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Books!Especially for Young Minds Antarctica Children's Television Workshop, National Science Foundation Colorful 22 page booklet, designed for grades 4-6, introduces Antarctica. It is filled with images and facts about this remote continent and can be used to jump into further investigation of exploration, biology, geology, weather, and environmental sciences. 25 copies for $5.00 (includes postage and handling) (800) 228-4630 Conserving the Polar Regions Barbara James, 1991, Conserving Our World Series, Steck-Vaughn Library, 48 pages. Polar Regions Terry Jennings, Marshall, 1987, Exploring Our World Series, Cavendish, 48 pages. Investigating the Ozone Hole Rebecca Johnson, Lerner, 112 pages. Polar Wildlife Kamini Khanduri, Usborne World Wildlife Series, Available from the International Antarctic Centre, Education Programme Resources. Illustrated in full colour throughout. Polar Wildlife is an ideal introduction to the animals and plants living in the Arctic and Antarctic. It takes a close look at the animals and plants of the regions and explains how each species is adapted to life in its environment. Superb illustrations, both realistic and diagrammatic, together with clear, simple text. A superb Teacher reference. Polar Connections - Exploring the World's Natural Laboratory National Science Foundation The theme of the 1998 National Science and Technology Week highlighted the North and South poles as natural laboratories. They are unique in the opportunities offered to scientists and engineers to conduct research in pristine, natural environments. Materials can be obtained through:
National Science Foundation 4201 Wilson Boulevard Room 1245 Arlington, Virginia 22230 Check out the Polar Connections Internet Site! Pioneering Frozen Worlds Sandra Markle Antarctic Introduction Voyage Through Antarctica Richard Adams and Ronald Lockley, 1982, Alfred K. Knopf, 1982, 160 pages. The Ends of the Earth Isaac Asimov For an entertaining introductory lesson on almost any branch of science or geography, Asimov almost never fails. In this clearly written and well researched book, Asimov relates some of the most interesting aspects of science, geography, and history of the North and South Polar regions. If you are looking for an interesting first book about Antarctica---start with this one. Review by W. Philips. Antarctica: The Last Continent Ian Cameron, Little Brown and Company, 256 pages. The Crystal Desert David G. Campbell The author spent three summers on or near the Antarctic Peninsula. He is especially concerned about the wildlife living on the edges of the continent. Excellent. Review by W. Philips. Explore Antarctica Louise Crossley, 1995, Cambridge University Press Perhaps the best, easy to use book on Antarctic science and exploration available today. This guide provides two to four page explanations on a diverse range of topics including exploration, scientific research, and the future of Antarctica. Review by D. Haller. Water, Ice, and Stone Bill Green This is my favorite book on Antarctica. It is also one of my favorite books about science. Green goes far beyond the data and the scenery---he gives the reader a sense of what drives people to "do" science. An incredible piece of work. Everyone should give this one a try, especially teachers and high school and college students. Review by W. Philips. Desert of Ice: Life and Work in Antarctica W. John Hackwell, 1991, Charles Scribner's Sons, 40 pages Antarctic Timeline David L. Harrowfield, Available from the International Antarctic Centre, Education Programme Resources. The Timeline provides an account of the discovery of Antarctica, its early exploration, the first flight to the South Pole and other historical events. The Timeline includes the dates when these historical events occurred and so can be used as a "cut and paste" activity where students match the dates with the relevant events and place them in order to form the Timeline. The Greenpeace Book of Antarctica: A New View of the Seventh Continent John May, 1989, Doubleday, New York. Beyond the Frozen Sea Mickleburg Excellent introduction to Antarctica. Review by W. Philips. Edge of the World Charles Neider Neider was one of the first writers to be selected to go the The Ice by the National Science Foundation. Some beautiful descriptions of Antarctica. Very good. Review by W. Philips. Antarctica: The Last Unspoiled Continent Laurence Pringle, 1992, Simon and Schuster. A quick overview of the state of the continent, the history of discovery, and the potential challenges facing the future of scientific research, exploration, and development. Review by D. Haller. The Ice: A Journey to Antarctica Stephen Pyne, 1986, University of Iowa Press I wish I could agree with the critics who consider this book brilliant, but I have tried to get through it three times. It is simply too dense with facts to enjoy. Review by W. Philips. Antarctica Reader's Digest Surprise! This is the best popular book about Antarctica. It covers almost every aspect for the general reader. The pictures are fantastic and the text is wonderful. It looks like a single volume encyclopedia, but it often reads like a adventure tale. If you read only one book about Antarctica, this is it . Of course if you do read this one, you'll want to read more. Review by W. Philips. Arctic and Antarctic Regions Francene Sabin, 1985, Troll Associates, 32 pages. The Arctic and Antarctic Cass R. Sandak, 1987, New Frontiers Exploration in the 20th century, Franklin Watts, 32 pages. Antarctica