The Top and Bottom of the World (Rookie Read About Science) Paperback – January 1, 1997

For a clear and concise introduction to very exciting parts of the world, this is the book! Unlike most children's books, it does not come with illustrations. It comes with photos. Photos very clear and specific to their subject. We see icebergs having broken off from sheets of ice three miles thick, otherwise called the North Pole. We see penguin herds flocking together, standing like men in their regal coats, at the South Pole. What surprised me (and we see a photo of it) is that moss actually grows in the Antarctic. A slice of green life.The prose is very simple, easily readable to or by children. The book itself is small -- less than the standard size. And there's a gorgeous picture on its cover of a tall archway of frozen ice and underneath it float icebergs (four of them) of sparkling white.Oh we get to read about Arctic hares, Arctic foxes and polar bears. And the people who live within the Arctic Circle: the Inuit of Canada and Alaska, the Laplanders of Northern Europe. The book is short -- only 30 pages long. Just enough to take both child and adult on a wondrous journey.

The Top and Bottom of the World is one of the themes I teach each January in my Transitional Kindergarten class. I was so thankful to find the book by Allan Fowler bearing the same title. The photograph illustrations are simple and clear, just right to interest 4-6 year old children. The text too is appropriate for young and older children while being accurate and informative. The vocabulary list at the end is helpful while preparing lesson plans and projects.

great book The information and pictures are great and the children I read them to love them and they get excited each time I read them

great book about the Arctic.