The North Pole Was Here: Puzzles and Perils at the Top of the World
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • terranova
  • *'Walking on Water' takes on NEW MEANING . . . *
  • Comments on The North Pole Was Here: Puzzles and Perils at the Top of the World
The North Pole Was Here: Puzzles and Perils at the Top of the World
Andrew Revkin
Manufacturer: Kingfisher
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Exploration & DiscoveryExploration & Discovery | History & Historical Fiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Polar RegionsPolar Regions | Explore the World | People & Places | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
NonfictionNonfiction | Environment & Ecology | Science, Nature & How It Works | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0753459930

Book Description

The sun never sets, the air is twenty degrees below zero, and the ice is moving at four hundred yards an hour. Welcome to the North Pole. In 2003, environmental reporter Andrew Revkin joined a scientific expedition to one of the world's last uncharted frontiers, where he was the first New York Times reporter ever to file stories and photographs from the top of the world. In his quest to understand the pole, Andrew leads readers through the mysterious history of arctic exploration; he follows oceanographers as they drill a hole through nine feet of ice to dive into waters below; peers into the mysteries of climate modeling and global warming; and ultimately shows how the fate of the pole will affect us all.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars terranova.......2007-05-26

timely topic, but book isn't exactly dense. more of a children's primer on Arctic issues.

5 out of 5 stars *'Walking on Water' takes on NEW MEANING . . . *.......2007-01-03

After moving 400 yards an hour on an ice floe at the top of the world for three days, Science Writer Andrew Revkin looks down from a helicopter. He watches the icy expanses recede far below while he weighs questions and answers about global warming, and the challenge of presenting these to young readers who are often lured in other directions by iPods & computer games.

Tomorrow's scientists need to be 'shook up' and know there are still discoveries to be made; they can be the ones inventing new techniques needed to retrieve & examine rock core samples from deep below the ice. (See pictures on page 66). They can be detectives competing with the changing ice for answers to frustrating puzzles about the rising seas, for example.

The editor has used engravings and diagrams along with the latest photographs to give an impressive smattering of the history of arctic exploration. The double-spread of a lone seal on pages 100-101 should have been placed to better advantage, to help make Revkin's point about the loneliness of the Arctic where the silence is often interrupted by questions about the future of mankind. This is a excellent, stimulating book for all ages to read and discuss together.

The polar regions have always drawn explorers and it is our luck that the New York Times sent Andrew Revkin to the North to look for ways of stirring the public. We must each take an active interest and help stimulate youthful curiosity by showing the techniques used today. It is not enough to feel the exhilaration of travel without becoming responsible global citizens. In a recent interview by Gwen Iffel on PBS, Revkin cited the "slow drift" of events that do not receive adequate coverage by the media, as for example the recent announcement that the first whale species in China is now extinct. Consider also the projection that by 2040 the Arctic Ocean could be blue for the first time in a thousand years.

Already the levels of contaminates in the bodies of Inuit persons living in the North is beyond acceptable. The Pole is indeed moving . . . can we be instrumental in putting the puzzle pieces back together and work toward unity for the good of the Earth and our children's future?

We must not lose generations of the ingenuity of bright young minds to Wars and the Pestilence of mediocre minds.



3 out of 5 stars Comments on The North Pole Was Here: Puzzles and Perils at the Top of the World.......2006-09-18

While intended for a young audience this serves as a very basic introduction to Arctic exploration and scientific study. Scientific and political issues mentioned could have been a good springboard for young adults to understand that scientific methods can serve as a process to follow when trying to answer difficult questions. Additionally, it is unfortunate that Mr. Revkin did not include even a passing mention of Dr. John Rae (Fatal Passage). This is a good book to provoke discussion and does little to answer the "big" questions. Mr. Revkin also might consider using a paradigm from Paracelsus that all substances are toxic - its the dose that differentiates the poison.
The Polar Express
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Christmas Classic
  • A Classic Christmas Story
  • The Polar Express By Chris Van Allsburg
  • "The Polar Express" awesome book review
  • Magic
The Polar Express
Chris Van Allsburg
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Product Features:
  • Christmas Accessories
  • For use with your scale model railroad

ASIN: 0395389496

Product Description

A magical train ride on Christmas Eve takes a boy to the North Pole to receive a special gift from

Amazon.com

One couldn't select a more delightful and exciting premise for a children's book than the tale of a young boy lying awake on Christmas Eve only to have Santa Claus sweep by and take him on a trip with other children to the North Pole. And one couldn't ask for a more talented artist and writer to tell the story than Chris Van Allsburg. Allsburg, a sculptor who entered the genre nonchalantly when he created a children's book as a diversion from his sculpting, won the 1986 Caldecott Medal for this book, one of several award winners he's produced. The Polar Express rings with vitality and wonder.

