Bruce McMillan

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Reviews

School Library Journal
September 1995

"As is usual in McMillan's books, the full-color photography is brilliant in its beauty and attention to detail, however the text is lively and knowledgeable, and could stand alone."

McMILLAN, Bruce.
Summer Ice: Life along the Antarctic Peninsula.
photos. by author. 48p. map. bibliog. glossary. index.
CIP. Houghton. Sept. 1995. Tr $15.95.
ISBN 0-395-66561-2. LC 9338831.

Gr 3-6 - McMillan's fascinating offering documents the majestic beauty of the Antarctic and its variety of life forms. He includes informative sections on land plants, seals, whales, and penguins. The material on penguins is a special delight, discussing the order Sphenisciformes in general as well as individual species such as the chinstrap and Adélie. Even more interesting, however, are the facts given on such creatures as the krill, a tiny, shrimplike animal that is a vital part of the area's food chain. As is usual in McMillan's books, the full-color photography is brilliant in its beauty and attention to detail. However, the text is lively and knowledgeable, and could stand alone and still catch readers' interest. Few available titles on the topic for this age group provide such interesting glimpses of the region's wildlife. A wonderful find for report writers and browsers alike. Melissa Hudak, North Suburban District Library, Roscoe, IL

This copyrighted © review originally appeared in School Library Journal and appears here with permission. www.slj.com

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The Kobrin Letter
Volume 15, Number 1,
September, 1995

"Nonfiction at its best: satisfying, stimulating and inspiring."

Bruce McMillan’s recent works on Arctic and Antarctic wildlife vividly illustrate a photo essayist at the top of his form. His photographs, whether close-up or panoramic, are crisp, clear and inviting; his design creates an elegantly satisfying ambiance for reader or browser; his writing, from two-word “minimalist” poetry to photographic details, provides readers of all ages with food for thought. This is nonfiction at its best: satisfying, stimulating and inspiring.

Mr. McMillan’s Summer Ice (Houghton, '95, $15.95; 0-395-66561-2) describes, in words and pictures, the Antarctic Peninsula when prevailing winds and currents "warm" the temperature to a few degrees above zero. Life in general, consists of microscopic algae that streak glaciers red and green; incredibly dense swarms of krill upon which baleen whales and seals feed; southern Gentoo penguins, blue-eyed shags, scavenging skuas and other sea birds.
Ages 9 up, 48 pages

Booklist
November 1, l995

"While the exceptionally clear, full-color photos are the highlight of the book, the text is informative not just in describing individual species, but also in showing how they relate to each other. A handsome introduction to the wildlife of the Antarctic Peninsula."

Winging It
February 1997
a monthly newsletter of the American Birding Association sent to 20,500 members

"Bruce McMillan has captured the beauty and the mystery of the Antarctic Peninsula."


Personal Note	Description	Reviews

	Awards and Honors



"Nonfiction at its best: satisfying, stimulating and inspiring."

The Kobrin Letter, Volume 15, Number 1, September, 1995

	Summer Ice Life along the Antarctic Peninsula Hardcover: Available
Bruce's Thirty-fourth Book 1995 - Houghton Hardcover ISBN 0-395-66561-2

<> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> Awards and Honors Outstanding Science Trade Book for Children - National Science Teachers Association / Children's Book Council, 1995 A Children's Book of the Month Club alternate selection, 1995 Back to the top

