? And why have I always associated the abolitionist movement with white people—most often, Quakers—and not free Black people, without whom the Underground Railroad could not have existed, much less been successful?

The Underground Railroad truly united Blacks and whites in a common cause—the liberation of enslaved Black people. But after slavery ended, many of those white abolitionists went on to publish idyllic stories about the Underground Railroad, centering themselves as the saviors and downplaying the contributions of Black people.

Let me say it again: the Underground Railroad could not have existed without the support of free Black people, Black churches, Black organizations. These stories went mostly untold.

I am proud to say that William Still and His Freedom Stories: The Father of the Underground Railroad is an #OwnVoices title—#OwnVoices being a social media hashtag which seeks to highlight the need for more authentic, diverse authors and stories that haven’t been filtered through the eyes of people who’ve not historically been marginalized. I wrote this book in the spirit of Frederick Douglass, Richard Wright, and Nathan McCall, with the hope that it will inspire young readers in the way these writers inspired me many years ago.

I want to thank you for your valuable time in reading my book, a story much bigger than I—or William Still, for that matter. And I hope you’ll want to share this important journey with young readers as much as I do.

Sincerely,

Don Tate

William Still and His Freedom Stories
The Father of the Underground Railroad
by Don Tate

William Still collected stories that reunited families separated by slavery and memorialized their courageous efforts to resist bondage. Now, it’s time to tell his story.

William Still may have been born free, but slavery and prejudice affected every aspect of his life. He had a yearning for knowledge and passion for helping people, but the color of his skin made it difficult to receive an education. Worst of all, his fugitive parents had to leave two sons behind when they escaped from a Maryland farm years before William was born, leaving a hole in his parents’ hearts.

Determined to rise above his circumstances, William moved to Philadelphia and landed a job at the Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society where he became the Father of the Underground Railroad and helped freedom-seeking slaves pass through to the North. One day, a man came looking for information about his family who had escaped long ago. William felt like he had heard his story before, and this man did bear a striking resemblance to William’s mother…could it be?

Inspired by the reunion of his brother and family, William dedicated his life to collecting the stories and descriptions of fugitive slaves to help them locate their families—certainly at the risk of his own life. Read the exhilarating stories of Ellen and William Craft, who disguised themselves as a white slave master and servant, and Henry “Box” Brown, who shipped himself to Philadelphia by rail. Their stories paved the path to freedom, and their legacies have been preserved by William Still and now author Don Tate.

Don Tate, the award-winning author-illustrator of Poet: The Remarkable Story of George Moses Horton and illustrator of Carter Reads the Newspaper, brings you another moving nonfiction picture book highlighting a lesser-known historical hero. Tate’s poetic text offers a moving and age-appropriate account of the shocking realities of slavery and the abolitionist movement. His illustrations capture the hope, fear, and determination of these brave men and women. Perfect for educators and parents introducing topics of slavery and their oppression, William Still and His Freedom Stories is sure to inspire a rising generation of advocates and allies.

“Because that’s what stories can do.
Protest injustice.
Soothe. Teach. Inspire. Connect.
Stories save lives.”

Sneak a peek in this excerpt of the first-ever picture book biography of the Father of the Underground Railroad.

Educators—don’t miss this teacher’s guide with discussion ideas and class activities, and continue to inspire students with this downloadable “Stories save lives” poster!

“Tate’s sentences are often short, underscoring Still’s effort and drive; when they occasionally lengthen, they land with a punch… His paintings often likewise play out in vignettes that capture action over time then linger lovingly on the expressive faces of his characters. Brings deserved attention to the life of a man who dedicated himself to recording the lives of others.” —Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW

“Gentle and straightforward prose… The text recounts the oppression and dehumanization of slavery but is not too graphic for the target age demographic…. Tate’s expressive, colorful illustrations work well with the text to convey this important part of American history…. This inspirational true story combines fact with a very readable narrative, spotlighting a pivotal figure in the abolitionist movement. A book that deserves a place on school and public library shelves.”—School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW

Celebrate the men and women who fought for freedom and equality with William Still and His Freedom Stories this November at your local library, indie bookstore, or Barnes & Noble. And don’t forget to check out the rest of our brand-new Fall 2020 titles as well as our picture books and middle grade titles coming to Peachtree this season in paperback!

We asked Mary Batten about her inspiration and writing process for Life in a Frozen World, a stunning new nonfiction resource perfect for an informative introduction to climate change.

Q: What inspired you to write this story? How did you first get involved with The Cousteau Society and explorer Jacques Cousteau’s campaign to protect Antarctica?

