Life at the Poles

It takes a special animal to survive the subzero temperatures found at the South Pole. Emperor penguins are the largest living penguins. They use their size to help them survive in Antarctica, one of the coldest place on Earth. With the help of vibrant photographs and simple text, readers will examine how the emperor penguin's life cycle, body structure, and behaviors have adapted to its challenging environment. A follow-up activity encourages readers to use what they've learned to create food webs based on these cool creatures.

Polar bears are one of the Arctic's most fearsome predators and one of its most endangered animals. Their huge size, blubber, and thick fur allow them to survive in their cold environment, while their sharp sense of smell means they can sniff out their dinner from a long distance. Full of vibrant photographs and fun facts, this simple narrative examines how the polar bear's life cycle, body structure, and behaviors have adapted to its challenging environment and shrinking habitat. A final activity asks readers to use what they've learned about polar bears to create an Arctic food web.

The nomadic snowy owl is among the Arctic's most graceful predators. It makes its home in the frigid north, relying on its heavy feathers and snowy white appearance for survival in the subzero temperatures. With full-color photographs and accessible text, this book examines how the snowy owl's life cycle, body structure, and behaviors have adapted to its challenging environment. Fun facts will engage young readers, and a final activity encourages them to use what they've learned to create a food web based on the snowy owl.

The solitary leopard seal is a fierce hunter and a graceful swimmer. It spends most of its time swimming in the frigid waters of Antarctica. How does it survive in this extreme environment? With the help of color photographs and fun facts, this accessible text explores how the leopard seal's life cycle, body structure, and behaviors have adapted to make it one of the most fearsome predators in one of the coldest places in the world. An engaging final activity encourages readers to use what they've learned to create an Antarctic food web.

The Arctic fox makes its home in one of the most brutal environments in the world. So how does it survive? Readers discover the many ways that these amazing animals adapt and thrive in the Arctic. Full-color photographs and fast facts enhance the narrative as readers learn about the Arctic fox's diet, behaviors, and adaptations, from its extra-warm pelt to its sharp hunting instincts. At the end of the book, readers are invited to explore this cool creature's role in the Arctic food web.

Beluga whales spend much of the year swimming in the chilly waters of the Arctic Ocean. How do they do it? Readers discover fascinating facts and details with this informative book about one of the most adaptive animals on Earth. Color photographs accompany the simple narrative as it describes the whales' diet, behaviors, and physical adaptations. Young explorers will find out how beluga whales communicate with each other, what they eat, and how they stay warm. This book concludes with an activity that shows the beluga whale's role in the Arctic food web.