I checked this book out of my local library. It was published April 7, 2020 by Kids Can Press.
There are multiple reasons you need this book. For a nonfiction picture book, it is remarkably comprehensive. It is absolutely chock full of fascinating information. I learned all kinds of new things. The glorious mixed media artwork by Josée Bisaillon is one reason all on it's own. A reader can get lost in the illustrations without beginning to read the text.
The book opens with a poem and introduction to how the boreal forest came into being. On the next page a map of the world shows where this biome forms a ribbon around the northern part of the world. Did you know "that there's more fresh water in the boreal forest than anywhere else on Earth, with more than six hundred thousand lakes in Canada alone?"
Each two page spread has a main body of text. Information boxes provide details about specific aspects of the this topic. The book cycles around the seasons showcasing the forest in different parts of the world. It highlights different habitats. I like that it shows temperature and distance in both metric and imperial measurements.
For each season, information about plants and animals in the different part of the world is presented. We learn about an animal's life: where they live, what they eat and how they get it. We learn about the different plant adaptations for the time of year.
Across the seasons. Indigenous peoples are shown living in their different territories and dealing with modern issues. We learn about the Saami in Siberia protecting their reindeer herds. We learn about the Pikangikum First Nation's historical relationship with forest fires. We are introduced to the Gwich'in First Nation's use of boreal plants as medicine.
Each season addresses the impact of climate change on the forest. It is explained in the context of specific outcomes. An example is harmful insects. Usually these animals are killed by cold winters, but with winters warming, it doesn't get cold enough to accomplish this. Consequently, they spread out of control. (A perfect example of this is the devastation the pine beetle has wrought in my province of British Columbia here in Canada. "Temperatures need to dip below about -30 C for four or five consecutive weeks to kill nearly all pine beetle larvae nestled inside tree trunks, said Nadir Erbilgin, a University of Alberta professor of forest entomology who studies the pine beetle.")
The book addresses the role invasive species have on this biome. Earthworms are not indigenous to this landscape. However they are making their way into the forests. They destroy habitat by eating leaf litter much faster than local systems would. The loss of leaf litter dries the soil so it warms up. Many boreal plants are unable to survive in these new conditions.
The end of the book includes detailed diagrams explaining the water and the carbon cycles. There is further information about the role of the forest with regards to climate change. The boreal forest is now a carbon sink. As it warms up, different actions are triggered that release this carbon into the atmosphere. In turn this increases the rate of climate change.
A table of contents introduces readers to the substance of the book. The back matter contains a glossary, a resource section, a note from the author and an index.
I had no intention of writing a full review of this title. I just kind of fell in love and started making notes so I would remember what to write. I ended up collecting a lot of notes so I ended up with a more comprehensive take on it. If I was still working in my school library I would be tempted to purchase two of these. If I, as an adult, can get so much out of it, I'm certain it would be an ideal introduction for middle grade and high school students as well. At the very least it can be springboard for learning more about the different aspects of this remarkable and important biome.
No comments:
Post a Comment