The Boreal Forest: A Year in the World’s Largest Land Biome

The Boreal Forest is the largest land-based biome in the world, stretching around the northern hemisphere across Alaska, Canada, northern Europe, and Russia. In geologic terms, it is relatively young, about eight thousand years old, coming into being after the Ice Age. This huge forest not only supports a wide variety of animal and plant life but also contains more fresh water than any other place on Earth. Canada alone has more than six hundred thousand lakes! This beautiful book takes readers through the year, looking at how many kinds of flora and fauna live in the forest in each of the seasons. Fascinating notes are found throughout the book about how things like fishermen leaving unused worms behind is threatening the survival of the forest or how the Saami, the indigenous people of Scandinavia and western Russia, protect the reindeer population. Author L. E. Carmichael writes authoritatively; his research shines through. His style is conversational and comfortable for his young audience. The illustrations by Josée Bisaillon are soft, lovely, and filled with wonderful details. This is not a picture book for very young readers, but it will enthrall middle-graders and keep them engaged and learning. Don’t miss this terrific book.