Amazon.com Audiobook Review

The Polar Express book and CD gift set is a charming collage of enchanting sounds, lyrical words, and climatic storytelling. Read by Academy Award-winning actor William Hurt, author Chris Van Allsburg's children's classic--a winner of the Caldecott Medal--is accompanied by a handsome melody and the sweet sounds of sleigh bells, train whistles, and spirited cheers from hundreds of Santa's elves. The composition stirs the listener's imagination, bringing to life the magic of Christmas. Coupled with a hardcover book (and a special gift from Santa's sleigh), listeners can read along and gaze at luminescent drawings page after page. The Polar Express touches the imagination of those "who truly believe." (Running time: 11 minutes, one cassette) --Cate Bick

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Christmas Classic.......2007-10-15

I bought this for my sister who is a 2nd grade teacher. She gave it to an underprivileged child in her room. The child was amazed at how beautiful the drawings were...she said she was the luckiest child in the world. This book made my Christmas!

4 out of 5 stars A Classic Christmas Story.......2007-05-24

One Christmas Eve a boy laid in his bed, all of the sudden he heard something. He heard a sound so different. A friend once described this sound to him. It was The Polar Express.

The Polar Express tells a fiction story of a boy who rides on The Polar Express train one Christmas Eve. The North Pole is where Santa was a waiting to give the first gift of Christmas. That gift will be given to someone on that train. Everyone hopes it is them but only one, only one can get the first gift.

I bet at one time or another you have all heard this story. It is a classic. The author, Chris Van Allsburg, tells this story so well. He also uses meaning beyond this books reading level. Chris says "Though I've grown old, the bell still rings for me as it dose for the ones who believe." If you read this quote once you will just think it's about believing in Santa. When you read it again and think about it, it could mean anything. It could mean believing in yourself, friends, family, ECT.
Even though a bell dose not ring for all of these reasons still believe, it's the best thing you can do.

4 out of 5 stars The Polar Express By Chris Van Allsburg.......2007-05-23

This is a good book for kids becuase it states that any thing is possible.The genre may be fiction, but it still teaches a valuable lesson. The story is set in modern times and takes place in the winter.The author does a good job at explaining what the scenery looks like, een with out the graphics.Any one who likes christmas of all ages will like this book. The main character seems to be outspoken and mellow.the story is much the same with other books also called
The Polar Express by other authors, but it still teaches a valuable lesson for kids. Overall, I give this book a 4 out of 5

5 out of 5 stars "The Polar Express" awesome book review.......2007-05-23

"The Polar Express" is a timeless story meant for all ages. It forces us to think about the disadvantage of growing up. When it's Christmas Eve a young boy suddenly hears a train whistle outside his window. He is welcomed aboard the Polar Express by the train conductor and many other children ready to depart on a trip to the North Pole. It is there that they will meet Santa and find out who the special child is that will receive the precious first gift of Christmas.
This fantasy story is one of the best-written about the true meaning of Christmas. The realistic details and dialogue more the story along. The style and meaning behind the plot is enough to make you remember it for years to come.
When reading "The Polar Express" all you think about is meeting Santa and discovering the gift of Christmas. Anyone who likes a well-told story with a moral to remember will love this book!

