Bodies From The Ice By James M. Deem

1.  Bibliography
Deem, James M.  2008.  BODIES FROM THE ICE MELTING GLACIERS AND THE RECOVERY OF THE PAST.  Boston:  Houghton Mifflin Company.  ISBN 978618800452

2.  Plot Summary
Everyday glaciers all over the world are melting.  A couple hiking in Italy discovered the body of a man that lived 5,300 years ago.  Has the ice disappears the rocky ground underneath displays artifacts and bodies from the past.  There are glaciers all over the world that are showing evidence from history.  Some of the people that have been found under the ice and snow are hunters, soldiers, children, travelers, shepherds, and dairymaids.  When scientists find the bodies they can study them to make discovers from the past.  The author of this book takes the reader on an adventure to explore glaciers that are melting all over the world and the ancient treasures that have been found.  Whether it is a body or the sole of a soldiers boot. 

3.  Critical Analysis
The author of the book is a college professor who has written other nonfiction titles.  He did not go on this journey of the glaciers, but researched the information for this book.  Each chapter of the book opens with a beautiful picture of the glacier being discussed on one page and text and a map of the location of the glacier on the opposite page.  The photographs in the book are big and beautiful.  Every fine detail is displayed in the images.  The pictures of  the book may be too detailed for younger children.  Some of the pictures are very graphic and emotional.  Every picture includes a caption for easy reading through the book.  The reader can use the table of contents to decide what glacier they would like to learn about.  The table of content provides the reader an easy way to find exactly what they want to read.  In the back of the book is a page suggesting websites and glaciers to visit.  There is also an index if the reader is looking for a specific topic.   The book is well organized and easy to use.  The pictures are amazing and draw the reader to read the text to understand what is happening with these melting glaciers.

4.  Review Excerpts
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL starred review, "With its extensive bibliography, suggested Web sites, and a listing of glaciers to visit, Bodies is a fantastic resource. Deem superbly weaves diverse geographical settings, time periods, and climate issues into a readable work that reveals the increasing interdisciplinary dimensions of the sciences."
BOOKLIST states,"There are books about melting glaciers and books about frozen bodies, but this attractive offering combines the topics in a way that will intrigue readers."

5.  Connections
Pick important facts from each glacier in the story.  Include what the scientist found at the melting glacier and the location of the glacier.  After reading the information to the children have them form groups and pick the glacier that they found the most intriguing.  Have them research that glaciers location and the time period from where the body and artifacts are from.  Than have each group develop a poster about the information they researched to share with the class.   
Other  books by James Deem about bodies:
Deem, James.  BODIES FROM THE ASH:  LIFE AND DEATH IN ANCIENT POMPEII.  ISBN 9780618473083
Deem, James.  BODIES FROM THE BOG.  ISBN 9780618354020