Synopses & Reviews
People call it and#147;The Ghost of the Mountain,and#8221; for those who live among snow leopards almost never see one. Beautiful spotted coats conceal these elusive cats in their rocky, high-altitude habitatand#151;a place where temperatures are often cold enough to freeze human tears. A thick, long tail for balance helps snow leopards spring at their prey from great distancesand#151;prey that is often three times its own size. Slinking along the Mongolian mountain ridges, the snow leopards are invisibleand#151;and almost impossible to study.
But that doesnand#8217;t deter scientist Tom McCarthy, Conservation Director of the Seattle-based Snow Leopard Trust, or his many colleagues from dedicating their livesand#8217; work to the study and protection of this seldom-seen creature. And it doesnand#8217;t stop Sy Montgomery and Nic Bishop from packing their bags in order to join Tom on a trek to Mongolia, where they hope to learn more about this magical cat, a cat who doesnand#8217;t give up its secrets easily.
It will take endurance and persistence to climb the dusty mountain trails, hope of a snow leopard sighting rising and falling with each new summit. It will take practice and experience to lay humane leghold snares, collect scat samples, and set up motion-triggered cameras. It will take patience, focusand#151;and yes, loveand#151;to dedicate a lifetime learning more about this little-understood creature. But thatand#8217;s the only way the Snow Leopard Trust can protect their charges, before the snow leopard truly becomes nothing but a ghost of the mountain.
With a dazzling, as-it-happens narrative and spectacular photographs, Sy Montgomery and Nic Bishop bring Mongolia up close for readers everywhere.
Review
"This title offers a wealth of scientific information along with an insightful look at the world of an individual scientist." School Library Journal, Starred
"The text nicely illustrates how a scientist explores, discovers, and formulates questions." Booklist, ALA
Review
"Montgomery has a gift for scene-setting... She deftly weaves clear explanations and comparisons into the main text... Bishop's phenomenal photos show spiders mating, shedding their skin, even leaping through the air. It's enough to make Miss Muffet fall in love." Kirkus Reviews, Starred
"...this is a vivid look at an enthusiastic scientist energetically and happily at work, both in the field and in the lab, questioning, examining, testing, and making connections. A treat, even for arachnophobes." School Library Journal, Starred
"Bishop's photographs rise magnificently to the challenge of capturing earth-toned spiders amid earth-toned jungle surroundings, bringing the critters up-close and personal and offering a few of his trademark astonishing stop-action shots... This would liven up a science curriculum no end, and it might also convince young readers to go beyond the elemental pleasures of 'Ew, gross' to the more sophisticated appreciation of 'Wow, cool.'" The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, Starred
This beautifully photographed book explains just about everything an elementary school student might want to know about this often misunderstood and maligned creature.
The Five Owls, Starred
Review
"Under the careful supervision of forest rangers and volunteers on an island off the New Zealand coast, the nearly extinct, flightless Kakapo parrot is the object of an intensive rescue effort described by this experienced writer-photographer team...As always, theand#160;photographer's remarkable and clearly reproduced photographs support and enhance the text. The book's careful design is unobtrusive: The progress of an opening egg sets off page numbers, and fern patterns provide a subtle decoration. Bibliography and a website encourageand#160;readers' further explorations. Wonderful."and#8212;
Kirkus, starred review"Montgomeryand#8217;s delight in her subject is contagious, and throughout her enthusiastic text, she nimbly blends scientific and historical facts with immediate, sensory descriptions of fieldwork. Young readers will be fascinated."and#8212;Booklist, starred review "Take a parrot. Color it green. Give it soft, fluffy feathers, and whiskers. Give it sumo proportions and take away its power of flight. Make it nocturnal, and have it nest underground. Aha! A kakapo!...Excellent photos and a readable, conversational text provide an intimate look at a concerted effort to save a drastically endangered species unfamiliar to most of the world outside Down Under. Readers who enjoyed this author/photographer teamand#8217;s The Tarantula Scientist (2007) or Quest for the Tree Kangaroo (2006, both Houghton) will gobble up this tribute to ecological science in action." and#8212;School Library Journal, starred review
"More than most books about environmentalism or endangered species, this will encourage kids to consider how hands-on action can genuinely make a difference and how scientific contributions can be made by people who never go near a test tube."and#8212;The Bulletin, starred review
Review
"Move over, Spider-Man. . . . Abundant photographs and a lively narrative make the topic accessible and almost lighthearted, and Heos lays groundwork for readers with a basic introduction to DNA and gene theory."
