The North Pole Was Here: Puzzles and Perils at the Top of the World (Nyt) (Hardcover)

Guinness World Records 2009 4.0 out of 5 stars (17)

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Product Description
Through a special collaboration with "The New York Times", Kingfisher Publications is pleased to present a new way to learn about the events and concepts that define our world. Gripping first-person narratives, written by veteran "New York Times" journalists, bring history and current events to life for young readers. Full-colour illustrations, photographs and sidebars explain key concepts, and historical articles from the archives of "The New York Times" place events in the global context. This fresh, authoritative narrative taps the knowledge and experience of one of the US's most honoured science writers, Andy Revkin. Beginning with a white-knuckle airplane landing on an ice floe at the top of the world, Andy leads readers through a world of ice and water, describing the stark beauty of the pole, the scientists who endure the arctic chill to study this vanishing land, the adventurers who are drawn to the north for personal reasons, and the not-so-pretty realities of camping in the Arctic without running water. From there, we learn about the historical draw of the pole - beginning with the Ancient Greeks and continuing through the arctic expeditions of Franklin, Peary, Byrd and Amundsen - then continue on to the discoveries of the newest adventurers to the north: scientists. Years of research, interviews and science coverage come together to explain the phenomenon of global warming, varied perspectives on its causes and potential effects, and the implications it holds for the frozen north.

About the Author
Andrew C Revkin has spent two decades covering subjects ranging from the Asian tsunami to the assault on the Amazon, from the loss of the space shuttle Columbia to the changing climate at the North Pole. He has been an environment reporter for The New York Times since 1995, a position that has taken him to the Arctic four times since 2003. He was the first New York Times reporter ever to file stories and photographs from the floating sea ice around the North Pole. His coverage of climate change won the inaugural National Academies Communication Award for print journalism, presented by the National Academy of Sciences, the United States pre-eminent scientific body. He has twice won the Science Journalism Award of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and, along with other prizes, has won an Investigative Reporters & Editors Award.

First Sentence
For nearly two hours, I have been staring out a small window on a droning propeller-driven airplane. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews   0 of 2 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars School Library Journal loves the book, 4 Jul 2006 By  Andy Revkin "Andy" (Garrison, NY, USA) - See all my reviews One of the most important publications reviewing books for younger readers has raved about the book in a rare STARRED review: *REVKIN, Andrew C. The North Pole Was Here: Puzzles and Perils at the Top of the World. 128p. Kingfisher. 2006. This exciting book is certain to fascinate readers. Revkin, a New York Times reporter, relates his journey to the top of the world in the company of scientists studying climate changes. The informative chapters weave together accounts of his experiences and observations with details about the environment, its exploration, and scientific concepts. He recounts ancient perceptions of the far north, the difficulties faced by the first explorers, and the highly publicized early-20th-century race to the pole. He also covers topics such as the movement of the magnetic pole, extracting and studying core samples of ancient rock for geological information, and tactics for surviving extreme conditions. The work of climatologists and oceanographers is introduced, along with a glimpse at the possible effects of global warming. Shortened articles from the New York Times on related subjects appear throughout. The illustrations include full-color photographs of the author's trek, archival reproductions and photos of previous excursions, original diagrams that clarify concepts, and maps. A blend of colorful full-bleed photos with text overlaid and smaller, bordered images makes for a dynamic layout. The wonderfully written narrative will pull youngsters into the book and hold them there willingly until the last page- Jodi Kearns, University of Akron, OH Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this) Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review › See all customer reviews...		Ad feedback   Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

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