In Arctic Waters
PreSchool-Grade 3—This cumulative tale introduces six animals, beginning with a small fish and ending with a grouchy-looking polar bear. The story builds as each creature is chased by a slightly larger one. When a man (a rosy-cheeked Inuit with harpoon in hand) appears on their ice chunk, the animals have a stroke of good luck: the ice splits in two, separating them from the hunter. The rhyming text is fast-moving and fun. However, the animals' interaction is poorly defined; neither the text nor the illustrations clarify whether the animals are playing with or hunting one another. Cartoon facial expressions range from gleeful to panic-stricken. The depiction of the Inuit hunter is somewhat stereotypical. In addition, the six animals, along with the man and his sled dog, are pictured together on one ridiculously small piece of ice. A four-page information section provides basic facts about each of the animals featured, the Inuit, and Arctic waters in general. A cut-and-color activity and Web address are also included.—Amanda Moss, Maywood Elementary School, Monona, WICopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.