Every page of All About Antarctica brims with fascinating facts about one of the most wondrous and remote regions on our planet: Antarctica.
We’re first introduced to the basics – that Antarctica is, on average, the coldest, driest and windiest place on Earth. Did you know the word Antarctica comes from the French antartique, meaning ‘opposite to the Arctic’? Or that penguins live in Antarctica, not the Arctic?
The book explains how to travel to this southern land and what essentials to pack. With temperatures dipping to -80°C in winter and hovering around -10°C in summer, we’ll need plenty of layers: mittens, thick socks, snow boots, sunscreen and sunglasses. A thermos mug is essential, and even though your phone won’t have reception, it still works for music and photos. The book also reminds us of what not to take: plants, animals, or items containing microbeads.
Each double-page spread explores a different aspect of life and work on the continent, from international research stations to the machines that keep people moving, like LC-130 Hercules aircraft and Sno-Cats. We learn about the kinds of recreation available, the realities of fieldwork, the food shipped in to sustain crews and how waste is managed. There’s a wealth of information on wildlife, natural wonders, and the region’s remarkable history.
With its lively, fun illustrations and engaging explanations, this terrific book is an excellent guide to one of the most unique and captivating continents on Earth.
Reviewed by Jane Stephens
Age Guide 6+
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ABOUT THE AUTHORMarc Martin is an illustrator and author based in Naarm/Melbourne. He works across a range of commercial projects, murals, editorial work, gallery shows and picture books.
He is the author-illustrator of internationally award-winning books, including A Forest, A River, Everything & Everywhere and Masters of Disguise. He has twice been awarded Best Illustrated Picture Book by the New York Times, for A River (2017) and We Are Starlings (2023).
His illustrations have been commissioned by clients such as Monocle, Wired, The Financial Review, GQ, Telstra, The Australian Open Tennis Championships, The Australian Centre for the Moving Image, and various publishers.
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