Avati: Discovering Arctic Ecology

by Mia Pelletier, Sara Otterstatter (Illustrator)

Overview

The Arctic is not a barren, frigid landscape filled with only ice and snow. It is a complex ecosystem that contains many thriving habitats, each supported by dozens of ecological relationships between plants and animals.

From the many animals that live and hunt at the floe edge, to the hundreds of insects that abound on the summer tundra, this book gives a detailed bird's-eye view of the fascinating ways that animals, plants, and insects co-exist in the Arctic ecosystem.

Written by Mia Pelletier, a biologist and wilderness field researcher, and complete with a glossary to clearly explain biological terms to young readers, this book provides a sound informational basis to understanding the Arctic ecosystem in all its facets.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781772272949
Publisher:	Inhabit Media
Publication date:	06/01/2021
Edition description:	English Edition
Pages:	44
Sales rank:	1,078,805
Product dimensions:	10.00(w) x 8.00(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	9 - 12 Years

About the Author

Mia Pelletier grew up exploring the lakes and forests of the Canadian Shield. Drawn to shorelines and wild places, Mia studied ecology and lived in California and the Magdalen Islands before moving to Baffin Island, Nunavut, in 2010. In Nunavut, she works with Arctic seabirds and with Inuit on the co-management of protected areas. Mia enjoys exploring the Arctic tundra and learning about the fascinating plants, animals, and people that call this region home.

Sara Otterstätter studied illustration and graphic design at the University for Applied Studies in Münster, Germany. Since 2007, she has been working as a freelance illustrator for German and international publishing houses.

Editorial Reviews

"Weaving together information about the land and water, plants and animals, Pelletier provides a clear depiction of an Arctic environment. Unlike some introductions to this part of the world, this account presents a full web of life...A brief but informative look at an extraordinary ecosystem."—Kirkus Reviews

“Avati is highly recommended for elementary school and public libraries, and any library collecting arctic children’s books.”—Polar Libraries Bulletin

"[A] lovely and thought-provoking guide to the Arctic for children and adults alike, and a valuable reference for elementary and middle school children interested in learning about the Arctic."—Curled Up With a Good Kid's Book

From the Publisher

Gr 2–4—The Arctic is not the barren wasteland that many believe it to be. Instead it is a complex and integrated ecosystem relying on complicated and necessary relationships between animals and plants. The book follows the life and habits of the many creatures from the coldest and darkest of winters to the lush and sunlit summers. Rich watercolor illustrations spreading over a page and a half embellish the detailed text, showing the land and sea animals and the many types of birds that make the Arctic their seasonal home. Pelletier concentrates on a positive outlook for this habitat and d oes not address the changes being brought about by global warming. Unfamiliar words in the text are italicized and explained in an extensive glossary. Though the picture-book format might imply a simpler text than is presented, the author offers a lot of good information for students studying ecology, environment, and the Arctic. The title comes from the Inuit word for environment.—Eva Elisabeth VonAncken, formerly at Trinity-Pawling School, Pawling, NY

School Library Journal

An ecologist who lives and works in Earth's far, far north describes the changing seasons in the part of the world the Inuit call Nunavut--"our land." Weaving together information about the land and water, plants and animals, Pelletier provides a clear depiction of an Arctic environment. Unlike some introductions to this part of the world, this account presents a full web of life. Her food chain begins with the tiny algae underneath the sea ice. From diatoms and amphipods to the fish, birds, insects and mammals that inhabit the land and the sea edges of this environment (avati in Inuit), she connects them to one another, to the plants of the brief summer and to the changing stages of ice. She doesn't hesitate to introduce new vocabulary (defined in a concluding glossary), Inuit words (defined in context) and onomatopoetic sounds. What appear to be pencil-and-watercolor illustrations extend far across the gutters. Appropriately matched with the text, set in a column on the right-hand side of each spread, they reward careful inspection. Teachers and librarians may want to pair this useful title with A Walk on the Tundra, by Rebecca Hainnu and Anna Ziegler, illustrated by Qin Leng (2011) from the same Inuit publisher. A brief but informative look at an extraordinary ecosystem. (Nonfiction. 8-14)

Kirkus Reviews