• Age: 7 to 10
• Grade: 1 to 5

A beautifully illustrated dictionary of 26 key aspects of life in the Arctic.

World-class photographer and science writer Wayne Lynch takes readers to one of his favorite parts of the world: the Arctic.

Using a plant, an animal or a phenomenon for each letter of the alphabet, Lynch describes the unique ways in which systems for living differ where temperature and light can be amazingly extreme. But Lynch also dispels the myth of the Arctic as a perpetually frozen landscape by introducing us to the birds, mammals, insects and plant life that thrive in the short yet glorious sun-filled days of summer.

Wayne Lynch
Recognized and respected as one of North America's leading wildlife and natural history photographers, Wayne Lynch has spent the last forty-two years capturing images of wildlife in wild places the world over. His impressive photo credits include hundreds of magazine covers, thousands of calendar shots, and tens of thousands of images published in over sixty countries. Lynch is also an award-winning science writer, a popular guest lecturer, and a veteran photo safari leader. His practical and entertaining approach to natural history, whether it be through the written or spoken word, has attracted the admiration of audiences worldwide. He has photographed both common and unusual creatures in their native habitat in more than fifty countries, travelling extensively for long periods of time and often undergoing considerable physical hardship to get the "perfect shot."

With an exceptional ability to write for both adults and children, Lynch has authored more than fifth highly acclaimed natural history books, including The Great Northern Kingdom: Life in the Boreal Forest, Wild Birds Across the Prairies, Penguins of the World,Mountain Bears, Bear: Monarchs of the Northern Wilderness, A is for Arctic: Natural Wonders of a Polar World, The Nature Babies Series and the wildly popular children's book The Scoop on Poop: The Fascinating Science of How Animals Use Poop.

Lynch is a Fellow of the internationally recognized Explorers Club and Fellow of the Arctic Institute of North America. Lynch lives in Calgary with his wife of forty-five years, Aubrey Lang.

Wayne Lynch's profile page

The alphabetical format is accessible, the subjects are well chosen, and the photography is first class.

School Library Journal

This entry in a limited series that offers surveys of various species in abcdedarian form focuses on the adaptations that allow the people, animals and plants that make their home in the Arctic to survive, as well as on the natural phenomena that make this such a special place, from the Aurora borealis to zooplankton. The strongest of the three titles, it defines new words, explains concepts and provides word pronunciations within the text, accompanied by stunning photographs. The length of each gloss-two to three densely set paragraphs-skews the book to older elementary students, but adept caregivers can make the photos work with younger audiences. (joint review with Insects A to Z and Birds A to Z)

Kirkus Reviews

An eclectic collection of stories about some of the most interesting phenomena and organisms encompassed by the arctic, the slender volume adds up to a fascinating portrait of life beyond the tree line. Accounts include those of the aurora borealis, or northern lights, and animals such as the narwhal. From eagles that follow grizzly bears to share in or steal food finds to the beluga whale that does not let a few inches of ice impede its movement, one account is as interesting as the next. The book makes ideal cozy-chair reading for an adult in the company of young children of multiple ages or for an independent young reader.

Science Books and Film