5 out of 5 stars Magic.......2007-05-13

This is such a wonderful heartwarming story. I have read this to my classroom for years and now share it with my own child. Terrific. And of course the illustrations are beautiful.
The North Pole
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • "From the Past to the Future"
  • Much More Than an Artic Journey
The North Pole
Kathan Brown
Manufacturer: Crown Point Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

GeneralGeneral | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:
  1. The North Pole Was Here: Puzzles and Perils at the Top of the World The North Pole Was Here: Puzzles and Perils at the Top of the World

ASIN: 1891300180

Book Description

The North Pole is an account of a summer trip the author made to the North Pole on a Russian nuclear-powered icebreaker, and is illustrated with 120 color photographs. Brown intersperses her narrative with excerpts from the journal of Fritdjof Nansen, who explored that area a hundred years ago, and with conversations with travelers, scientists, and a polar archivist about ideas concerning the Arctic that affect the world today. The weather at the North Pole influences weather thoughout the world, and global warming is a sub-theme of the book.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars "From the Past to the Future".......2006-01-21

Very well-written, with excellent photo sections that illustrate previous written sections. Chapters alternate between gripping diaries of early historic explorers, the author's own North Pole experience on a nuclear-powered Russian ice breaking ship, and lively interviews with scientists who study the arctic and global climate.

5 out of 5 stars Much More Than an Artic Journey.......2005-02-16

Kathan Brown's, The North Pole, is a unique and profound book. The interweaving of present, past and (potential) future, create an ephemeral sense of time and place. Brown's direct documentary style allows the reader to draw their own conclusions, to participate and experience for themselves the layers of metaphor that abound in this unique journey. The reader traverses the terrain of the physical and the ethereal, the dark and the light, the unknown and the known, the beautiful and the terrifying. Blocks of wonderful color photos interlace with the
structured sections of Brown's journey account, the journal excerpts of early explorer, Fridtjol Nansen, (unbelievable!) and the conversations Brown records with fellow travelers, scientists, and naturalists. This book is simply, yet brilliantly, organized. It is beautiful. It evokes a sense of vast spaciousness and wonder and raises provocative haunting questions regarding the future of the planet. It is a gem!
Welcome to the North Pole: Santa's Village in Applique
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • great for christmas
  • Delightful and Inspiring Book
  • North Pole Welcome - Review
  • Cutest Christmas ever!
  • Welcome to the North Pole
Welcome to the North Pole: Santa's Village in Applique
Piece O'Cake Designs Inc. , Linda Jenkins , and Becky Goldsmith
Manufacturer: That Patchwork Place
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1564771946

Book Description

This North Pole village is full of charming places for Santa and his helpers to work and play. Create a whimsical appliquéd scene, or stitch one of two smaller scenes using elements from a just a few blocks.

• Includes instructions for one large and two small wall hangings

• Learn an innovative color-stacking technique for selecting fabrics

• Discover an easy way to make templates and tips for tricky appliqué, plus creative embellishment, quilting, and finishing ideas

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars great for christmas.......2007-04-01

i love this book very simple to follow very easy yet the outcome so fantastic. This is good book for quilters of all ages and all levels of skill.

5 out of 5 stars Delightful and Inspiring Book.......2007-03-19

Excellent book of Christmas applique designs! I did take my book to a copy shop and enlarged the designs, but this is easily and inexpensively done. Beautiful and colorful use of fabrics. Applique designs are simple to make. This books inspires fun and creativity. Definitely, one of my very favorite quilt books.

5 out of 5 stars North Pole Welcome - Review.......2007-02-18

This purchase was made for my wife who states:-

Having had the book for a few weeks now, I find the contents very informative, and the instructions easey to follow. I can recommend this product to any would-be enthusiast.

5 out of 5 stars Cutest Christmas ever!.......2006-08-10

I can't wait to make this quilt. I saw one made up at a quilt show or something very similar and couldn't wait to find the pattern. It is just so clever and fun. My quilt group is planning on making it as a block of the month. I am so happy I bought this book, it makes me smile every time I look through it.
Sincerely, LPotts

5 out of 5 stars Welcome to the North Pole.......2006-02-25

This is a beautiful book. The instructions are easy to follow and the patterns are full size. It is nice that you do not have to make a hugh project all at once. The project is laid out in sections to make it easy to do small wall hangings. These ladies are very talented and the pieces of Santa's village are precious. I am so glad I bought this book.
SantaKid
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Santa Kid disappoints
  • Beautifully illustrated
  • Great family reading
  • SantaKid
  • Santakid
SantaKid
James Patterson , and Michael Garland
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: B000HEYVCW

Book Description

Bestselling novelist James Patterson, who has been entertaining millions of Americans for decades, now brings his considerable talent for storytelling to a young audience with a joyful, spunky tale that brings every child's Christmas fantasy to life.