Gail B. Stewart, 1991, Crestwood House, 48 pages. North Pole, South Pole Bernard Stonehouse Many excellent pictures but the text is nothing to get excited about. Good comparison's between North and South Poles, but Asimov does it much better. Review by W. Philips. The Arctic and Antarctic: Roof and Floor of the World Alice Thompson, 1988, Dillon Press. Antarctic Science D.W.H. Walton (editor), 1987, Cambridge University Press, 280 pages. Our Endangered Planet: ANTARCTICA Suzanne Winckler and Mary M. Rodgers, 1992, Lerner Publications Company: Minneapolis, 64 pages. A general introduction to Antarctica including the history of exploration. Discusses the climatic conditions and the potential for destroying the natural wonders. Recommends various actions individuals can take to help preserve Antarctica for future generations. Review by D. Haller. Science Science on the Ice: An Antarctic Journal Rebecca L. Johnson, 1995, Lerner Publications Company, Minneapolis, 128 pages. Very nice book about various scientific research projects on-going in Antarctica. Includes lots of color photos. Review by D. Haller. Polar Wildlife Kamini Khanduri, Usborne World Wildlife Series, International Antarctic Centre, Education Programme Resources. Illustrated in full colour throughout. Polar Wildlife is an ideal introduction to the animals and plants living in the Arctic and Antarctic. It takes a close look at the animals and plants of the regions and explains how each species is adapted to life in its environment. Superb illustrations, both realistic and diagrammatic, together with clear, simple text. A superb Teacher reference. The New Explorers: Women in Antarctica Barbara Land, 1981, Dodd, Mead, and Company, New York. An easy read about the scientific research done by women in Antarctica from 1947 to 1980. Special emphasis on the history of women's parcticipation in the exploration of Antarctica as more women were allowed to visit and explore. Review by D. Haller. A Continent for Science: The Antarctic Adventure Richard S. Lewis, 1965, The Viking Press, New York. A very through account of the exploration of Antarctica with a special focus on work done during the International Geographic Year. Includes diagrams and maps of the IGY research of ice depth, discussions of the theory of continental drift. Review by D. Haller. Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978. NSF 95-154. Available From The National Science Foundation, Office of Polar Programs, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia 22230 (or contact:). Antarctic News Clips Example: NSF 96-136 (1996) Selected arcticles from the newspaper and popular magazines about scientific research and operations in Antarctica. Available From The National Science Foundation, Office of Polar Programs, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia 22230 (or contact:). Facts about the U.S. Antarctic Research Program NSF 92-134. Overview of the activities of the United States Antarctic Program, including geographic introduction, summary of bases supported by the United States, ongoing science research, environmental protection, and a list of Antarctic resources. Available From The National Science Foundation, Office of Polar Programs, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia 22230 (or contact:). U.S. Antarctic Program Summary of current research projects. NSF 96-24. Available From The National Science Foundation, Office of Polar Programs, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia 22230 (or contact:). Fossil Windfall at Antarctica's Edge William Zinsmeister, May 1986, Natural History (periodical). Exploration / Expedition The South Pole Roald Amundsen Great firsthand account of the the conquest of the North Pole by the greatest polar explorer of them all. Amundsen is a complete professional in his drive to the South Pole. Fortunately for him all the risks he took paid off and his luck held. Amundsen's style is straight forward and easy to read. Highly recommended. Review by W. Philips. Mawson's Will Lennard Bickel One of the greatest true adventure tales of all time. Astounding---read it! Review by W. Philips. Alone Richard Byrd Of all the ghost writers for explorers, Byrd had one of the best. Byrd's tale of how he survived most of an antarctic winter alone is a riveting account. The story is told so well that some of the most mundane activities give the book an air of suspense. Highly recommended. Review by W. Philips. The Worst Journey in the World Apsley Cherry-Garrard First printed in 1922 and still in print. This is the best first-hand account of the Scott expeditions. Cherry-Garrard writes extremely well and demonstrates many of the facets of the perfect Edwardian gentleman. The account sometimes seeks to hide truth rather than reveal, but his omissions are preferable of the rumor laden tell-all nonsense found in most modern "non-fiction". His chapter entitled "The Winter Journey" is one of the most outstanding adventure tales of all time. Review by W. Philips. South with Scott Capt. ERGR Evans Evans was the captain on Scott's last expedition. This book is typical of the run-of-the-mill "I was there" books that appeared after the expedition returned. It does not hold up well when compared to Cherry-Garrard. Nevertheless, Evans has an interesting story to tell from another point of view. Review by W. Philips. Mind Over Matter Ralph Fiennes This is one of the best modern accounts of Antarctic exploration. It is the story of Fiennes and Strouds attempt to sledge haul all the way across the continent. Many will find