E. Children's Literature
Upper Elementary-Middle School—Non-fiction
Armstrong, J. (1998). Shipwreck at the bottom of the world: The extraordinary true story of Shackelton and the Endurance. New York: Crown Publishers. (Upper Elementary-Middle School)
Buckley, James. (2013). Who was Ernest Shackleton? New York: Grosset & Dunlap. "As a boy he preferred reading sea stories to doing homework and, at age 16, became an apprentice seaman. Subsequently, Ernest Shackleton's incredible journeys to the South Pole in the early 1900s made him one of the most famous explorers of modern times. His courage in the face of dangerous conditions and unforeseeable tragedies reveal the great leader that he was. His historic 1914 journey aboard the Endurance has all the drama of an action movie." (Ages 8-12)
Burleigh, R., & Krudop, W. L. (1998). Black whiteness: Admiral Byrd alone in the Antarctic. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. An account of Admiral Richard Byrd's stay alone in a small shack during an antarctic winter. (Ages 9-12)
Conlan, K. E., Dickson, L., & Hunter, I. (2002). Under the ice. Toronto: Kids Can Press. “Kathy Conlan is a marine biologist who has scuba-dived in the Arctic and Antarctic. A fascinating first-person account of a woman scientist at work, with stunning photographs" (Ages 8-12)
Friedman, M. (2009). Antarctica. New York: Children's Press. Describes the continent of Antarctica, its geographical features, visitors, and animals. (Ages 7 and up)
Ganeri, Anita. (2014). Introducing Antarctica. Chicago: Capstone Heinemann Library. This book addresses topics such as where the continent is, climate, geography, animals and plants, natural resources, and famous places through maps, photos, and simple text. (Ages 6-9)
George, M. (2002). Antarctica: Land of endless water. Mankato, MN: Creative Paperbacks. Describes the geography, plant and animal life, climate, and history of human exploration of Antarctica, the southernmost and coldest place on Earth. (Ages 9-14)
Hoena, B. A., Hoover, D., & Barnett, C. (2006). Shackleton and the lost Antarctic expedition. Mankato, Minn: Capstone Press. In graphic novel format, tells the story of Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton and his failed attempt to cross the coldest and windiest continent on Earth. (Ages 8 - 11)
Hooper, M., & De, L. L. (2000). Antarctic journal: The hidden worlds of Antarctica's animals. Washington, D.C: National Geographic Society. Discusses the amazing wildlife of Antarctica from silky seals to playful penguins. (Ages 7 - 12)
Hooper, M., & Robertson, M. P. (2001). Ice trap!: Shackleton's incredible expedition. Vancouver: Raincoast Books. Tells the story of Captain Shackleton and how he braved ice, thirst, wind, and storm across eight hundred miles of rough ocean in order to bring help to the rest of his crew stranded on a frozen Antarctic island.
Hooper, M., & Robertson, M. P. (2001). The Endurance: Shackleton's perilous expedition in Antarctica. New York: Abbeville Kids. Intrigued by the mysterious, vast continent at the bottom of the world, Sir Ernest Shackleton fearlessly led 27 men to explore Antarctica, but on their way to its shore, their ship, Endurance, was crushed by the relentless ice! The shipwrecked team braved many months stranded on an ice floe (through an Antarctic winter), facing extreme hunger, frostbite, illness, and exhaustion. But through Shackleton's heroic effort to sail in an open wooden lifeboat to the nearest inhabited land, hundreds of miles away through the treacherous ocean, everyone was eventually rescued and this amazing true story began to be told again and again. (Ages 7 - 10)
Kalman, B., & Crossingham, J. (2006). Seals and sea lions. New York, NY: Crabtree Pub. Explores seals and sea lions, including their bodies, behavior, and habitats. (Ages 8 and up)
Lerangis, P. (2000). Escape from disaster: [a novel]. New York: Scholastic. "In the darkest hours of 1910, mutiny, doubt, and disaster threatened to destroy Jack Winslow's secret American expedition to discover the South Pole ..." (Ages 10 and up)
Lerangis, P. (2000). Journey to the Pole. New York: Scholastic. "In 1909, recently widowed Jack Winslow forms an expedition to the South Pole." (Ages 10 and up)
Llanas, S. G. (2011). Who reached the South Pole first? Minneapolis, MN: Capstone. "Follows the stories of Roald Amundsen and Robert Falcon Scott, as they race across Antarctica toward the South Pole"--Provided by publisher. (Ages 8 - 10)
McCurdy, M. (1997). Trapped by the ice!: Shackleton's amazing Antarctic adventure. New York: Walker and Co. Describes the events of the 1914 Shackleton Antarctic expedition when, after being trapped in a frozen sea for nine months, the expedition ship, the Endurance, was finally crushed and Shackleton and his men made the very long and perilous journey across ice and stormy seas to reach inhabited land. (Ages 8 - 11)
