Title: Way Up North Where the Kittiwakes Play
Sub-title: An A to Z Alphabet Book for Child and Adult
Author: Juli-Ann Gasper
Publisher: MainSpring Books
ISBN: 979-8-89114-010-3
Pages: 68
Genre: Non-Fiction / Education / Photography
Reviewer: Beth Adams

Read Book Review

Rarely do I read a book with such an impact in a children’s genre with vocabulary, information, imagery and education, as Way Up North Where the Kittiwakes Play by author and photographer Juli-Ann Gasper.  During a trip to Norway’s Svalbard Archipelago in July of 2012 aboard the National Geographic Explorer, Juli-Ann and her husband Joseph have compiled a cornucopia of information and images which adorn this book’s pages, along with a photo-background on each page of ice-laden ocean photographs – which actually made me subconsciously feel the coldness and frost of the region.

In a multi-informational format, the author presents fact after fact about life in the Arctic Circle, combining biology details about the wild animals and fauna, geography about the location on Earth, and interesting ecological details about the impact civilization has had upon the region.  All of this is done with a stylish written-narration of confidence and intelligence, drilling down on the facts to the basic terms – for the entire reading audience’s comprehension and benefit.  But it doesn’t mean she skimps over “large words” but rather defines the meanings and shows examples of how these concepts are important.  This is a seasoned craft of teaching which is explementary.

For example, what is a Saxifrage?  She explains it being one of the most prolific of tundra flowers, and the staple in the diet of reindeer.  The definition of the word “Kleptoparasite” can be deduced by “Klepto” from stealing and “parasite” from eating from another source, hence the bird called the Parasitic Joeger is a kleptoparasite because it steals other animal’s meals.  Also, one of my favorites, a Guillemot; a sea bird which lives on vertical cliffs along the shore.  The shape of their eggs is such that they don’t roll, but if nudged, they spin – thus not falling off the cliff.  Amazing.

The format of the book is extensively cross-referenced with both an index at the end and an alphabetical listing of many of the specific words used in a glossary.  The author asks many questions throughout the book which will encourage a dialogue between adults and children paging the book together.  The amount of information contained will embellish the understanding of both children and adults alike.

Way Up North Where the Kittiwakes Play, An A to Z Alphabet Book for Child and Adult is a book not to be missed, and a must-read to be enjoyed by all members of families living below the Arctic Circle.  It will reveal amazing facts to all readers, regardless of their age, but most certainly appeal to the limitless curiosity of youngsters.