This interesting, and reasonably successful book, does things in two different ways. Each double-page spread illustrates a particular type of environment in the boreal forest, the taiga, or Canada, whatever you want to call it. The text with that picture – only a paragraph or two – conveys what is going on. But the second way of doing things is by having multiple box-outs, sometimes three a spread, full of the sciencey bits. Now, I say this was reasonably successful for several reasons. One, I think it's interesting having all this detail, but the book does lack the urgency and perhaps the empathy with the place's issues needed – I liked learning about worms being new invaders and unwanted ones at that to the Canadian boreal forest, but I don't think the text would have convinced a younger version of me, the age of the target audience, why I should know such seemingly trivial details. Secondly, the arty writing overlaying each spread is all narrative, while the picture is necessarily a snapshot, but it's a snapshot of before any of the drama has happened, so we never get to see the shrew eat his beetle, or the carnivorous plant get its meal, or the fungus do a 'wolf fart'.

That said, there are successes here – the ecologically-minded student will definitely know, or learn, why this is a unique and essential biome, and the aesthetic of the work, with its atmospheric illustrations, certainly allows for an eye-catching moodiness to the whole. So while it's not perfect in my eyes, I still think it's definitely worth considering, and fills a niche of its own in covering such a singular environment so comprehensively. Three and a half stars. Although when would a beaver swim with his log horizontally in front of him, surely like the one I saw it would tote the wood trailing behind him?

This is a beautiful informational text, The illustrations are artful and the information is presented in a narrative manner that is pleasing, but still instructional.

From glancing at the cover of this book, I was drawn into the world of The Boreal Forest.
It is such a mesmerising place, to think that somewhere that magical is real is mind blowing.

This book takes the sometimes hard to follow facts of life and adds them to a stunningly illustrated book, making them interesting and easy to read.

The Boreal Forest is such a lovely and educational book. It explains the geography and characteristics of the biome. The book is adequate for higher levels in elementary schools. Or can be read and guided for younger kids. Although it is informative, the book also includes small lyrical stories of nature and animals that younger kids would easily understand. It also includes definitions of each terminology that may be hard to understand at first.
The illustrations are completely amazing with so much detailed. The kids would be intrigued by them! Thank you for ebook copy.

I am an Environmental Science major as well as an educator at a nature center in my state. I thought this book is great and would be a good resource to use if you are educating young kids about the environment/nature. I loved the illustrations and it covered a wide range of topics. I will have to get a physical copy of this to share with the kids!

I really loved the illustrations in this beautiful little book about four seasons in the Boreal forest that spans a dozen countries across the globe. There's a really lovely feel to it as the reader is introduced to all different animals, fish, insects and more through the seasons. It also talks about the water cycle, the carbon cycle, and climate change. It's packed with scientific facts while not overwhelming the page and letting the watercolor illustrations set the tone. This would make a great book for a nature study shelf or for unit studies regarding animals or this region.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for the purpose of review.

Interesting and informative book about the forests that grow close to the Arctic, like a scarf around the world, as it says in the book. Most in Canada and Russia, this book looks at this vast forest through all four seasons.

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Becasue the indigenous people have lived there the longest, the author contacted various peoples and glans to get their take on the forest, and the issues that climate change have brought to it, as well the history of change with this area.

I found this very informative, and well written.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

Gorgeous palette and artwork, a lovely immersion into the forest, with all of the flora and fauna involved. What a great way to interest a child in Botany, Nature, Animal Science, ecosystem symbiosis. Pretty enough to gift.