Glacier on the Move

by Elizabeth Rusch, Alice Brereton (Illustrator)

Meet Flo, a glacier, as she shows you what the life of a glacier is like in this picture book filled with fun facts, from what glaciers are and how they’re formed to what creatures live there, and more.

Glaciers exist on every continent on earth, growing, spreading, and shrinking over thousands of years. But what are they, and how are they formed? Glacier on the Move tells the story of a glacier named Flo and her slow-motion race to the sea, from the edge of an ice field and down steep cliffs, to muscling her way around mountains, and stretching into a valley. With the help of some iceworms in the margins, Flo reveals how glaciers move, change shape, and provide for the surrounding world and animals. Blending fascinating science facts with dynamic illustrations, Glacier on the Move introduces young readers to glacial history and science in a captivating and unique way.

Genres: Picture Books, Nature, Science, Childrens, Nonfiction, Storytime

32 pages, Hardcover

Published August 27, 2019

About the author

ELIZABETH RUSCH is an award-winning book author, magazine writer, editor, writing teacher and speaker. Her wide-ranging passions include astronomy, volcanology, art, music, history, nature, waves, jokes, crayons, and mud — anything that catches her fancy. She is inspired by stories of exploration and discovery, stories that have been overlooked by history, and stories that grapple with persistent questions. Whether writing fiction or nonfiction for children or adults or teaching workshops, she hopes her work opens doors, opens minds, opens possibilities.

Reviews

[Moonkiszt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Featured in a grandma reads session.

This personified Glacier does a great job of describing who and what she is and how she has imprinted herself on landscapes throughout the world. The artwork fully supports the concepts presented and my group thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Discussion followed about the different geological features they had seen or hiked or had been pointed out to them by their parents or teachers. Plans began to form for glacier locations near each family.

Success!

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Flo is a glacier who is explaining to the reader about her icy journey. The book is good, but I didn't like the illustrations. They were a little confusing in some areas.

[Jj · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cool topic (terrible pun fully intended) but this book is hard to follow between very busy illustrations and oddly placed text. But I DID learn about ice worms, which was neat.

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed GLACIER ON THE MOVE. The cute illustrations and personified glacier enlivened a potentially dry subject to impart science facts to young readers.

I am also so happy that this book had the bravery to discuss an important aspect of climate change that nearly every environmental book for both children and adults tap-dances around. At the book's conclusion, a "more information" section discusses climate change and the things we can do to lesson our climate impact. Along with the typical stuff about lightbulbs, we also get a suggestion about reducing meat consumption-- hooray! This may not seem like anything especially radical--and it isn't, it's just common sense--but seeing how I read a recently-published children's book about water conservation that showed a family dining on steaks while a swimming pool sat empty in their yard, it's clear that this vitally important issue is criminally overlooked. Smart books like GLACIER ON THE MOVE are helping to turn that tide--even if it's happening at a glacial pace.

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great example of why I love children's books! While learning in large typical picture book font about the movement of a glacier, it is the tiny print where exceptional learning can happen. When I read books like this, I tell students I am reading only the main part the first time and then returning to see what else is there. The small print looks footnotish, but is on any top or bottom of a page. The glacier is adorable (not a statement I ever expected to make) and engaging to even an adult reader. The science connections are awesome: time periods (glaciers began in the ice ages), climate vs. temperature, and ecology which includes the plant and animal connections to glaciers. (I have never heard about ice worms until today!) Back matter supports learning, as well.

This science book in the shape of a picture book will be loved by budding scientists as much as their teachers!

[Kelly]

This book was a new look at glaciers for me. It has the main words and then a little ice worm around the pages telling you more detailed facts. It definitely is a glacier on the move, and the book kind of explains its life cycle or the path it travels. The onomatopoeia is helpful for finding out what happens. It has a bit of backmatter and further reading. It's definitely intended for younger kids first learning about glaciers with the language it uses.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative science picture book told in first person from a glacier's perspective. An ice worm, "the only animals that make glaciers their permanent home," provides factual tidbits and commentary throughout the book.

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story about Flo the glacier and her journey from Ice Age to snowstorm and ice build-up. Has sidebars or facts within the margins and back matter to explore glacier information. This book also refers to the changes of the glaciers due to climate change and has a bibliography in the back.

[Angela De Groot · Rating 5 out of 5]

If a glacier could talk what would it say? Meet Flo and discover what it’s like to be a glacier. Find out about ice worms - that’s right, ice worms, “the only animals that make glaciers their permanent home.” Engaging and informative.

[Megan Wagner · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty pictures. Interesting facts. Not a very exciting story...

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

An elementary and up picture book with nonfiction facts about a glacier growing over time and then moving to other climates.

[Anne Lutomia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book about glaciers. Bookend has interesting facts about glaciers and global climate change, and ice worms

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting! If you want fun facts about glaciers put into one easy story, this is the one for you!

[Andréa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher at ALA Annual 2019.