Back to the top <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> Personal Note In the third photo above (mouse over it and click as soon as the photos download) there are some whale bones on the beach. On another beach I came across apparently a complete whale skeleton. A Cousteau expedition had collected the whale bones on the beach and laid them out to form the whale skeleton. Our guide, a fellow biologist took great delight in pointing out the problems of pop-science. The whale skeleton was composed of at least three species of whales, and therefore never existed. It would be like putting together bones from a tiger, lion and cougar and saying you had a large cat, great, but one that had never existed in real life. It was wonderful to be in the full day-long sunlight of the Antarctic winter. However I did experience enough darkness as we went south so I was able to see stars and constellations that I'd never seen in the northern hemisphere such as the Southern Cross. Ironically it was sometimes warmer here in Antarctica, in the Antarctic summer, than in the New England winter far to the north which was experiencing a cold spell. I can't convey the massive amounts of ice that exist in Antarctica, and the numbers and sizes of icebergs floating all around. The animal life knows no fear of humans because there are no native land mammals in Antarctica. This is the only place on earth where I've ever felt I was on another planet. It is that different. It is that exhilarating.
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<> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> Description Antarctica is an ice-covered island at the bottom of the world. Even in the summer, temperatures barely rise above freezing along the Antarctic Peninsula. Astonishingly, though, the peninsula is a place where life thrives. Penguins raise their young while warding off scavenging birds. Whales feed among ice floes. Seals talk underwater in songlike trills. Ice cliffs are painted with the reds and greens of tiny plants. Bruce McMillan, known for his lively and informative nature books, traveled to the Antarctic Peninsula to capture that surprisingly vigorous environment on film. In stunning color photographs, and language suited to young naturalists, he brings us his unique view of survival in a land like no other - a land of summer ice. Back to the top

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<> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> Reviews *School Library Journal* September 1995 "As is usual in McMillan's books, the full-color photography is brilliant in its beauty and attention to detail, however the text is lively and knowledgeable, and could stand alone." McMILLAN, Bruce. Summer Ice: Life along the Antarctic Peninsula. photos. by author. 48p. map. bibliog. glossary. index. CIP. Houghton. Sept. 1995. Tr $15.95. ISBN 0-395-66561-2. LC 9338831. Gr 3-6 - McMillan's fascinating offering documents the majestic beauty of the Antarctic and its variety of life forms. He includes informative sections on land plants, seals, whales, and penguins. The material on penguins is a special delight, discussing the order Sphenisciformes in general as well as individual species such as the chinstrap and Adélie. Even more interesting, however, are the facts given on such creatures as the krill, a tiny, shrimplike animal that is a vital part of the area's food chain. As is usual in McMillan's books, the full-color photography is brilliant in its beauty and attention to detail. However, the text is lively and knowledgeable, and could stand alone and still catch readers' interest. Few available titles on the topic for this age group provide such interesting glimpses of the region's wildlife. A wonderful find for report writers and browsers alike. Melissa Hudak, North Suburban District Library, Roscoe, IL This copyrighted © review originally appeared in School Library Journal and appears here with permission. www.slj.com Back to the top *The Kobrin Letter* Volume 15, Number 1, September, 1995 "Nonfiction at its best: satisfying, stimulating and inspiring." Bruce McMillan’s recent works on Arctic and Antarctic wildlife vividly illustrate a photo essayist at the top of his form. His photographs, whether close-up or panoramic, are crisp, clear and inviting; his design creates an elegantly satisfying ambiance for reader or browser; his writing, from two-word “minimalist” poetry to photographic details, provides readers of all ages with food for thought. This is nonfiction at its best: satisfying, stimulating and inspiring. Mr. McMillan’s Summer Ice (Houghton, '95, $15.95; 0-395-66561-2) describes, in words and pictures, the Antarctic Peninsula when prevailing winds and currents "warm" the temperature to a few degrees above zero. Life in general, consists of microscopic algae that streak glaciers red and green; incredibly dense swarms of krill upon which baleen whales and seals feed; southern Gentoo penguins, blue-eyed shags, scavenging skuas and other sea birds. Ages 9 up, 48 pages Booklist November 1, l995 "While the exceptionally clear, full-color photos are the highlight of the book, the text is informative not just in describing individual species, but also in showing how they relate to each other. A handsome introduction to the wildlife of the Antarctic Peninsula." *Winging It* February 1997 a monthly newsletter of the American Birding Association sent to 20,500 members "Bruce McMillan has captured the beauty and the mystery of the Antarctic Peninsula."
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Summer Ice Life along the Antarctic Peninsula Hardcover: Available

Summer Ice
Life along the
Antarctic Peninsula

Hardcover: Available