By Kaylie Seed
Claire Saxby’s Iceberg: A Life in Seasons is an adorable children’s book that takes young readers on an adventure following an iceberg through its life cycle. The iceberg makes its way through the Antarctic seasons, experiencing all of the beautiful things that this mystical land has to offer. Young readers will have the chance to see different wildlife that call the Antarctic home during the different seasons.
Saxby’s prose is poetic and easy to follow. Though recommended for readers 3-6, older readers will also appreciate this non-fiction book as it sheds light on part of the planet that may not be thought of as somewhere to explore. Saxby’s writing is the perfect length for younger readers while also detailed enough to explore what is happening in each scene. Older readers will be able to ask younger readers questions while also discussing what they see.
Illustrator Jess Racklyeft has brought such vibrancy to a land that we often associate with being desolate. Teaming with wildlife, both Saxby and Racklyeft bring so much wonder to the Antarctic, which is bound to keep young readers wanting to learn more about this cold land. There is a flap that opens up near the middle of the book where readers will be able to see a beautifully designed underwater scene. This was one of my favourite things about Iceberg—it was so delightful and easy to pick out the different animals.
On the last page, Saxby has included more information about the polar regions on Earth and what global warming is doing to these ecosystems. Additionally, a glossary is available for some uncommon words so that older readers can talk to younger readers about what these words mean. Overall, I would highly recommend this to any parent who has a young reader interested in animals or ecosystems, or to those who are wanting to expand their knowledge on what the Earth has to offer.
Thank you, Groundwood Books, for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.