and#8212;Publishers Weekly, starred review
"A complex, controversial topic, positively presented."
and#8212;School Library Journal
"Clear focus, careful explanztions with occasional repetition of denser information, and a wealth of color photographs make this title inviting and accessible. . . and the kissin'-cute goats should entice quite a few readers to explore this project further."
and#8212;Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Review
"[The] latest title in the consistently interesting Scientists in the Field series . . . A science title with wide potential appeal."
and#8212;Kirkus
"Well researched, clearly written, and quite informative, this handsome book offers close-up views of scientists at work and why their work matters."
and#8212;Booklist, starred review
"The informationand#8212;a combination of lab and field science details and personal observationand#8212;is accessible and engaging."
and#8212;Horn Book
"As with other titles in this series, the photography is outstanding, and the images of horses going about their daily business in all kinds of conditions put them front and center. . . . A worth complement to most collections."
and#8212;School Library Journal, starred review
Review
"This intriguing volume from the Scientists in the Field series will interest readers." --
Booklist "The many color photographs, predominantly from the Namibian field sites, capture the majestic elder elephants, their always-appealing offspring, and the dusty, rugged landscapes in which the scientists and research assistants camp and work."--
Horn Bookand#160; "This amazing presentation is a must-have for all collections." --
School Library Journal, starred review
and#160;
Review
"Hayes comes across as both a dedicated scientist and a regular person, willing to work hard in pursuit of his scientific work yet quick to laugh and joke with his family and the graduate students he mentors. The result is one of the most compelling portraits of a scientific career the series has produced. Sharp, vivid photographs alternate between portrayals of the scientistsand#151;at work in field and laboratory settings, as well as relaxing at lab picnics and at homeand#151;and the frogs they study. The abundant images of many different frog species allow readers to observe in detail each animaland#8217;s characteristics, including size, anatomy, and habitat."--
Horn Book, STARRED review
and#160;". . . lively volume . . . Well organized and clearly written, the text goes into detail about the process of analyzing the chemicaland#8217;s affects on the frogs, but pulls back from specifics to show how the experiment fits into the larger picture . . . Excellent color photos offer clear pictures of frogs and of this scientific team at work in the field and in the lab . . . Throughout the book, Turner portrays Hayes as both a colorful personality and a dedicated scientist: the final chapter opens with a discussion of his four ear piercings and concludes with an overview of his research. A vivid, realistic view of one scientist at work."--Booklist, STARRED review
". . . a nifty narrative that conveys science in action, offers some insight into environmental damage, and provides a vivid portrait of an energetic and charismatic (and hunky) young scientist who's clearly inspiring students to take an interest in the field. The visually appealing layout is thick with images of people, making it easy to envision the realities of biological work, and of frogs, from hopping to undergoing dissection . . . useful as an introduction to the creation and execution of an experiment, and it will therefore be invaluable in science classes."--The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, STARRED review
"Of the same sterling quality as Sy Montgomery's engaging The Tarantula Scientist (2004) or her exciting Quest for the Tree Kangaroo (2006, both Houghton), this new addition to a stellar series opens an upbeat window to the adult application of youthful enthusiasms."--School Library Journal, STARRED reviewand#160;
and#160;
Review
"[This] handsomely designed volume displays the joys of being fascinated by one's work.and#8221; 6/1-615/2008 Booklist, ALA
and#8220;Thoughtful design adds to the pleasure of this splendid invitation to explore darker corners of the universe." 5/1/08 Kirkus Reviews, Starred
"[A] sense of adventure that readers will feel as they join a team of researchers on science's biggest frontier." School Library Journal
Review
An exciting, visually awesome look at frontier science.
School Library Journal, Starred
The newest entry in this terrific series takes readers considerably further into the "field" than any of its predecessorsand#133;Readers will come away with a clear sense of the lure of this frustrating but exciting endeavor.
Booklist, ALA, Starred Review
and#147;The search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence (SETI) program is a fascinating venture, as is readily evident from spending time with SETIand#8217;s director, Jill Tarter, in this terrific addition to the first-rate Scientists in the Field series.and#8221; Horn Book
Review
"The lively text communicates both the meticulous measurements required in this kind of work and the thrill of new discoveries." SLJ, starred School Library Journal, Starred
"A stellar example of how good such books can be." --Booklist, starred Booklist, ALA, Starred Review
Each spring, 18,000 red-sided garter snakes emerge en masse from three underground dens in Manitoba, Canada, where they have spent the winter stacked on top of one another like cordwood. As the snakes spill out of the dens, Earthwatch volunteers and students gather them up and stuff them in pillowcases bought in bulk at the Salvation Army. The captured snakes then participate in a day's behavioral experiments directed by Bob Mason, a zoologist at Oregon State University. (In 1989 Mason identified the pheromone, or scent, that draws the male to the female garter snake.) The snakes might interact in colorful "arenas" that look like upended box kites or attempt to follow a path marked with scent through a maze. Mason is trying to figure out why female snakes prefer bigger males and how the snakes find their way to the marsh twenty miles away from the dens....A solid introduction to the ethos of experimental science as seen by a genial scientist with a research topic whose kid appeal is hard to beat.
