Antarctica

Story Title: Antarctica

Author: Helen Cowcher

Illustrator: Helen Cowcher

Genre: Informational Book

Characters: Emperor penguins, Weddell seals, Adelie penguins, leopard seals, and humans

Summary: This informational story provides interesting facts about Emperor penguins, Weddell seals, Adelie penguins, and leopard seals. It also poses an important question about how the presence of humans could effect Antarctica and its wildlife.

Comments: The environment is at the center of many important topics and political issues today. Global warming, recycling, and living a "green" life will continue to effect our lives and the lives of our young students. This story not only contains facts about some of the wildlife that reside on the continent of Antarctica, but ends with an important question about how humans are effecting those animals. This story is the perfect way to start off a conversation about protecting our environment and to teach children that it is important to do so.

Grade Level: Lower level reading, but it poses an important question for kindergartners through third grade to discuss.