A: I was working as editor of the Society’s membership magazine, Calypso Log, during the late 80s and early 90s when Captain Cousteau led the Society in launching a campaign to protect Antarctica from mineral exploitation. As editor of Calypso Log, it was my responsibility to report on The Cousteau Society’s campaigns and missions. The emphasis of this campaign was to protect this pristine continent for future generations. As part of the campaign we launched a children’s petition to protect Antarctica and obtained signatures on petitions from tens of thousands of children all over the world. To further dramatize that goal, the Society mounted a special expedition. Captain Cousteau took six children—one from each of the other continents—to Antarctica. He asked me to go as a kind of mother figure for the children. I was honored that he asked me and was looking forward to this expedition adventure, but I developed pleurisy a few weeks before departure date and was unable to go. I was devastated not to be able to take part in this expedition—a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. As the photos and film footage came back to the U.S., I saw what an incredible opportunity I had missed and became fascinated with everything I was seeing and learning about the frozen continent and its importance to the planet. This book is my “virtual journey” to Antarctica.

Q: What about Antarctica interests you the most?

A: Everything about Antarctica interests me, but its profound impact on global sea level, weather, and climate interests me most. Here is a frozen continent at the bottom of the Earth, seemingly so far away, but its impact touches life everywhere.

Q: One of the main themes in this book is climate change and how it’s affecting creatures living in this particular environment. Why do you think this is such an important issue to discuss, especially with younger readers?

A: Climate change is real. More than a hundred years of science supports it, and accelerating rising seas and melting ice packs from the Arctic to Antarctica are already affecting global climate and sea level in coastal areas. In 2019, the World Health Organization predicted that climate change would kill more than 250,000 people each year. Already, people, referred to as “climate refugees,” are having to move as sea-level rise makes their homes unlivable. This issue is especially important to discuss with young readers because they will inherit the conditions left to them by the older generation. Young Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg led mass demonstrations with young people around the world, demanding that their leaders take more aggressive actions to combat climate change. In many cases, the young people are more educated and concerned than some of the so-called “leaders” who deny climate change is happening, claim it’s a hoax, and support the fossil fuel industry rather than alternative energy.

Q: What was your research process like?

A: I watched many films about Antarctica, including the old Cousteau expedition to Antarctica and videos taken by scientists doing current research in Antarctica. I interviewed scientists working in Antarctica and read books and articles reflecting recent research. My favorite part of the research is speaking with and/or emailing scientists because they’re the ones on the ground or, in the case of Antarctica, under the water, gathering information on animals and plants and their behavior. It’s their work that gives us knowledge about Antarctica, and I’m grateful to everyone who generously took the time to speak with me and answer my questions.

Q: How did your experience with writing nature documentaries for television contribute to the development of this book?

A: I think visually. When you write a nature film, you are working with the visual material—the footage. There’s interplay between the film’s narration and the images. The same is true when writing a picture book. Words and images must support each other, not just repeat each other. When writing a film, the first 30 seconds, called the “tease,” are the most important because they will either hook the viewer or they will switch to another channel. The first page, the first paragraph of a picture book functions in the same way as a film’s “tease.” I want to hook the reader so they will persist in reading the book all the way through. So I use some film-writing techniques in crafting a picture book text. And then, just as a film writer works with the film editor when narration and visuals are put together, my wonderful editor, Vicky Holifield, and I work together once the book’s designer flows Thomas’ illustrations into the page layout and we see what adjustments need to be made in order to achieve the best visual presentation of the whole book. Sometimes I have to cut some of the text to avoid a visually crowded page. Each page has to be pleasing to the eye as well as stimulating to the brain. The illustrations are key to whether a person will pick up the book in a bookstore or when browsing online. The illustrator’s images are as important as a film’s footage in selling the book.

Q: How did you react when you first saw Thomas Gonzalez’s illustrations? What do you like most about his art style?

A: WOW! I’m thrilled with Thomas’ illustrations. His larger-than-life style makes for visual impact. The scenic illustrations are spectacularly beautiful, and the illustrations of different species are accurate and bring my words to life. I feel fortunate indeed that Thomas is the illustrator for this book as well as the next one.

Q: What’s one thing you had to omit from the final version of the book that you wish you could have included?

A: We had to leave out a lot of details about how scientists work on the ice to obtain ice cores and what the cores tell about the history of climate on Earth.

Q: What’s the most interesting thing you learned in your research for Life in a Frozen World?

A: There’s no one most interesting thing. The adaptations that some animals have evolved for life in this frigid world are particularly fascinating—such as the ice fish’s natural antifreeze that prevents its blood from freezing solid, the food chain’s dependence on tiny krill, the effect of melting glaciers on penguins in West Antarctica, the “forest” of plants growing underwater. Everything about Antarctica is interesting, and I hope readers will finish this book with excitement. Maybe some of them will want to become scientists who study this remarkable continent.

Q: What was your favorite species to write about in this book?

A: The tiny crustaceans called krill and the ice fish.

Q: What is the most important thing you want readers to take away from this book?

A: That what happens to Antarctica’s ice affects not only the animals that live in Antarctica but also creatures, including humans, in every other place on Earth. Antarctic species need the ice to survive and so do we in order to keep our planet livable.