Horn Book
Review
The writer and photographer of this exemplary description of science field work accompanied researcher Lisa Dabek on an expedition high in New Guinea's mountains to study tree kangaroos and promote the conservation of this elusive and endangered species. With early references to Dr. Seuss and hobbits, Montgomery connects the world of the young reader to this beautiful, distant place. She paces her narrative well, alternating focus on people and place, keeping the reader engaged and concerned about the expedition's success. As in other books in the series, she describes how local schoolchildren are involved. Her detailed account highlights scientific work habits, including extensive planning, necessary patience, careful observations and recording and the contiunal questions that arise. One unfortunately flipped picture notwithstanding, Bishop's photographs, shots of the expedition members, strinking close-ups of flora and fauna including the sought-for kangaroo and lush, green cloud forest scenes, are beautifully reproduced. From the maps in front to the concluding suggestions for young enthusiasts, information about the language, and index, this is another commendable title from an experienced team.
Publishers Weekly, Starred
Another beautifully illustrated entry in the Scientists in the field series... Montgomery gives a chronological, sometimes moment-by-moment account of the challenging climb into the remote cloud forest...[giving] an unusually strong, visceral sense of the work and cooperation fieldwork entails and the scope and uniqueness of theis particular mission...As usual, Bishop's color photographs are exemplary and extend the excitement in close-ups of creatures and of the team at work.
Booklist, ALA, Starred Review
Montgomery's friendliness and curiosity set the tone...Bishop's photography is, as always, outstanding...Dabek's advice to young naturalists...[is a] useful addition.
Horn Book
In this fact-packed adventure with stunning photos, readers joins scientists in New Guinea to radio-collar the way-cute tree-dweller.
People Magazine
"[M]eet the amazing scientists who track these elusive animals." Midwest Book Review November 2007 Midwest Book Review
Review
"Throughout the presentation, readers learn about the anatomy, development, and social behavior of honey bees, and observe the process of scientific investigation and its vital, real-world application. Appended are lists of recommended books, magazines, films, Web sites as well as a glossary and a source bibliography. A fascinating book from the Scientists in the Field series."and#8212;Booklist, starred review
"Not long after beekeepers encountered a devastating new problem in their hives in 2006, a team of bee scientists began working to discover the causes of colony collapse disorder (CCD), now attributed to a combination of factors possibly including pesticides, nutrition, mites and viruses...Harasimowicz's clear, beautifully reproduced photographs support and extend the text."and#8212;Kirkus, starred review
and#160;
Review
"Profiles of scientists and ranchers, discussions of other animals of the Pantanal, Bishop's typically electric photography, and a few tense moments in the wild combine to create a full, fascinating picture of tapirs and one place they call home, as well as the work being done to protect them."
and#8212;Publishers Weekly, starred review
"Chapters about the team's day-by-day experiences, written in a lively, first-person voice, include memorable detail. . . A splendid addition to an exemplary series."
and#8212;Kirkus, starred review
"This contribution to the Scientists in the Field series seamlessly blends eloquent text and vivid images to spotlight the gentle tapir and those field scientists whose lives are committed to conserve animal species for the sake of our environment and our humanity."
and#8212;Booklist, starred review
"Bishop's captivating photographs, paired with Montgomery's narrative, not only call attention to a lesser-known endangered species, but also expose readers to the working conditions, obstacles, and emotions experienced by passionate scientists in the field."
and#8212;School Library Journal, starred review
"[The book] offers a clear-eyed picture of the challenges and the joys of pioneering fieldwork."
and#8212;Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"Montgomery's dramatic account of tracking the elusive animals is interspersed with scientific information about the various tapir species, samples of Medici's data on tapir movements, explanations of the technologies used in the research, and discussions of Brazilian ranching culture."
and#8212;The Horn Book Magazine
Review
An exceptional addition to a fine series that carries the same hallmark of quality as its predecessors. Mallory's readable text follows the swim fins of marine biologist Pete Klimley and an IMAX film team to seamounts off Cocos Island in the Pacific Ocean to observe and film schooling hammerheads. . . . Full of hammerhead data as well, it will be a useful tool for young report writers as well as a good read, and may well inspire some children to turn to marine biology or photography as a lifelong interest.
