Glaciers Are Alive

This new nonfiction book explaining the impact that glaciers have on the global community is both engaging and comprehensive. The author seamlessly weaves in content vocabulary that is accessible to the reader based on the context, while telling exactly the importance of the words to glaciers. Glaciers provide homes, create landscapes and are part of ecosystems. They are also disappearing more quickly than many realize. The artwork and language in this book pair well, to explain all of these concepts. This book is an excellent addition to science curriculum, and students will appreciate it as a whole class read or independently. The author also includes a note and a glossary at the end of the book.

This book offers a deep look inside glaciers and their role in our environment. It dives deeper than many environment and science focused books do for this age group. My young readers really enjoyed the connection to the animals and the enrichment beyond just the glaciers themselves. I wish that some of the new vocabulary was defined in the story, because my young readers kept asking about word meanings and we’d have to flip to the glossary. I am glad there was a glossary though!

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. A great non-fiction book for kids about glaciers. Talks about how a glacier is built and the plants and animals that live on it.

This fascinating book field trip taught me so many new vocabulary words! From their formation to their disappearance, glaciers are teeming with life. Reading this was a sensory experience as I imagined myself kayaking through Alaska, eyes and ears alert to all I encountered. I also enjoyed the author’s note and her experience researching the book. I’ll share this with my class when we finish reading aloud Alan Gratz’s Two Degrees as it will help them better understand how climate change affects glaciers and all who inhabit them.

Gorgeous art fills this book with lots of information about glaciers. The language and information in the book is geared for older elementary ages around fourth and fifth grade. But it would be a fun book to look at with younger kids and just discuss some of the information.

I loved the illustrations in this book.

I don’t know that it’s a good book for reading aloud. I think this would be best for reading to yourself. Would be perfect for advanced 2nd grade readers up through 5th grade.

The book is informative while still telling a story. I think children would definitely come away from this one knowing that they’ve learned something new and interesting.

Thank you so much to Net Galley, the author, and publisher for providing this book for my honest review. This is such an educational and beautiful book about glaciers, the animals who live and depend on these glaciers, and how we all are interconnected. I love how this book explains how glaciers are created, the animals who live and depend on them, and how humans also interact and are impacted by these majestic landforms. This is a great book for students, teachers, and anyone interested in learning more about glaciers. This book also has beautiful artwork and images on each page that makes all of the useful facts and information even more impactful. I can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy as well to share with my students.

The painted illustrations in this book re absolutely wonderful! I would have liked more descriptive images when new vocabulary was introduced because it was hard to picture when the painting on the page is a generalized view of a glacier. (Examples: moraine, murrelet, nunatak, seracs, bergy seltzer, and fjord) I also went through the entire book googling these words because I didn't realize there was already a glossary in the back. I learned lots of new words! This book was gorgeous and informational. My favorite part was the phrase "watermelon snow" to describe a growing pink algae on the snow.

Descriptive text and colorful, informative paintings explain how glaciers are alive--their birth and growth; the living things that inhabit them, travel them, raise young; and how glaciers move and melt. There is much to learn from this book from both text and illustrations, and there is much to enjoy and savor. A fine book to share with young readers.

What a wonderful book!
Whether you live in Alaska, the moraines of Wisconsin, the fjords of Norway, or simply want to know more about the ecology, flora, and fauna of living, moving, growing glaciers, this book will show, tell, provide a glossary, and include suggestions as to how we can help prevent some of the changes that have begun.
The illustrations by Jon Van Zyle are well done impressions, simply delightful, imaginative, and colorful.
Well suited for reading WITH someone of any age including ESL, and great for gifting to anyone, but especially to a school or your public library!
I requested and received a free temporary e-book on Adobe Digital Editions from Charlesbridge via NetGalley. Thank you!

Superb. With illustrations by noted Alaskan artist Jon Van Zyle and words by author Debbie Miller, "Glaciers Are Alive" captures not only the wonder of what a glacier is but why they're important. As an Alaskan, I've been lucky enough to view glaciers with my own eyes and marvel at the life surrounding them. Van Zyle captures it all perfectly, even to the different expressions staring out at us quizzically on the cover, while Miller describes how glaciers evolve, move, and their importance not just to the life amid them but our world. Sadly, our glaciers are melting at an alarming rate and the lives that depend on them are endangered, too.

As a former teacher, I see many teaching opportunities here, too. Not only the science related ones of the ecosystem, but observation and learning new words. Miller introduces us to the vocabulary of the glaciers while, in combo with Van Zyle's artwork, you see what she is describing. Hence, although a glossary is available at the end, it's relatively easy for those new to glaciers to pick up on meanings. Having experienced glaciers and their calving (when chunks break away from the mass and fall into the water) several times, I'll admit I may have more knowledge than most but, seriously, even without the glossary, you wouldn't have much trouble figuring it out. Bergy Seltzer is my favorite. Grin.

