Informational Text-Review2

1.BIBLIOGRPAHY
Simon, Seymour. 1987. ICEBERGS AND GLACIERS. Photographs by B.F. Molina, NASA, et al. New York: William Morrow and Company, Inc. ISBN 0688061869

2.PLOT SUMMARY
This is an informational picture book on the topic of icebergs and glaciers. Author Seymour Simon explains the formation of icebergs from snowflakes that have packed together. Eventually these icebergs begin to break off and “something strange happens”. It moves by sliding or gliding, giving form to a glacier.

Seymour Simon writes about the types of movements that can be followed by glaciers, the effects their movement has upon the surrounding physical elements such as stones, mountains, and layers of rock beneath it. He concludes with a historical review about glaciers, how they have affected our world, and how they have been affected by warming trends.

3.CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Seymour Simon is acclaimed by some reviewers as being a distinguished science author. In fact many of his books have won the honor of being Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children, and in 2005 he received the Lifetime Achievement Award. (Seymour Simon, 2002-2004) Through my reading of this book, however, I did not gain an appreciation for his talents. According to his web site, Simon was a science teacher prior to becoming an author of science books for children. I have to wonder if this book on icebergs and glaciers has any sound research done by him. Through an interview transcript found in his web site, he states that he was in Ketchikan, Alaska for a week for the purpose of writing this book, but there is no listing of sources accessed or names of experts on the topic. How did he become an expert on the topic?

The layout of the book is not inclusive of chapters, subheadings, or a table of contents. The design includes mesmerizing aerial view photographs by a variety of sources. Quite unhelpfully, however, is that there is no use of captions for quick information. Readers must read the body text to understand what the photographs represent. Even like this, the lack of captions is confusing when a page contains two photographs. For example, in one unnumbered page the writer states “Sometimes glaciers wear down the bedrock to smooth, rounded humps. To some people, these rocks have the shapes of a flock of grazing sheep.” The text is followed by two photographs, but as a reader I am not sure whether the “sheep rocks” are depicted in the first or second photograph.
A positive area in design is the use of large size font which could appeal to some younger readers.

Although the text is concise, it is delivered in monotone. There is no sentence type variation or a portrayed sense of excitement about the topic. There is also a lack of interaction with the reader since the text is solely informative. It is not inclusive of personal or interviewee quotes on the topic. As a reader, I had not impulsion to explore the topic further.
Unfortunately, amidst the good reviews from professional reviewing organizations, I was not able to appreciate Seymour Simon’s aptitudes for children’s science writing. Perhaps this will happen through exploration of another piece of written work.

4.REVIEW (EXCERPTS)
BOOKLIST(March 1, 1987: “Impressive photographs back a smooth, nontechnical narrative that explains how icebergs and glaciers form and behave.”
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY(February 13, 1987): “Perhaps Simon's nonfiction for children is so successful because he gets readers involved in the environment around them, with both arresting and accessible facts.”
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL (March 1, 1987): “This treatment of glaciers and icebergs is beautifully illustrated, and the text is clear and well-written.”

5.CONNECTIONS
-Science unit on icebergs and glaciers or geographical lesson on Alaska.
-Author Study: Visit Seymour Simon’s web page at http://www.seymoursimon.com/.
-Other books by Seymour Simon:
EARTH: OUR PLANET IN SPACE
HURRICANES
OUR SOLAR SYSTEM