School Library Journal, Starred
Review
"Spectacular and appealing photos of gorillas, scientists and the Rwanda Preserve. . . . An outstanding science nature title." Kirkus Reviews, Starred
The readable text records their efforts to treat the great apes in the field as they encounter poachers, meet with loss of habitat, and face their newest threat: human diseases that can cross species lines. . . . The whole is accompanied by striking, full-color photographs and includes a list of other resources, a postscript, and an index." School Library Journal, Starred
"Excellent photographs prominently feature the scientists at work (predominantly women and people of color in scientific roles) as well as the photogenic gorillas." --Horn Book, starred Horn Book, Starred
"[An] enjoyable and often enlightening read. Turner has a light touch that never undercuts the fundamental seriousness of her subject, and she quietly makes the local people, who have to deal with the gorillas marauding through their farms but also benefit from gorilla tourism, important figures in the account along with the scientists." Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"Veterinarians in east central Africa who make house callsor rather, forest calls” to mountain gorillas are the focus of this entry in the excellent Scientists in the Field series." Booklist, ALA
Review
"With striking images of coral-reef inhabitants, this photo-essay introduces Project Seahorse, an international effort to protect and rehabilitate the Danajon Bank, a double reef off a Philippine Island where seahorses once flourished...Tuason, a noted Asian marine photographer whose specialty is the Philippines, seems equally adept at photographing the land and people and the underwater world. This is another splendid demonstration of the work of Scientists in the Field."--
Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"Thanks to the fluent, information-rich narrative and to Tuason's engagingly up-close color photos of both human divers and of sea horses and other reef denizens, readers will come away with a much clearer understanding of the sea horse's distinctively "oddballbiology" and also of how one conservation success story hinged on cooperation between scientists and concerned local residents."--Booklist, reviewand#160;
Review
Jim Brandenburg's unparalleled wildlife photographs illustrate this cogently organized and skillfully designed account of the reintroduction of gray wolves to Yellowstone National Park. Beginning with a historical overview of wolf conservation, Swinburne and Brandenburg then take readers through the controversy that accompanied the reintroduction program and the methods used by biologists and wildlife managers to accustom the wolves, brought from Canada, to their new environment. "The number-one goal of the Yellowstone Wolf Project is to remove the gray wolf from the endangered species list," and while the book is in full agreement with this intent, the approach is bracingly journalistic, not sentimental. The large color photos are well placed on the spacious pages, and the captions amplify as much as label. A list of adult and juvenile sources, a directory of websites, and an index are included.
Horn Book
In the Scientists in the Field series, a title that documents those who have championed the much-maligned wolf, and the science used to dispute claims of ranchers and farmers that wolves threaten cattle and sheep. Wolves, villainized in folklore and literature, were nearly eradicated from North America by early settlers who feared their cattle would be eaten and their children menaced. Farmers shot them, ranchers poisoned them, and bounty hunters killed mothers and cubs in their dens by the thousands. Swinburne chronicles how, in the 1930s, conservationists and ecologists began to study the food chain, and began to see the gray wolf's necessary and important role in the balance of nature. So ingrained is the hatred of wolves that even with the efforts of dedicated scientists, it has taken decades to return the gray wolf to small areas of Yellowstone National Park and to begin efforts to return them to New York state. Swinburne (Guess Whose Shadow?, p. 230, etc.) quotes men and women of the past and present involved in these efforts; some balance is provided by including the views of a rancher, but the author clearly favors the reintroduction of the wolf. Brandenburg's striking full-color photographs of wolves in the wild and in captivity turn an already informative work into a glossy tribute to a majestic animal.
Kirkus Reviews
Review
"An exemplary addition to an always thought-provoking series."
and#8212;Kirkus, starred review
"Mann not only provides excellent examples of scientific thinking through the formulation and testing of hypotheses, she also serves as an authentic and engaging role model for girls considering careers in science. . . [An] affecting and vividly photographed work of nonfiction."
and#8212;Booklist
"Readers come away with an amazing, if sometimes blurred vision of a culture different from their own . . . A challenging, attractive eye-opener."
and#8212;School Library Journal, starred review
"There's no shortage of fascinating science in the breezy and engaging narrative. . . While being deliberately anti-mythical about dolphins, the book conveys the wonder of learning more about the intricacy of another species, and readers will be won over by both the dolphins and the sceince."