Customer Reviews:

1 out of 5 stars Santa Kid disappoints.......2007-09-16

Just tried to read this story to my 4 1/2 year old. Unfortunately it didn't hole either of our interests. Half way through I just couldn't go on and had to put the book down and pick something else!
Here are the main problems: the story was incredibly thin. An entire page of the story would likely only include 1 or 2 relevant sentences that actually moved the storyline - the rest was all filler, like "pretty cool huh?" and "don't giggle. This isn't funny. Well, sometimes it is", and "all those who want to live at the north pole , holler I WANT TO LIVE AT THE NORTH POLE"

Do you see a pattern? The main character breaks from the story on every page to give pointless comments to the reader, and none of it makes sense (or is even funny.)

the plot is so thin. The villain lands at the North Pole with absolutely no set-up, and each turn of events (and the villain himself) is very implausible. There's just no believability in the motives or events. Yes, I know this is a kid's book, but I've read plenty of great kid's books!

The dialogue is really stale too. like "Not nice." "Not nice at all". This repetitive, bland dialogue just drve me crazy.

Like I said, I only scanned the last half of the book it was so poor. I appreciate that the author was trying to teach the evils of Corporate America to children, but it just didn't come off well. It feels like Patterson wrote this book in 10 minutes.

3 out of 5 stars Beautifully illustrated.......2007-06-19

The story is cute, I've heard this story before he just switched some of the characters. The drawing in this book are superb, totally worth purchasing. The story on the other hand didn't seem to hold my son's interest.

5 out of 5 stars Great family reading.......2007-02-20

This book is a great story to read with your family. It has great values and lessons of life.

5 out of 5 stars SantaKid.......2007-01-27

It was a very cute book. I ordered it becasue it was written by James Patterson. He is my favorite author and I have got all his books most of which I have purchased thru Amazon.

5 out of 5 stars Santakid.......2007-01-22

I really enjoyed this story. If you have children this is a great story for bedtime on Christmas Eve!(Or anytime, any age!)
Polar Dream: The First Solo Expedition by a Woman and Her Dog to the Magnetic North Pole
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Outstanding book--50 year old woman and amazing dog's trek to North Pole
  • I can't believe she did the whole thing!
  • An Explorer and Her Dog
  • Described in vivid, engaging detail
  • Overcome,Never Quit, and Win
Polar Dream: The First Solo Expedition by a Woman and Her Dog to the Magnetic North Pole
Helen Thayer
Manufacturer: NewSage Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0939165457

Book Description

In 1988, at the age of 50, Helen Thayer became the first woman in the world to travel on foot to the magnetic North Pole, one of the world's most remote and dangerous regions. Her only companion was Charlie, her loyal husky, who was integral to her survival. Polar Dream is the story of their heroic trek and extraordinary relationship as they faced polar bears, unimaginable cold, and a storm that destroyed most of their supplies and food. A new epilogue, maps, and many previously unpublished expedition photographs are new to this second edition. “A page-turner.... Fully captures the drama of what was a remarkable achievement.” — The Washington Times

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Outstanding book--50 year old woman and amazing dog's trek to North Pole.......2007-03-30

Great book. Helen Thayer set off in her 50s to walk to the magnetic North Pole. She did it only with Charlie, the polar bear wonder dog, given (sold) to her by the Inuit who were sure she wouldn't survive without a dog team who knew how to fend off polar bears. She finally agreed to taking one dog, who became her true partner in the journey (and afterward). The story is an outstanding tale of what she learned about herself and how she and Charlie so totally bonded, mutually dependent on each other. Helen prepared well and clearly fully respects Nature in all senses. It is also a wonderful tale about Charlie--about the intelligence of dogs we people would see more often if we just give them a chance to be themselves. This is an outstanding book for anyone of any age and hopefully will help more people understand the criticality and fragility of Nature, and the importance of treating animals (in this case, dogs) with true respect, care, compassion, and love. The book clearly shows the intelligence not just of Charlie, but also of the various polar bears Helena encountered (and successfully avoided attack from, without killing them). It also is an excellent book to get people thinking about themselves and their thoughts. Some of the lessons Helen learned, for example, included early on learning to say "no" as well as the importance of remaining positive and in control even when Nature seemed to be in control via a strong storm whirling around her for several days at a time. She includes photos from her journey, which also are amazing. An exciting, excellent book. I highly recommend this for everyone.

