1. Animals
2. Cartography
3. Climate
4. Ecosystems
5. Environment
6. Geography
7. Nature
8. Plants
9. Seas and oceans
10. Watercolour

The first-person narrative and muted watercolour illustrations give an intimate feel to this personal account of the author and illustrator’s trip to the United States Antarctic research facilities on and near Anvers Island, south of the tip of Chile. Subtitled ‘The Hidden Worlds of Antarctica’s Animals’, the author and illustrator spent three months with researchers, observing, writing and drawing as part of the National Science Foundation Antarctic Artists & Writers Program. Animals that are ‘hidden’ and presumably uncovered through the narrative are krill, elephant seals, Adélie penguins, shags, humpback whales, giant petrels, chinstrap penguins, gentoo penguins, skuas, leopard, fur seals and elephant seals.

Repeated observations and statements on authorial processes and drawing animals in situ often take priority over the ‘hidden worlds’ of the animals drawn and described. The first-person narrative constructs the facts presented as deeply subjective and at times misleading. For instance, in describing the Adéile penguin chicks, it is said that they ‘become penguins’ only when they learn to swim and hunt for themselves. There are no references given, and no directives for further reading. There is an index, map and some commentary on climate change, sea ice and the impacts on the complex food web in Antarctica.

In addition to watercolours of landscapes and animals large and small, there are also black and white outline sketches on some pages as well as the front and back endpapers. These sketches add to the text as an example of the aesthetics and practicalities of illustrating and working in an extreme environment. Not surprisingly for a book on Antarctica, white space is used throughout the book to frame and contain both text and image.

1. World Wide Fund for Nature, ‘Climate Witness: Meredith Hooper, Antarctica’ (with Dutch, French and Spanish translations) 8 November 2007 on another of her books on Antarctica https://wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/?116720/Climate-Witness-Meredith-Hooper-Antarctica
2. Kirkus Book Reviews, review of ‘Antarctic Journal’, 20 May 2010 https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/meredith-hooper/antarctic-journal/
3. The ABC Education for historical footage of seasons and scientific work in Antarctica https://discover.abc.net.au
4. ABC Education for footage of Emperor penguins https://www.abc.net.au/education/catalyst-penguin-wave-better-than-a-group-hug/13940424
5. ABC Education for videos and articles on climate change https://www.abc.net.au/education/topic-climate/13810910
6. Australia’s Antarctic research stations from the Australian Government’s Antarctic Program https://www.antarctica.gov.au/antarctic-operations/stations/
7. BBC information for students on the geography and fauna of Antarctica https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zsk4r2p/articles/zp4jdp3
8. BBC information for students on the challenges facing Antarctica, including climate change and the International Antarctic Treaty https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zsk4r2p/articles/zrgm7yc?course=zj9tn9q
9. BBC information for students on ice sheets, glaciers and Antarctic geology from the British Antarctic Survey https://discoveringantarctica.org.uk/oceans-atmosphere-landscape/ice-land-and-sea/ice-sheets-and-glaciation/
10. Smithsonian Magazine offers short, often quirky articles on different Antarctic animals, including penguins https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/14-fun-facts-about-penguins-41774295/
11. Smithsonian Magazine offers short, often quirky articles on different Antarctic animals, including and krill https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/zooplankton-and-krill-pee-helps-determine-ocean-chemistry-180953034/