Polar Explorers for Kids

January 1, 2004
Gr 4-6-This odd work is a combination of biographical information and factual material about explorations of the Arctic and Antarctic regions, ranging from Erik the Red in 981 until the 1994 studies of Antarctic Lakes. The activities, such as making marshmallow-cream covered igloos and building a snow cave, have only tangential connections to the explorations and some require the purchase of some unusual materials such as lodestones. A note to readers incorrectly states: "A.D., which stands for after death, ' refers to a time in history after the death of Christ." There is a lot of interesting and often fascinating information here, but the approach is scattered, and the black-and-white photos are poor and sometimes only vaguely relevant. A marginal purchase.-Eva Elisabeth VonAncken, Trinity-Pawling School, Pawling, NY

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