Myers, W. D. (2004). Antarctica: Journeys to the South Pole. New York: Scholastic Press. Walter Dean Myers presents a thrilling record of Antarctica and the expedition parties that have uncovered the frozen continent throughout history. Walter Dean Myers brings the dramatic race to the South Pole to life in Antarctica, tracking the explorers of the South Pole - including James Cook, Ernest Shackleton, and Richard Evelyn Bird - and the dangers they encountered there, as well as their contributions to science. The heroism and adventure - and sometimes the ultimate failure - of the expeditions are depicted in Myers's powerful prose, and through the photos, maps, and illustrations that complement the text. (Ages 9 - 12)
Osborne, M., & Boyce, N. (2008). Penguins and Antarctica: A nonfiction companion to Eve of the emperor penguins. New York: Random House. (Elementary)
Pelusey, M., & Pelusey, J. (2005). Antarctica. Philadelphia: Chelsea House Publishers. Discusses the borders, physical features, climate, plants, and animals of the third smallest continent in the world. (Ages 7-10)
Petersen, C. (2016). Learning about Antarctica. Minneapolis: Lerner Publishing Group. Learn more about the amazing continent of Antarctica, from its explorers and scientists to its landforms, animals, and more. (Ages 8 - 12)
Pringle, L. (1992). Antarctica: The last unspoiled continent. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. Surveys the plant and animal life, impact on global ecology, history, and politics of the White Continent. (Ages 9 and up)
Rau, D. M. (2004). Antarctica. Chanhassen, MN: Child's World. Describes the basic geography, topography, history, plant and animal life, and climate of Antarctica. (Ages 9-14)
Thompson, G. (2007). Roald Amundsen and Robert Scott race to the South Pole. Washington D.C: National Geographic. Two men, one dream. Which will become the first to reach the South Pole and bring the honor and glory home to his country? Trek along the route of discovery and adventure, deep into Antarctic wastelands, and relive the harrowing trials of Roald Amundsen and Robert Scott in a story of triumph and tragedy. (Ages 7-10)
Thomson, S. L., & Wildlife Conservation Society (New York, N.Y.). (2006). Amazing whales!. New York: Scholastic. Provides information about whales, describing their size, how they breathe, how they catch their food, their behaviors, and efforts to protect them. (Ages 5-8)
Tulloch, C. (2006). Antarctica: The heart of the world. New York: Enchanted Lion Books Antarctica is the highest, driest, windiest, coldest, cleanest, most isolated and most peaceful continent on earth. It is a place of wilderness, of enormous size, and of great and rare beauty. It is also the only place on earth that doesn't belong to any one nation. In this book, you will learn about Antarctica's unique geography, its animal and plant life, and its history of human exploration and scientific research. You will also discover what it's like to live and work in an Antarctic station, what it's necessary to wear, and what the professions are of the people who travel to Antarctica for research and work.--From publisher description. (Ages 8 and up)
Tyson, R. B., & Tyson, G. (2015). A whale's tale: Wyatt's Antarctic adventure: tagged by scientists. San Bernardino, CA : Blue STEAM, LLC. Join Wyatt, the humpback whale, and his mother Wendy as they travel to Antarctica and get tagged by scientists. This story is based on research conducted by real scientists in Antarctica. (Ages 7 and up)
Walker, S. M. (2010). Frozen secrets: Antarctica revealed. Minneapolis: Carolrhoda Books. Introduces Antarctica, presenting the history of its exploration and the current research efforts underway to investigate its geography, climate, and fossils of the past, and monitor the effects of global warming on its glaciers. (Ages 10 and up)
Wheeler, S. (1999). Greetings from Antarctica. New York: Peter Bedrick Books. The author tells the story of her experiences living and working in Antarctica. Includes letters and photographs to her godson. (Ages 9 - 18)
Wheeler, S. (2000). Dear Daniel: Letters from Antarctica. Hove: Macdonald Young. Through letters to her nine-year-old godson, travel writer Wheeler describes her experiences of living in Antarctica for a summer. Diagrams, maps and fact boxes give readers additional details about Antarctica. (Ages 8 and up)
Primary—Non-fiction
Aloian, M., & Kalman, B. (2007). The Antarctic habitat. New York: Crabtree Pub. Co. Introduces young readers to the antarctic habitat with its plants, creatures, landforms, and icy waters. (Ages 4 - 8).