Bottom line, if you love nature, wildlife, or have an interest in Alaska and other homes to glaciers, you'll adore this book. The artwork inside is well worth the price alone. The teacher side of me grinned as I envisioned some of the discussions that might evolve from various photos, including bears (yes, I've seen glacier bears), between adults and younger children. Age-wise, I'd say it's more appropriate for solo reading for upper elementary although, who are we kidding, some guided discussions can lead to even more understanding. True, you may not be inspired to clamp on some campons and go crevice hopping, but you'll still enjoy your virtual visit and the delightful critters and bits of life you meet.

Thanks #NetGalley and #Charlesbridge for taking me on this virtual glacier tour. Not quite as good as the real thing but an excellent, interesting trip nevertheless.

This book talks about how Glaciers came to be and how many animals and wild life rely on our glaciers and what these glacier do to help us and them and the environment. If your sharing this book with children it will show them how beautiful and necessary they are. I would highly recommend reading this to your children.
On our last trip to Alaska we seen how beautiful Glaciers are and right before our eyes we heard the cracking and big splash’s of big chunks breaking off although it was beautiful and majestic and to be able to witness it was a experience I will not forget. I can still recall the sound the glaciers made as big chunks broke off. But on the way back I seen beautiful chunks floating by us and realized how fast that Hugh glacier was melting and it really made a impact on me. I really enjoyed reading this book and all the things I learned from reading it. I had no idea the impact these glaciers have and helped the creatures and wildlife living around them for survival. Please read this book so you can learn what impact on life the melting of them are having on us and the beautiful wildlife. If you get the opportunity to view a glacier please do.
This is a note at the end of this book from the author that I felt I needed to share.
How does this loss of glacial ice impact our world?
The melting of glaciers in Alaska, Canada, Greenland, and Antarctica causes sea levels to rise. This creates challenges for coastal people and animals all over the world. Glaciers and sea ice also reflect sunlight into the atmosphere, which helps to cool our planet. Without glaciers, we would lose that cooling effect, and temperatures would rise even more. Thank you netgalley and Debbie S. Miller for letting me read this informative book.

Kiddo (8) and I very much enjoyed this look into how glaciers form and the many species of animals they provide habitat and food for.

The text is simple and provides lots of information about various animal species and how they depend on glaciers. It ends with a warning about climate change without getting too doomsday about it. There is an author's note at the back with more information, which kiddo also enjoyed.

The paintings are lovely and the animals very cute. Kiddo especially enjoyed the cute animals.

I would definitely recommend this for elementary school science education. It is accessible and informative all wrapped up in a lovely package.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Charlesbridge for providing an early copy for review.

Although designed like a picture book, this is a factual look at glaciers, illustrated with acrylics dominated by blue, white, and brown. The serviceable text is set on each spread in a brief paragraph, describing how important glaciers are to the environment and wildlife. The way birds, bears, sea otters, whales, and other creatures need the glaciers is clearly explained. The book ends with an author’s note with more detail on Alaska’s glaciers, and glossary.

Wonderfully illustrated and beautifully written, this informative title highlights the richly diverse life of the glacial ecosystem.

This is a great picture book to introduce the concepts of glaciers and how they are more than just giant chunks of ice in the ocean. There are full ecosystems that depend on them! The illustrations are acrylic canvas paintings overlayed with the text that explains how the glacier carves land and is home to many animals from microscopic algae to seabirds, bears, seals, and sometimes exploring humans. I could see this being used in a science unit to introduce ecosystems, in geography to discuss landforms, or in a writing unit as an example of using the five senses to describe a scene.

I was wanting more from this as a nonfiction text, though. There are MANY high academic and domain-specific vocabulary words are mentioned with a glossary in the back to define. (eg algae, crevasse, fjord, krill, moraine, murrelet, etc.) I would have liked more context clues, labels, and real pictures, but this may be a good start to a unit on glaciers or animals.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy!

What an amazing picture book that reminds readers how much life there is within the glaciers! I truly learned so much about the many animals that depend on glaciers, and how incredibly beautiful they are to adventure around. Not everyone is going to get the opportunity to experience seeing the glaciers in this way, so books like this are so important for showcasing their beauty and value.

Wonderful collection of essays on various climate problems. The voices of the activists, scientists and other amazing people really shine through in this book. Most essays end with some inspiration for the reader, like journaling prompts or ideas to research on your own. The essays are well written and just the right length to read with a cup of tea. Very inspiring!

Glaciers are Alive is an informative non-fiction picturebook about glaciers.

In this book, we learn about the life cycle of glaciers. Glaciers form on mountains, and they travel toward the sea. Glaciers also support wildlife, birds, seals, whales, and bears. It was interesting to read the new terminology about the various stages of the glacier. The glossary at the end of the book provides a good reference for the words. The book also discussed the effect of climate change on glaciers. The illustrations are beautiful, especially the representation of the wildlife is eye-catching.

