Our Amazing World

Gr 4 Up—A gorgeously enticing title highlighting the wildlife and natural beauty of this mysterious continent. Viewers can choose to scroll horizontally through the gallery of exquisite photographs (all captioned) or stop to read a paragraph related to each image by scrolling vertically. A tap to a photo or text will elicit a row of thumbnail images that acts as a table of contents. The information provided includes historical and scientific facts about the geography of the land and the habitats and behaviors of penguins, seals, petrels, terns, and other native animals. While the text is somewhat limited, it will be of interest to readers and useful to young researchers.From the majesty of a melting iceberg in Paradise Bay, Antarctic Peninsula, to a close-up of the huge elephant seal, the masterful images will also inform viewers, and as such will be an enriching addition to science, geography, history, or animal units. Antarctica contains no narration, sound effects, or interactivity. In essence, it's an electronic version of a coffee-table book, but a prized and illuminating one.—Amy Shepard, St. Anne's Episcopal School, Middletown, DE (May 2, 2012)