5 out of 5 stars I can't believe she did the whole thing!.......2004-08-17

I am a big fan of stories of artic adventure, and this is one of the best. In this day of snow mobiles and ATVs, we have a woman at 50 -- author Helen Thayer -- setting out to walk to the magnectic north pole, pulling her own sled and accompanied by an Inuit dog she had only known for a couple of days. On her first day out, she suffers such terrible frostbite of her fingers they become almost useless. (I would have called it quits right there.) Then come polar bears -- one the world's most deadliest creatures. And they keep on coming. Some curious, some life-threatening. But, she continues on her amazing journey, not for fame or fortune, but for scientific information for her program Adventure Classroom. There are some fantastic photos included and very helpful maps. Her writing style is breezy and compelling. It's trimph of the human spirit and the bonding of a dog and companion. What a terrific book.

5 out of 5 stars An Explorer and Her Dog.......2003-07-30

An extraordinary true story of courage, determination and fortitude. Every chapter not only contains the wow factor but is an illustration of what the human spirit is capable of. Thayer is an accomplished writer who keeps the reader wanting more. An incredible story of a woman and her faithful dog Charlie, as they endure the hardships of polar travel on foot together with no dog teams or snowmobiles or resupply.
Sue White
Edmonton, Canada

5 out of 5 stars Described in vivid, engaging detail.......2003-02-09

Polar Dream is the personal memoir of Helen Thayer, the first woman (and the oldest person at age 50) to travel on foot, unresupplied, to the magnetic North Pole. Her harrowing trek on skis for 27 days, aided only by a dog trained to warn her of approaching bears, is described in vivid, engaging detail, as are her seven encounters with polar bears which she survived through skill, luck and quick thinking. Black-and-white photographs, including ones taken by the author during her trek, enhanced a narrative of profound insights into the beauty and wildness of the arctic. Readers who appreciate true life adventure will enjoy the excitement and wonder of Helen Thayer's Polar Dream.

5 out of 5 stars Overcome,Never Quit, and Win.......2003-01-09

I first read this book in a German translation and then attended a lecture in New York by Helen Thayer, the author. Because of her amazing world wide adventures from the Polar Regions, to the deserts and the Amazon rain forest I expected someone six-feet tall. Instead I listened as this five-feet-three-inch diminutive dynamo enthralled her audience with her solo walk to the magnetic North Pole at 50 years old and her subsequent adventures including a trek of almost 1,500 miles across the Gobi desert last year at 63 years old.
Polar Dream, the story of her solo walk to the magnetic North Pole with her Inuit dog Charlie is invigorating, with a down to earth humble look at life.
Charlie is loyaly devoted to Helen and saves her life from a polar bear. Polar Dream has been available for ten years. The first edition was excellent and the second edtion is even better with many more photos. I bought 14 books in English, 4 books in German, and one in Dutch for Christmas presents and all recipients are inspired and can't wait for Thayer's next book.
The fast moving, highly descriptive story is sentitive and not afraid to expose vulnerable inner thoughts and feelings.
This is a great book for men and women as proven by my Christmas gift list.
And kudos to wonderful Charlie, Helen's devoted dog-assitant and life saver on the journey.
Harold at the North Pole (Harold and the Purple Crayon)
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • My son loves it!
  • Harold Saves Christmas
  • Harold, now and forever
Harold at the North Pole (Harold and the Purple Crayon)

Manufacturer: HarperTrophy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0060586281
Release Date: 2004-09-21

Amazon.com

There's nothing Harold can't create with his purple crayon--and that's just why children have loved his magical world for decades. Crockett Johnson wrote several other books about Harold after the original Harold and the Purple Crayon in 1955, each one tracing different themes--from Harold at the circus to Harold on Mars. This time the imaginative young artist takes his purple crayon on a search for a Christmas tree. He finds himself at the North Pole just in time to help Santa who is snowed in with his reindeer, his sleigh, and all the toys. Harold's purple crayon to the rescue! He draws his own solutions, solving both Santa's problem and his own. This would be a dandy Christmas gift wrapped up with a big pad of paper... and a purple crayon, of course. (Ages 3 to 6) --Marcie Bovetz

Book Description

A Christmas Journey with the Purple Crayon.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars My son loves it!.......2004-11-26

My three year old loves this book. He brings it to storytime everyday! My five year old will even sit through this one.

