“Uncommon Animals: Arctic Fox: Very Cool!” by Stephen Person, 2009, Bearport Publishing, Inc., $18.95, hardbound, 32 pages: Packed with fabulous color photos, this book is loaded with information on biologist Maarten Loonen and his studies of Arctic foxes. One chapter shows a map of Arctic fox habitats in the wild; these built-for-cold predators live farther north than any other land mammal on the planet.
Here winter endures for a harrowing eight months, and temperatures may fall to an astounding -58 degrees Fahrenheit. The author tells the reader more about how these remarkable animals survive such harsh conditions, including the fact that their ears and noses are short; this helps keep the fox’s body heat from escaping.
The photographs in “Arctic Fox” number at least one per page, excepting the glossary page and the map page. A very interesting set of photos shows the differences in the Arctic fox’s fur from winter to summer. In winter, the coat is quite dense and completely snow-white, while in summer, the fur is thinner and dark gray on top. Another picture shows a fox shedding his winter coat. The result looks something like a half-shaved sheep.
Other exciting images add to the delight of the book: a fox leaping in the snow (here the reader gets a good look at the fur on the bottoms of the animal’s paws); a fox with an egg in his mouth, quickly followed by an angry goose; and a fox trailing after an extremely large polar bear, in search of free food. There are also photos of a snarling Arctic wolf and a red fox, for comparison.
More information on the fox includes their diet (which is varied and includes lemmings, fish and even berries), dens (which the parents work on together) and childhood (Arctic fox kits are on their own by their first winter).
One threat to the Arctic fox is that of global warming, according to Person. If the Arctic gets warm enough, red foxes may invade Arctic fox territory and claim their dens and hunting grounds; they might even prey on the smaller animal.
The book has interesting side bars with tidbits of data. Another page holds a table of facts on Arctic fox statistics, such as life span, population and weight, and still more pages tell the reader about other uncommon animals in the Arctic. Written for ages 7-12.
Note: One image of a hunter trapping a fox may be disturbing to some readers.
Lee’s take: Outstanding information.
J.J.’s take: Unusual photos.
LEE AND J.J. MACFADDEN are twins and voracious readers living in Bristol, Tenn. E-mail them at leeandjj.doubletake@yahoo.com.
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