1. Adventure
2. Animals
3. Antarctica
4. Art techniques
5. Birds
6. Book design
7. Cartography
8. Climate
9. Danger
10. Ecosystems
11. Emotions
12. Endpapers
13. Environmental protection
14. Exploration
15. Geography
16. History
17. Isolation
18. Marine life
19. Multimodal narratives
20. Nature
21. Nonfiction
22. Penguins
23. Perspectives (Art)
24. Photography
25. Safety
26. Science
27. Seas and oceans
28. Survival
29. Visual literacy
30. Weather
31. Whales
32. Wonder

To voyage to Antarctica is to travel into a realm of awe and wonder, a place of mystique, of immense beauty and of wonderous creatures. It is a vast landscape where people are at the mercy of the elements. A place where perceptions and senses are challenged and changed requiring new ways to describe what is seen and felt.

Alison Lester and Coral Tulloch have visited Antarctica many times and, in this book, they take the reader with them on a southern journey, an exploration of Antarctica. They describe the book as an exploration, a reflection on the human response to this unique continent and what it means to those who have gone there in times past.

The narration is multimodal weaving real-time journal style entries with photographs and illustrations interspersed with voices, commentary and reflections from earlier visitors to the ice, one as early as 1847 to those of more contemporary times. These provide an interesting backdrop to the reflections of the two authors.

The book’s format and design is varied throughout. The endpapers introduce the vastness of the continent with their stunning photographs of towering icebergs. Text, photographs, artwork and maps are spread throughout with some images on a single page, others running across a double page. There is a range of mediums employed making the story come alive, of particular note is Coral Tulloch’s timed illustrations (p 47) of waiting during a white fog, blocks of white against a black background with a couple showing shadowy squiggles as the landscape momentarily emerged. These are simple images that show much about the continent and its challenges.

It is an excellent book for sharing for both the narrative and visual literacy elements alone, but the range of topics covered is broad and enticing. The ocean, the animal wildlife, the heroic era of exploration, the Antarctic Treaty and the responsibilities it creates, the human present, social isolation, climate change and much more.

At the back are several pages of credits and information for the many quotes, photographs and illustrations contained in the book.

Antarctica is unique, the only place on Earth where humans have worked together to create a scientific preserve for all. It is dedicated to peace and research. Environmental care is law as well as cooperation between nations. Antarctica belongs to us all.

1. Allen & Unwin ‘Into the Ice’ by Alison Lester and Coral Tulloch includes a link to teaching resources written by the authors https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Alison-Lester-and-Coral-Tulloch-Into-the-Ice:-Reflections-on-Antarctica-9781760526061
2. Scholastic Teaching Notes by Carolyn Walsh for ‘Into the Ice’ by Alison Lester and Coral Tulloch https://resource.scholastic.com.au/ResourceFiles/100135676_125281.pdf
3. Story Links 17 November 2024 Margaret Mckay-Lowndes reviews ‘Into the Ice’ by Alison Lester and Coral Tulloch https://storylinks.booklinks.org.au/2024/11/17/into-the-ice-reflections-on-antarctica/
4. Kids’ Book Review 3 November 2024 Sarah Steed reviews ‘Into the Ice’ by Alison Lester and Coral Tulloch http://www.kids-bookreview.com/2024/11/review-into-ice-reflections-on.html
5. The Book Muse 29 October 2024 Ashleigh Merkle reviews ‘Into the Ice’ by Alison Lester and Coral Tulloch https://ashleighmeikle.com.au/2024/10/29/into-the-ice-reflections-of-antarctica-by-alison-lester-and-coral-tulloch/
6. Just So Stories Blog 13 November 2024. Sue Warren reviews ‘Into the Ice’ by Alison Lester and Coral Tulloch https://losangzopa.blog/2024/11/13/into-the-ice-reflections-on-antarctica-alison-lester-coral-tulloch/
7. Buzz Words Books 9 December 2024 Karen Hendriks reviews ‘Into the Ice’ by Alison Lester and Coral Tulloch http://www.buzzwordsmagazine.com/2024/12/into-ice-reflections-on-antarctica.html
8. My Book Corner Sareen McLay reviews ‘Into the Ice’ by Alison Lester and Coral Tulloch https://www.mybookcorner.co.uk/into-the-ice-reflections-on-antarctica-by-alison-lester-and-coral-tulloch
9. Books for Topics review of ‘Into the Ice’ by Alison Lester and Coral Tulloch https://www.booksfortopics.com/book/into-the-ice-reflections-on-antarctica/