Children's Literature – Jean Boreen:
Nonfiction written for kids has made such fantastic leaps in the past ten years, and this new interesting and informative addition is thoroughly enjoyable and readers will find it engaging. I am fairly confident that not too many children—much less their parents or teachers—have given too much thought to the ice industry that was huge during the majority of the 19th and early 20th century. This text, full of amazing details as well as pictures (of ice, the tools used to harvest it, and the advertising around it) provides readers with a wealth of information that will both enlighten and entertain. Text boxes throughout the book provide interesting factoids as well as personal testimonials about those who were connected to the industry or to some aspect of ice harvesting. Also, as noted, the pictures and illustrations chosen to highlight both the use of ice as well as the industry that developed are excellent. This book is a great addition to any school library, especially with the current focus on Common Core standards and the importance of informational text in the classroom. Reviewer: Jean Boreen, Ph.D.