5 out of 5 stars Harold Saves Christmas.......2000-11-30

It's Christmas Eve, Harold doesn't have his tree yet and he decides he needs one before Santa arrives. So armed with his imagination and his purple crayon, Harold sets off for the north woods to find the perfect tree. He follows the north star, encounters a blizzard, meets a snowman and continues to "draw" his way to the North Pole. There he finds Santa in trouble. He's snowed in and can't get his sleigh, reindeer and sack of toys out of his workshop, which is covered by drifts. Lucky for us, Harold comes to the rescue and lends Santa a hand, sending him on his way to deliver presents to boys and girls all over the world.....Crockett Johnson has created a simple, gentle and really ingenious story, showing the very clever Harold at his best. Those who love Harold and the Purple Crayon, will find this holiday adventure just as wonderful and inventive. Harold at the North Pole will delight and amuse all pre-schoolers, as he helps your youngster welcome in the holiday season.

5 out of 5 stars Harold, now and forever.......2000-11-22

The Harold and the Purple Crayon Series are wonderful. Harold is a little boy with a round head (around long before Charlie Brown) with a little purple crayon and a big imagination. In the North Pole book, Harold has set out on Christmas Eve to find a Christmas tree. Along the way, Harold ends up helping Santa but needs to hurry to find a tree to have it ready for Santa's visit. The simple line drawings are wonderful for younger readers yet there is always a charm to them. Harold inspires kids on so many levels; he's great for children who are timid, he's great for the mighty little explorers and he's great for kids who like to draw but feel intimidated by other artists.
WINGS AROUND THE WORLD: The Exhilarating Story of One Woman's Voyage From the North Pole to Antarctica
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Fly around the world with Polly Vacher
WINGS AROUND THE WORLD: The Exhilarating Story of One Woman's Voyage From the North Pole to Antarctica
Polly Vacher
Manufacturer: Grub Street
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

GeneralGeneral | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
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Adventurers & ExplorersAdventurers & Explorers | Specific Groups | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1904943543

Book Description

On May 6, 2003, Polly Vacher took off from Birmingham airport seeking to become the first pilot to complete a solo flight around the world via both Poles in a single-engine aircraft. Despite having only a few years of flying experience, Polly, a 59-year-old mother of three, had already completed a lateral solo circumnavigation of the world in 2001 for the charity Flying Scholarships for the Disabled; this second challenge, for the same charity, would make that achievement look like a casual jaunt. There would be no margin for error. Her voyage to the ice was a 35,000-mile adventure in her Piper Dakota that would take her to at least 30 different countries on every single continent. She had prepared meticulously for two years, was fully insured and had all the requisite permits and visas. With her kinetic enthusiasm, charm and persistence, she had already garnered multifarious sponsors ranging from multinationals such as Shell to private individuals. However, as she took off on that blustery spring day, flanked by a Hurricane and a Spitfire from the RAF Battle of Britain Flight, and waved off by her family and the Prince of Wales, she suddenly felt so alone. She had begun a remarkable expedition that would gain her three world records, but would also see her encounter extremes of weather and emotion, much kindness and obstruction and also a little political intrigue.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Fly around the world with Polly Vacher.......2006-12-30

If you love travel and adventure you will enjoy this book. It is written with candor by a female pilot about her remarkable flight around the world via the North and South Poles. Polly Vacher describes the meticulous preparation of such a flight and then takes the reader on that trip with details of the places she visits, the people she meets, the obstacles she encounters as she travels to all seven continents. Often she is flying for hours at a time, over ocean waters or inhospitable terrain. The book is filled with color photos and is an amazing story.
Onward: A Photobiography of African-American Polar Explorer Matthew Henson (National Geographic Photographer Series)
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Onward: A Photobiography of African-American Polar Explorer Matthew Henson (National Geographic Photographer Series)
    Dolores Johnson
    Manufacturer: National Geographic Children's Books
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Hardcover

