Reviews: (by author)

Webb, Sophie. My Season With Penguins. New York: Mifflin Company, 2000.
$15.00 ISBN 0-39592291-7

Sophie Webb has created a wonderfully documented account of her adventures in the Antarctic studying a population of Adelie Penguins. Essentially, this is an illustrated journal which gives the day to day details of her life among the big birds and other wild life, such as killer whales and leopard seals found in the frigid Antarctic. The book is filled with interesting facts about both the penguin population and daily living conditions on the frozen continent. Because of the extreme cold and dry conditions, decomposition is virtually at a standstill. Often animals become mummified after death due to the climate. Another fact that I found interesting is that the Antarctic is not owned by one particular nation; instead it is set aside for scientific research. Before conducting research expedition teams have to prove that the research will not have an adverse effect on the environment.

The book documents one breeding seasons for the Adelie Penguin including nest building, mating rituals, and the rearing of offspring. The book is generously illustrated with Webb's personal drawings depicting the animals and the behavior they exhibit throughout the mating season. The illustrations include a map which helps to give a sense of perspective concerning the long trek from San Francisco, to New Zealand, and finally to the Antarctic itself. Included as well is a glossary defining various terminology that some children may not be familiar with. I really enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to children and adults alike who have an interest in nature and adventure.

John Fox, October 2003

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