Karen Patkau is the award-winning author and illustrator of many books for children. Creatures Great and Small, which she wrote and illustrated, was a Shining Willow Nominee 2008 and a Canadian Children's Book Centre Our Choice 2007 book. The companion book, Creatures Yesterday and Today, was on the Book Sense Summer 2008 Children's Pick List. Both titles were Resource Links Best of the Years selections. The first three books in Karen's Ecosystem Series - Who Needs a Jungle? Who Needs a Swamp? Who Needs an Iceberg? - were published to much critical acclaim. Who Needs a Swamp? received a Silver Birch Express 2013 nomination and was a Green Book Festival 2012 Honor Book. Who Needs and Iceberg? was a Green Book Festival 2013 Honor Book. Who Needs a Jungle? was chosen for the Canadian Children's Book Centre Best Books for Kids & Teens 2012.
PRAISE FOR Ecosystem Series: Patkau introduces readers to the North American Arctic ecosystem efficiently and methodically, discussing habitat, the food chain and seasonal changes, along with the ever-important formation of the iceberg.... Her digitally composed illustrations at times offer informative scenic views, and at times, present readers with more direct scientific information. This, as well as its companion volumes Who Needs a Swamp? and Who Needs a Jungle? offers a clear, readable introduction for budding naturalists and geographers. - The Toronto Star ...Patkau offers a series of vibrant scenes ... striking illustrations. The text both interprets the visual content ... and offers paragraphs of diverse facts. - Booklist