Arlon, P., & Gordon-Harris, T. (2012). Penguins. New York: Scholastic. Meet every one of the 17 different kinds of penguin; discover how they eat, sleep, talk, walk, and swim, and of course, the wonderful stories of how they look after their eggs and chicks. (Ages 7 - 10)
Barden, C., Jenkins, M., Chapman, J., & Childcraft Education Corp. (2007). The emperor's egg. Lancaster, Pa.: Childcraft Education Corp. Describes the parental behavior of Emperor penguins, focusing on how the male keeps the egg warm until it hatches and how the parents care for the chick after it is born. (Ages 4 - 8).
Dunphy, M., & Leonard, T. (2008). Here is Antarctica. Berkeley, CA: Web of Life Children's Books. (Wildlife/Poetry) Cumulative text describes the interdependence among the wildlife of Antarctica. (Ages 3-8)
Friedman, M. (2009). Antarctica. New York: Children's Press. Describes the continent of Antarctica, its geographical features, visitors, and animals. (Ages 7 and up)
Foster, L. M. (2006). Antarctica. Chicago, IL: Heinemann Library. Briefly describes the landscapes, weather, plants, animals, and famous explorers of the continent of Antarctica. (Ages 5-8)
Gibbons, G. (1998). Penguins!. New York: Holiday House. Describes the habitat, physical characteristics, and behavior of different kinds of penguins. With pen-and-ink & watercolor paintings, the author introduces different species of penguins & describes their characteristics, food, habits, & enemies. Their habitat, physical characteristics, and behavior. (Ages 6 and up)
Hirsch, R. E., & Cottle, J. (2013). Antarctica. New York: Children's Press.Teachs readers all about the people who study and explore there, as well as the animals that live there. Uses pictures to teach about land features, populations, native animals, technological advances, and lots more-including how to find each continent on a map! (Ages 5-8)
Kalman, B., & Johnson, R. (2007). The life cycle of an emperor penguin. New York: Crabtree Pub.
Follows penguins on their annual trip to their breeding grounds and shows the difficulties presented by having their young in the harshest conditions on the planet. (Ages 6 and up)
Marsh, L. F. (2010). Great migrations. Washington, D.C: National Geographic. Introduces sperm whales, including their different body parts, how they travel in groups, what they eat, and how they care for their young. (Ages 7-9)
Milton, J., & Langford, A. (1989). Whales: The gentle giants. New York: Random House. Describes how whales live and some different types of whales. (Ages 5-8)
Miller, S. S. (2009). Seals of the Antarctic. New York: Rosen Pub. Group's PowerKids Press. Presents an introduction to the seals of Antarctica, discussing their physical characteristics, behaviors, reproductive habits, and predators, along with descriptions of such animals as the hungry crabeater seal, Ross seal, Weddell seal, and leopard seal. (Ages 7 and up)
Minor, W., & Minor, F. F. (2009). If you were a penguin. New York: Katherine Tegen Books. Pictures and rhyming text present some of the many extraordinary things penguins can do. Includes facts about penguins as well as related websites. (Ages 5-8 years)
Schaefer, A. R. (2011). Spotlight on Antarctica. Mankato, MN: Capstone Press. "An introduction to Antarctica including climate, landforms, plants, animals, and people"--Provided by publisher. (Ages 6 - 9)
Schreiber, A. (2009). National Geographic Readers: Penguins! Washington D.C.: National Geographic Society. (Primary)
Tatham, B., & Davie, H. (2002). Penguin chick. New York: HarperCollins Publishers. Traces the first part of the life cycle of an Emperor penguin chick. (Ages 4 - 8)
Wheeler, S. (2000). Dear Daniel: Letters from Antarctica. Hove: Macdonald Young. Through letters to her nine-year-old godson, travel writer Wheeler describes her experiences of living in Antarctica for a summer. Diagrams, maps and fact boxes give readers additional details about Antarctica. (Ages 8 and up)
Fiction—Upper Elementary-Middle School
Blackadder, J. (2013). Stay: The last dog in Antarctica. Sydney South, N.S.W: HarperCollins Publishers. Based on the true story of Stay, who was smuggled to Antarctica in 1991 and is still having adventures there today. Includes factual information about Stay's life in Antarctic and global warming. (Ages 9 and up)
