A great learning resource that feels like an encyclopaedia.
Feature image credit: Penguin Books Australia
All About Antarctica doesn’t just present facts about Antarctica — it feels like you are going on a journey. As I moved through the pages, the sequence and choice of information provided gave me a strong sense of the experience of being there. You learn about how people live and work in such an extreme place, how important it is to maintain the pristine environment, what to do in case of emergency, and what to do when you are there. It makes everything feel real rather than just being an informational piece.
Of course, there are still the more general facts about things such as marine life and penguins, different types of transport, the research stations from various countries, temperature data, types of ice, glaciers, and explorers. The hardcover is ideal for upper primary school students and visual learners. It is an engaging introduction to Antarctica with a significant amount of information, but not too deeply technical, allowing for learning through exploration and imagery.
Although the content is quite dense, with a lot happening on each page, the muted, matte colours of the illustrations and the choice of font make it easy on the eyes. The pages lacked borders and boxes and the like (to separate different bits of information), but the mix of information and images somehow felt organised and balanced. The book is visually satisfying and easy to move through, and because it isn’t too rigid, I could choose what I wanted to read first.
Marc Martin is a highly talented Australian author-illustrator and has twice been awarded Best Illustrated Picture Book by the New York Times. After reading All About Antarctica, there’s no question why that is.
Reviewed by Rebecca Wu
The views expressed in this review belong to the author and not Glam Adelaide, its affiliates, or employees.
Distributed by: Penguin Books Australia
Released: October 2025
RRP: $24.99
