The Nation's Choice: Theme Paperbacks Challenge Level Theme 6 Grade 5 to the Top of the World - Softcover

Minnesota photographer, Jim Brandenburg, began his career as a natural history photographer and filmmaker while majoring in studio art at the University of Minnesota, Duluth. He went on to become Picture Editor at the Worthington Daily Globe in southern Minnesota. While at the Daily Globe, Brandenburg began freelancing for National Geographic.

Grade 3-6-A brief text and incredible full-color photographs tell the story of Brandenburg's Arctic summer excursion, during which he took pictures of a pack of wolves who seemed to accept his presence and allow him to approach them closely. On the day of his departure, the entire pack appeared at the airstrip to witness his leaving, as if to say good-bye. His artfully composed, crisp pictures capture the five-week old puppies' initial explorations outside their den, and their escapades with their baby-sitter, Scruffy, as well as howling practice. He offers intriguing examples of how the pecking order operates; in one dramatic episode, the wolves bring down a musk-ox. Through a series of well-chosen vignettes, the author shares plenty of information about the life cycle of animals, although this is not his main purpose. He clearly wants to communicate his awe for these wild creatures, and hopes to dispel any negative stereotypes that exist in readers' minds. His enthusiasm is evident in every well-chosen word. Laurence Pringle's Wolfman (Scribners, 1983; o.p.) concentrates on the work of one scientist in Minnesota; Scott Barry's The Kingdom of Wolves (Putnam, 1979; o.p.) is a more detailed exploration of the animals' habits. Both are accompanied by black-and-white photographs. Wolves (HarperCollins, 1993) by Seymour Simon offers the basic overview report writers require but To the Top of the World is clearly the most captivating.
Ellen Fader, Oregon State Library, Salem
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.