Fiennes attitude toward scientific research, and polar researchers in parcticular, irritating (I certainly do). His single-minded attitude toward achieving his goal is both admirable and repelling---and this dichotomy makes for a riveting account. Review by W. Philips. Adventure at the Bottom of the World Shelly Gill The story of 89 year old Norman Vaughn and his journey back to Antarctica to climb the mountain Byrd named for him. Interesting story, but the National Geographic tape of the same subject is much better. Review by W. Philips. Shackleton Roland Huntford The definitive book on the life of Ernest Shackleton. The research is very thorough. Huntford's interpretation of Shackletons motives and actions are fair and convincing. However, while Huntford clearly admires Shackleton and is very forgiving of Shackletons failings, his view of Scott goes far beyond reasonable criticism and seems to border on hatred. In the sections where Scott appears almost every action Scott takes is interpreted by Huntford as stupid, cunning, and cruel. Despite Huntford's extreme bias against Scott, he succeeds beautifully in detailing the life of Shackleton and especially the voyage of the Endurance. Review by W. Philips. Scott and Amundsen: The Race to the South Pole Roland Huntford, 1979, GP Putnam's Sons, New York. A well written and interesting account of the Scott and Amundsen expeditions to the South Pole in the summer of 1911-12. This book provides detailed information regarding the experience and skills of the teams and their leaders and historical information that led to the success or failure of each team. Review by D. Haller. Scott and Amundsen (AKA: The Last Place on Earth in paperback). Roland Huntford This book is a viscous, biased attack on Scott---and I recommend it highly. I recommend it because there is some very good detail in the book and it serves as an excellent biography of Amundsen. Also it is an antidote to some of the sugar-sweet biographies of Scott; a very strong antidote---like a sledge hammer on a butterfly. If you have read some first and second hand accounts of the Scott expeditions you will easily see that Huntford has gone to extraordinary lengths to trash Scott through quotes removed from their context, distortions of time to make Scott appear to be a liar, relying on negative quotes, and ignoring all information that refutes his thesis. This book is best read in the English edition with a full set of sources at the end. This information will allow you to track down the many manipulations of resources. If you read it, you should read one of the better biographies of Scott as well (see Huxley, for example). Review by W. Philips. Scott of the Antarctic Elspeth Huxley A wonderful biography of Scott. Huxley presents Scott as a Victorian, full of cultural flaws and stupidities of the best Victorian gentleman---kindly and cruel, thoughtful and impulsive, bad-tempered and sensitive, foolish and brilliant. Although some of the research is flawed, Huxley's interpretations are based on a careful analysis of all data available to her. Highly recommended. Review by W. Philips. Scott's Last Expedition Leonard Huxley, 1913, Dodd, Mead, and Company, New York. The journals of Scott and other members of the 1911-12 expedition have been compiled in one place and provide interesting reading to those seeking the original sources. Review by D. Haller. Endurance Alfred Lansing This story ranks easily with Capt. William Bligh's open boat journey and Sir Douglas Mawson's harrowing trek through the Anarctic wilderness. An amazing, must read, tale. Review by W. Philips. Beyond the Barrier Eugene Rodgers The story of Byrd's first expedition to Antarctica. Great retelling of the Byrd saga and highly recommended. However, readers should be warned that this is not a balanced picture of Byrd. Rodgers presents a biased view by relying primarily on information from men who did not like Byrd and ignores information from those who did---the sources at the end clearly indicate the bias. Review by W. Philips. Crossing Antarctica Will Steger Interesting tale of crossing Antarctica by dog sled. Silly philosophical asides. Steger says the expedition was for "World Peace"---yeah, right. Review by W. Philips. Fiction Antarctic Navigator Elizabeth Arthur Fiction. A very thoughtful book about a woman obsessed with Robert Falcon Scott. Many of the passages on Antarctica surpass most other non-fiction books for its poetic descriptions and stark realism. Some who have worked in Antarctica may be offended by her description of the administration at McMurdo. But , after all, the book is fiction. And good fiction requires conflict. Highly recommended for anyone high school or above who enjoys good fiction. Review by W. Philips. The Birthday Boys Beryl Bainbridge Fiction. Beautifully written account of the Scott expedition. Bainbridge allows the reader to enter the mind of each of the members of the polar party. It is a very convincing picture of the Victorian/Edwardian explorers. Review by W. Philips. The Rime of the Ancient Mariner Samuel Taylor Coleridge Fiction. A frightening tale of horror written in verse: "The ice was her, the ice was there,/ The ice was all around:/ It cracked and growled, and roared and howled,/ Like noises in a swound." Probably the first poem to use the antarctic as the setting for a terrifying tale. Review by W. Philips. Purgatory Road Bob Reiss Fiction. A mystery story set in Antarctica. You won't learn much about Antarctica in this mystery, so stick with Agatha Christie. Review by W. Philips. |