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CM . . . .
Volume V Number 19 . . . . May 21, 1999
excerpt: Polar Bear Cubs Creamy white polar bear cubs are hard to see or hear in their frozen homeland. Their paws are covered with fur for warmth, traction, and "soundproofing" so seals under the ice can't hear them. Cubs slide down icy slopes into frigid waters, splashing and dog-paddling with their huge paws. 
Likely the wonderful wildlife photography of Art Wolfe is what will
initially attract young readers to Northwest Animal Babies, but
Helman's brief text should not be overlooked. For each of the 26
different creatures, she manages to include some interesting fact which
may not be readily known by most youngsters. For example, readers can
learn that the age of Dall Sheep can be determined by counting the rings
on their horns while newborn opossum kits are "no bigger than a bumble
bee." The range of babies presented is large and encompasses creatures of
the sea, air and land. Water babies include tiny coho salmon fry , a 400
lb. Orca calf and river otter pups while those of the air include
burrowing owl owlets, Canada geese goslings, crow fledglings, trumpeter
swan cygnets and golden eagle eaglets. Among the babies of the land are
porcupine, racoon and mountain goat kits, bison calves, white-tailed deer
fawns, bobcat kittens and cougar cubs. Each pair of facing pages usually
contains large, clear coloured photos of two different babies who are
sometimes shown with their mothers. Double-page spreads are given over to
sea otter, gray wolf and harbour seal pups plus polar bear cubs. Wolfe's
photographs are really portraits which capture something of the
"character" of the animal babies whether it's the yawning owlet, the
huddled pronghorn antelope kid or the curious red fox kits. Despite the
seeming geographical limitations of the book's title, Northwest Animal
Babies is a book for everywhere.
Highly Recommended. Dave Jenkinson teaches courses in children's and YA literature in the Faculty of Education, the University of Manitoba.
To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca. Copyright © the Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission.
Published by TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THIS ISSUE - MAY 21, 1999. AUTHORS | TITLES | MEDIA REVIEWS | PROFILES | BACK ISSUES | SEARCH | CMARCHIVE | HOME
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