Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature)
The story of Ernest Shackleton has been told in several books--among the most recent are Escape from the Ice: Shackleton and the Endurance by Connie and Peter Roop and The Endurance: Shackleton's Perilous Expedition to Antarctica by Meredith Hooper. This story is aimed at younger readers and it successfully recounts the true story of a most harrowing adventure. It is 1914, and Shackleton and his crew are headed for Antarctica. They end up trapped in the ice and are forced to abandon their ship. Through great hardship, Shackleton manages to both keep the spirit of his men up and effect a daring rescue. He was a true hero who saved everyone in his party, even though it took months. Kids who read this story may definitely want to know more and to enjoy some of the extraordinary photographic records found in other books. This "Mile 4 First Chapter Book" is an excellent addition for a classroom or school or home library. 2001, Golden Books, $3.99. Ages 6 to 8.

Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, June 15, 2001 (Vol. 69, No. 12))
The amazing Antarctic survival story of Sir Ernest Shackleton and his crew is the basis for this transitional chapter book. Shackleton and his crew of 27 were attempting to cross the continent of Antarctica in 1914, when their ship, the "Endurance", became stuck in the ice. They stayed with the ship for seven months, camped on ice floes for five months, and then rowed in small lifeboats to a distant island. Their saga continued as Shackleton and four of the men continued on to another island to get help for the rest of the crew, and all the crew members survived the 18-month ordeal. Penner does a serviceable job of summarizing a complex story in brief chapters, with short sentences that convey the information with a sense of excitement and inherent danger. A few black-and-white photographs from the actual expedition are included (without captions), supplemented with LaFleur's coordinating illustrations in icy blues and lavenders. Several books for young readers on the Shackleton saga have been published in the last few years, including two well-received volumes by Jennifer Armstrong and an easy reader in Random House's Step into Reading series (Monica Kulling's "Sea of Ice: The Wreck of the Endurance", 1999). Still, kids do love disaster books, and this story has all the drawing power of a disaster without the unhappy ending (except for the poor sled dogs). 2001, Golden Books. Category: Easy reader/nonfiction. Ages 6 to 9. © 2001 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Horn Book (The Horn Book Guide, Spring 2002)
With short, simple sentences, Penner describes Shackleton's 1914 attempted expedition to Antarctica. The complete rescue and the most dramatic moments are included, such as Shackleton's plucking a crew member out of the icy water as the floe split beneath their tent, but quotations are undocumented. The text is illustrated with adequate artwork and four black-and-white photographs. (Road to Reading series). Category: Nonfiction-History. 2001, Golden, 48pp, $7.99, $3.99. Ages 5 to 9. Rating: 4: Recommended, with minor flaws.