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    ASIN: 079227914X
    Release Date: 2005-12-27

    Book Description

    The conquest of the North Pole was an elusive, almost impossible goal at the beginning of the last century. But a son of patrician parents, Robert E. Peary, and a son of sharecroppers, Matthew Henson, shared a dream of conquering the unconquered North Pole and were brave enough to risk their lives numerous times before they finally succeeded. Henson's great physical stamina and his ability to speak Inuit and develop warm relationships with the peoples of the Arctic were indispensable to the quest. He mastered the complexities of the dog sled and led the team across the layers of ice that covered the frigid, threatening Arctic Ocean. Henson and Peary's jubilation at finally reaching the Pole was later tempered by the controversy that swirled around their achievement. Once their deed was recognized, African-American Henson still was not. It took history a long time to hail him as a hero of exploration.
    Freddy Goes to the North Pole
    Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
    • Freddy goes to the north pole
    • An Awkward Sequel
    • Freddy the Pig meets Santa Claus
    Freddy Goes to the North Pole
    Walter R. Brooks
    Manufacturer: Overlook Juvenile
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Hardcover

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    5. Freddy the Detective Freddy the Detective

    ASIN: 1585671045

    Book Description

    Children all over the country are falling in love again with Walter Brooks's talking pig and his barnyard of friends on Bean Farm in Upstate New York. First published by Knopf from 1927 through 1958, Freddy has reemerged-much to the excitement of the parents and grandparents of this new generation of Freddy Fans who remember Freddy well indeed. He's remarkably adaptable too-Freddy has tried his hand at detective work, airplane piloting, magic, poetry, politics... you name it and Freddy has given it a shot!

    In Freddy Goes to the North Pole, Freddy has an itch to travel and decides that the other animals on Bean Farm should join him on a little excursion. As founder and president of Barnyard Tours, Inc. Freddy chooses the North Pole as the group's first destination. The Arctic regions turn out to be a bit chilly but a chance meeting with Santa Claus makes the trip more than worthwhile!

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Freddy goes to the north pole.......2002-12-19

    I thaught that freddy goes to the north pole was a great book enjoyable for all ages. I would recomend this book to anyone who likes adventure stories. It is one of those books that you never wan't to end.

    3 out of 5 stars An Awkward Sequel.......2002-05-22

    "Freddy goes to Florida" was an instant classic, so I can see why a sequel followed. Unfortunately, Brooks and Wiese have some trouble figuring out exactly how to handle it.

    The opening scenes at the Bean farm are excellent, but the trip to the North Pole is overlong and a mixed bag. The tone is uncertain, with the plot (a visit to Saint Nicholas) more juvenile than usual, but with more horrific humor than usual.

    The writing is unclear and awkward in places, and, as always, Brooks attempts to win the pennant for overuse of the adverbial "pretty." A strong editor could have been such a help.

    Brooks apparently felt the series needed some children to befriend the animals, hence the introduction of Ella and Everett. However, as finely as the author characterizes animals, he doesn't seem to know what to do with kids; the pair are completely devoid of personality, stay off stage as much as possible, and are ultimately dumped unceremoniously from the series. What happened to them?

    I'm a little baffled by Kurt Wiese's change of style in this one, as well. For instance, Jinx was drawn as his usual svelte black self in the first book. In this one, he suddenly becomes a white, bloated monster. Why? In "Freddy the Detective," he's back to his old self and we finally have a formula that will keep the series going (after a few more false starts).

    One more pressing question: How did the phaeton get home again?

    3 out of 5 stars Freddy the Pig meets Santa Claus.......2001-05-11

    This is the second of the Freddy the Pig books written by Walter R. Brooks. The earlier books, while terrific for children, are not as entertaining for adults as the later books. The Freddy books are great moral instruction without ever being preachy, always entertaining. In this book, the Bean farm animals decide to visit the North Pole. They have adventures galore on the way and, at the Pole, help save Santa from some well-meaning pirates who are trying to bring efficiency to Santa's workshop. I didn't rate this book higher only because later Freddy books have an even greater appeal. For children, this should be at least a four-star

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