Awards

Reviews

Modeled after the traditional song “Over in the Meadow,” this (for the most part) easily chanted rhyme introduces a variety of land and sea animals and birds found in the tundra. Standard number-recognition and counting concepts are augmented by additional ideas and vocabulary in the active text, which highlights the Arctic climate, animal habits and the proper names for the animals’ young. “Over in the Arctic / Where some creatures migrate, / Lived a mother snow goose / And her little goslings eight. / ‘Honk,’ said the mother. / ‘We honk,’ said the eight. / So they honked and flew south / Where some creatures migrate.” Graceful, stylish cut-paper collages in a mixture of bright colors and patterns create icy backgrounds for each scene. Well-conceived extension ideas for curriculum and art connections follow a “hidden animal” game and a “Fact or Fiction” explanation about the rhyme’s tundra environment. A value-added exploration of the Arctic for preschoolers and early elementary-age children.

— Kirkus Reviews (August 1, 2008)

---

Following Over in the Ocean (2004) and Over in the Jungle (2007, both Dawn), this latest spin on the familiar “Over in the Meadow” rhyme takes readers on another adventure. Each page highlights a different animal, including a polar bear and her cub, an Arctic hare and her leverets, and a wolf and his pups. The last verse tells of 10 “surprise” animals hiding in the previous pages and invites children to go back to the beginning for a closer read. An author’s note gives more information about the Arctic tundra and explains that while most of the details in the book are factual, the number of babies each animal would have according to the rhyme is not accurate. Spreads feature chunky cut-paper collages in a cool palette. An artist’s note explains the process for creating the illustrations. Other interesting back matter includes tips for extended activities and notes for the traditional “Over in the Meadow” tune with the altered Arctic lyrics. This book serves as a useful introduction to the area.

— School Library Journal – Julie Roach (September 2008)

---

An assembly of arctic animals and their babies present themselves in cut-paper art to young readers in a new sing-along counting books, Over in the Arctic: Where the Cold Winds Blow by Marianne Berkes. Baby walruses learn to kick, baby wolverines learn to growl, and little owlets learn to swoop ‘ in fact, each baby of these arctic species has a distinctive learning task, and the young humans looking at this book are likely to take it all in while singing along to the tune of “Over in the Meadow.” The book stands out because of Jill Dubin’s cut paper illustrations, which combine color, pattern and texture. In a tips from illustrator addendum, Dubin encourages children to look for interesting colored paper, or to use wrapping paper to make their own designs. The book features ten arctic species, but Dubin “hid” ten additional species throughout the book. The additions are identified in the back of the book and provide another learning activity for children who will go through the entire book once again to find the hidden animals.

— Kids Vermont (December 2008)