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At the Poles

Author David Elliott

Illustrated by Ellen Rooney

Hardcover

$18.99 US

Candlewick

10.63"W x 12.06"H x 0.39"D | 21 oz | 20 per carton

On sale Oct 24, 2023 | 40 Pages | 9781536205992

Age 3-7 years

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The author of At the Pond and In the Woods takes readers to the most remote regions of our planet in this beautifully illustrated poetic ode to the creatures that inhabit the North and South poles.

The stark, cold landscapes of Earth’s poles may seem inhospitable, but their snowy hollows and glacial waters hide an astounding variety of creatures, from the tiny, fascinating tardigrade to the mysterious giant squid, from the fleet-footed Arctic hare to the majestic polar bear. Perfectly adapted for the climes they call home, these animals defy logic and invite awe. New York Times best-selling author David Elliott turns his eye—and his pen—to the Arctic and Antarctic with lively poems filled with humor, admiration, and love, while illustrator Ellen Rooney’s vivid multimedia art brings touches of warmth and beauty to the austere landscapes of the poles. Complete with notes on each animal in the back matter, At the Poles speaks to the preciousness of life at the ends of the Earth.

David Elliott says that his sister really does have a cat with one eye and that she was the inspiration for the cat in this story (the cat, not the sister). View titles by David Elliott

Ellen Rooney View titles by Ellen Rooney

WINNER | 2024
Claudia Lewis Award for Poetry
NOMINEE | 2024
ALSC Notable Children's Books

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That paragon of poetic pith Elliot (In the Woods, rev. 3/20; and others) returns with another winning entry. . . . Many of the fifteen brief poems use direct address, the better to connect creature with readers. . . Rooney’s eye-catching portraits—created using printmaking ink, gouache, crayon, and digital and traditional collage techniques—vary to match the tone of each poem, from lighthearted and humorous to majestic and haunting (see her shivery Greenland shark).
—The Horn Book

The confident metrics and wordplay that mark Elliott’s previous sets of wildlife-themed poems is on bright display here. . . Respect and appreciation for the natural world shine brightly throughout this seamless mix of words and pictures. A pleaser for animal and nature lovers.
—Kirkus Reviews

The icy, snowy environs of Earth’s two poles are host to a bounty of intriguing animals, especially to young nature lovers, and here Elliott offers up a variety of poems that highlight the diversity of those creatures. . . Each poem is accompanied by a full-page spread foregrounding the animal, and the multi-media art infuses scenes with energy and movement.
—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

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