Osborne, M., & Murdocca, S. (2008). Eve of the Emperor penguin. New York: Random House. (Elementary)
Patterson, J. (2009). The final warning. New York: Vision. While on a mission to Antarctica to save the world from global warming, fourteen-year-old Maximum Ride and the other members of the Flock--a band of genetically modified children who can fly--are pursued by their creator, the Uber-Director, who wants to auction them off to the highest bidder. (Ages 12 - 14)
Sohn, E., Butler, S., & Timmons, A. (2010). Rescue in Antarctica: An Isabel Soto geography adventure. Mankato, Minn: Capstone Press. "In graphic novel format, follows the adventures of Isabel Soto as she leads a rescue mission in Antarctica"--Provided by publisher. (Ages 8 - 14)
White, A. (2006). Surviving Antarctica: Reality TV 2083. New York: Eos. In the year 2083, five fourteen-year-olds who were deprived by chance of the opportunity to continue their educations reenact Scott's 1910-1913 expedition to the South Pole as contestants on a reality television show, secretly aided by a Department of Entertainment employee. (Ages 10 and up)
Fiction—Primary
Atwater, R., Atwater, F., & Lawson, R. (1988). Mr. Popper's penguins. Boston: Little, Brown and Co. The unexpected delivery of a large crate containing an Antarctic penguin changes the life and fortunes of Mr. Popper, a house painter obsessed by dreams of the Polar regions. (Ages 8 and up)
Hooper, M., & Ormerod, J. (2004). Ponko and the South Pole. London: Frances Lincoln Children's Bks. With the help of Sid Skua, Ponko the Penguin and Joey Bear reach the South Pole before the group of explorers with whom they started their adventure. (Ages 4 - 6 )
Jeffers, O. (2005). Lost and found. England: HarperCollins Children's Books. While trying his best to help a penguin that has shown up at his door, a boy journeys all the way to the South Pole, only to realize that the penguin was never lost. (Ages 3 - 7)
Jeffers, O. (2010). Up and down. New York: Philomel Books. Even though the penguin and the boy are close friends and do many things together, the penguin decides that he wants to fly and he wants to do it on his own. (Ages 4 - 7)
Kurtz, C., & Reinhardt, J. B. (2015). The adventures of a South Pole pig. Flora the pig ditches the sedentary life on the farm for an adventure in Antarctica, where she escapes the knife and lives her dream of pulling a sled with a team of dogs. (Ages 6 - 9)
Lester, H., & Munsinger, L. (1988). Tacky the Penguin. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co. Tacky the penguin does not fit in with his sleek and graceful companions, but his odd behavior comes in handy when hunters come with maps and traps. (Ages 4 - 8)
Lester, A. (2013). Sophie Scott goes south. Boston : Houghton Mifflin. "Sophie Scott is only nine years old, but she's going to Antarctica on an icebreaker with her dad, the ship's captain. During the voyage to Mawson Station and back, Sophie keeps a diary. She sees icebergs, penguins, seals and whales. She makes new friends, wonders at the southern lights and even becomes stranded in a blizzard!"--Jacket flap. (Ages 6-9)
Perlman, J. (1995). Cinderella Penguin, or, The little glass flipper. New York, NY: Puffin. In her haste to flee the palace before the Great Fairy Penguin's magic loses effect, Cinderella Penguin leaves behind a glass slipper. (Ages 5 - 7)
Pfister, M., & Bell, A. (1994). Penguin Pete. New York: North-South Books. Pete the penguin has a good time playing on land with his fellow birds and learning how to swim in the sea. (Ages 4 - 8)
Sierra, J., Aruego, J., & Dewey, A. (2003). Antarctic antics: A book of penguin poems. San Diego: Harcourt. A collection of poems celebrating the habits and habitat of Emperor penguins. (Ages 5 - 7)
Spinelli, E., & Slavin, B. (2004). Something to tell the grandcows. Grand Rapids, Mich: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers. Hoping to have an adventure to impress her grandcows, Emmadine Cow joins Admiral Richard E. Byrd on his 1933 expedition to the South Pole. (Ages 7 and up)