In 1934 Admiral Richard Bird spent four months alone in a hut through the long Antarctic winter. He kept a diary and later wrote a book about his experience. This picture book tells this story with brief quotes from his actual diary. The pictures are dreamy and indistinct, matching the otherworldly feel to the text. Caution: Byrd gets very sick from carbon monoxide poisoning and nearly dies. But he survives and the book ends on a hopeful note. ( )

Even though this is put out by scholastic press is a children’s book it is much more than that and exciting for anyone of any age to read. The book is almost poetic in many of its descriptions and conveys an awesome sense of loneliness in the middle of the act Arctic by Admiral Byrd. Robert Burley’s writing is truly a joy and ends on an inspirational note. ( )