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

“The boreal forest is our planet’s largest land-based biome... forming a scarf around the neck of the world.” The term biome is key to understanding this book’s scope, which uses a piecemeal approach to describe the globe-spanning boreal forest. In sections organized by season, Carmichael hops from country to country describing plants, animals, and conditions. Evocative text sets the scene (“Snowdrifts glisten in a moonlit clearing. From its perch on a Scots pine, a boreal owl listens”) while text boxes corral associated information (“Winter Meals,” “Protecting the Herds”), making for an overall effect that is fragmentary rather than comprehensive. Bisaillon’s collage-style illustrations use stylized details to capture the shifting textures of a seasonal landscape. Includes explanations of the water cycle, carbon cycle, and climate change, as well as a glossary, additional resources, and an index. Ages 8–12. (Apr.)