Even though the text is simple, I had to read it a few times to understand it. For example, the word fjord appears suddenly in the text, so I had to refer to the glossary to understand it. A flow chart showing the glacier's life cycle will help further understand the material.

Glaciers are Alive is a must-read STEM picture book.

I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher.
This book covers the ecosystems found on, in, and around glaciers. The illustrations support this. There are many vocabulary words with definitions in the back. Unlike many learning books, there are not as many context clues for the words, so the text can be difficult for lower-level readers.

THIS WAS FANTASTIC. I loved learning all about glaciers! It was SO INTERESTING. A great addition to anyone or any school's library!

Thanks to Netgalley and Charlesbridge for the ARC of this!

This was an interesting picture book about the cycle of glacier ice and the animals impacted by it. The illustrations were pretty and there were not too many words per page to read aloud. Within those words there was quite a lot of information though!

A great way to teach about glaciers and the animals that live in and around them. Most will never see a glacier up close through this book you will feel like you have seen one without the cold. While it looks one way on the surface theres a lot going on underneath. There's algae blooming on the surface. Ice worms and birds around. There are noises that you hear coming from the ice. You might see some bears. There are cracks and crevasses. There's part of the glacier under the water as well as on top of the water. And you can't forget about the cute sea otters and whales.

Glaciers are Alive! By Debbie S. Miller and illustrated by Jon Van Zyle is a solidly informative children’s non-fiction work bolstered by some beautiful illustrations.

The text is mostly pretty straightforward, occasionally dipping into more lyrical language (“snowflakes whirl and swirl”) or making using of onomatopoeia (“Crunch, Crush, Crunch, Crush”). That language is better suited for older younger readers, probably 3rd grade or higher, and it employs a number of specialized words such as “Nunatak” or “bergy seltzer.” Older readers will pick up the meanings from context; for younger readers there is a glossary at the back. A few shifts felt a little abrupt, the brief digression into climate change felt like it interrupted the flow (not a call to remove it, just shift its placement), and now and then it felt like there was a bit of a mismatch between text and illustration. For instance, the text tells us the glacier is home to “billions of tiny living things”, but the following illustration is of two birds. But overall the text, as noted, is solid.

The illustrations on the other hand are excellent, whether they are depicting animals or land/seascapes. They make good use of color, particularly shades of blue, which is obviously highly apt for the subject matter.

Recommended.

I really enjoyed reading this text. It would work great with older students, especially those who are interested in animals. The illustrations are very detailed and appealing, and the text is also very informative and scientific. I think at times though, the text might be a little too technical for students. Otherwise, I really enjoyed reading, and learning a lot as well.

An exploration of glaciers, from their beginnings as snow packs to their final melting into the sea. With a bit of dwelling on the speed at which these behemoths are melting. This book covers a LOT of information, but does it in a pretty compact manner. It’s been fine-tuned for the child audience, and my kid quite enjoyed this one!

Normally, in my reviews, I make note if the artwork uses a lot of “whitespace.” As in, no artwork in significant portions. It just strikes me as funny here, where a large portion of some pages ARE white, and that’s PART of the art. Jon Van Zyle did an amazing job giving texture and interest to the icebergs. The animal life is quite cute, as well! Certainly something to make kids want to save the glaciers.

I think this is a great pick for any school unit on ecosystems, conservation, or the ocean.

Advanced reader copy provided by the publisher.

A fascinating look at glaciers as an ecosystem. From tiny algae to seals and whales, many creatures depend upon glaciers for their food and habitats. The story is clear and engaging with beautiful illustrations. The author's note provides additional information on the importance of glaciers along with a call to action to save them.

This is a nonfiction look at the lifespan of a glacier. It covers both how glaciers move and how they warm, and all the animals in creatures living on above or below the glacier. The book is well done, and the illustrations are quite interesting, I do wish however, they had included more real pictures. There is one in the very back but it’s small.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC of this title. I never knew how vibrant of an ecosystem a glacier contains. The artwork is beautiful, I would have liked some more scientific information to be included.

Interesting book on glaciers and the impact of their disappearance on the environment. Very informative way to introduce young readers to climate changes impact on our enviroment

One interesting book about glaciers: how it is made, and who lives there. In the end, the author also mentioned that (global warming) melts the glaciers, a place where many animals lives. So where will they live? The issue of global warming is a concern for us all, and the way many living beings are slowly lost their home supposed to be our big concern.

This children's non-fiction book is both informative and visually appealing, with beautiful illustrations. It's a great picture book for kids to learn about glaciers and understand their importance beyond simply being large chunks of ice in the ocean. This would be a great addition to any classroom library!