Breathtaking color photographs convey the expansive beauty of the Arctic landscape while capturing intimate moments of life in this far northern region of Alaska. Beginning in winter, when "the moon shines night and day on the vast, dark land," this book follows the seasons - through spring when the first delicate flowers bloom, on to summer "when nights are as light as days," and into fall, when "the land is yellow and red" and some animals begin gathering food for the winter while others prepare to migrate. The plants and animals living in the Arctic for all or part of the year are exquisitely - sometimes humorously - highlighted in these photographs, which are accompanied by Pandell's thoughtful narrative. A "Notes" section provides readers with information on some of the animals that live in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge where the photographs were taken. (Ages 7-11)

Delicate watercolor paintings and a haiku-like text celebrate the whooping crane, an endangered bird that has become a symbol of wildlife preservation efforts, in a study that details the birds' habitat, behavior, migratory patterns, and life cycles.