Antarctic Journeys

Philippa Werry’s new non-fiction book, Antarctic Journeys is excellent. Having visited Antarctica in 2016, she describes it as “astonishing, exhilarating and beautiful, and those sentiments are evident in so many ways throughout the book. Five chapters on journeys make up the book, including those of exploration, contemporary journeys, animal journeys and Werry’s own journey.

Stunning photographs help illustrate the book, some historical, many recent, including ones taken by Werry during her visit, and others taken by her husband during research. At the back of the book is glossary, an historical timeline, references to useful websites and further reading, and an extensive index.

Interesting facts populate the book, for example the story about the journey of a Huntley and Palmers biscuit, taken as a souvenir and returned in a roundabout way some three years later. There is the description from the New Zealand Defence Force of what it is like to land at McMurdo, like “landing on a slice of lemon-frosted sponge cake.”

This is a good book for anyone interested in the Antarctic. It is easy to read, has great photographs and would be a great book to have in any library, school or home. I thoroughly recommend it.

Title: Antarctic Journeys

Author: Philippa Werry

Publisher: New Holland Publishers

ISBN: 9781869664992

RRP: $27.99

Format: paperback

Date of Publication: February 2019

Ages: 7 to 107

Reviewer’s name, job title, school name & region: Vickie Humphries, Librarian, Mount Cook School

How highly are you recommending this book? Very Highly recommended

What’s the book’s opening sentence? Antarctica is like no other continent.