and#8212;Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review
"The detailed descriptions of the day-to-day activities of the dolphinsand#8212;all of whom are given names and have distinct personalitiesand#8212;provide a window into the practice of animal behavior studies."
and#8212;The Horn Book Magazine
Review
"Whether describing the physics of echolocation or the present crisis of white-nose syndrome, Carson encourages readers to rethink stereotypes about creatures once scorned as flying vermin and shows how intricately their survival is tied to our own."and#8212;
Booklist, starred reviewand#160;
"A strong scientific look at a unique and often unloved mammal and the scientists who happily investigate them"and#8212;School Library Journal
Praise for Emi and the Rhino Scientist and#160; A Bank Street College of Education Best Childrenand#8217;s Book of the Year
A Parentand#8217;s Choice Award Winner in Non-Fiction
A Booklist Top 10 Sci-Tech Books for Youth 2008 A Booklist Top 10 Books on the Enviroment for Youth 2008
A Junior Library Guild Selection
* and#8220;Top-notch nonfictionand#8230;A captivating telescopic view of a unique animal.and#8221;and#8212;Booklist, starred review and#160; * "The emphasis on reproductive science and zoo work both make this an unusual addition to the admirable Scientists in the Field series, one that should be welcome in high-school as well as middle-school libraries."and#8212;Kirkus, starred review and#160; "Through lively prose and stunning full-color photographs, readers learn how Terri Roth, an expert in endangered-species reproduction, helped Emi to give birth to the first Sumatran rhino born in captivity in more than 100 years...Like many of the entries in this popular series, Emi is an engaging and informative."and#8212;School Library Journal
Review
"With clearly written text, detailed and well-produced photographs and helpful maps and charts...should be welcome in high-school as well as middle-school libraries." Kirkus, Starred 9/15/07 Kirkus Reviews, Starred
"Carson provides fascinating detail...color photographs featuring Roth at work are upstaged only by those of the rhinos themselves..." The Horn Book, Nov/Dec 2007 Horn Book
The text is ful of important details, and the photographs are unfailingly crisp, bright, and full of variety." SLJ November 2007 School Library Journal
"Pair this with other animal titles...and make sure kids get a chance to view Emi real-time on the zoo's webcam." The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"This latest in the Scientists in the Field series has all the elements of top-notch nonfiction." Booklist 12/1/07 Booklist, ALA, Starred Review
"An engaging new volume." The Washington Post 12/08/07 The Washington Post
Wilde Award Winner - Best Nonfiction
News and Observer, December 16, 2007 News and Observer
Review
"The color illustrations feature numerous, remarkably fine photos, including many taken by Swinburne. Some of the pictures are too small to be effective, but most offer useful and beautiful views of the sea turtles and the scientist who studies them. An informative addition to science collections."
and#8212;Booklist
"Neophytes to this classic series who thought science was always conducted in old buildings on lab benches will be delighted to find it can take place in an island paradise."
and#8212;Bulletin and#160; * "This refreshing journey with a dedicated woman hard at work in her chosen field will resonate with readers. Inspiring."
and#8212;School Library Journal, starred review
Review
A balanced mixture of biography and science that gives children a well-rounded exposure to intellectual pursuit. Enthusiastic text expresses a sense of adventure and effectively depicts the thrill of new discoveries. . . . A general purchase for libraries with a significant science readership.
School Library Journal
Review
Step by step, the reader of this engaging description of research involving familiar objects like tub toys and LEGO pieces comes to the profoundly depressing realization that the oceans of the world and the stomachs of marine animals are filled with indestructible bits of human trash, just in time for the section entitled, "What You Can Do." and#8212;
Kirkus, starred review
The well-written narration will keep readers engaged, and it's excellent for reports. The science is clearly explained, and the vivid and lively photographs and well-labeled charts and diagrams help to create interest and build understanding. This title will get readers thinking and possibly acting on these problems.and#8212;School Library Journal, sand#8212;tarred review
Scientific information builds from chapter to chapter, creating a natural detective story.and#8212;Horn Book
The writing is light, but the facts are weighty, and the message of reduce, reuse, and recycle comes across loud and clear. This book iand#8212;s fascinating on its own, but it also can hold its place in a middle-level science curriculum. The complex science behind the movement of the ocean is explained clearly with excellent supporting graphics.and#8212;VOYA (Voice of Youth Advocates)
Spacious layout, exceptionally fine color photos, and handsome maps give this book an inviting look. . . . A unique and often fascinating book on ocean currents, drifting trash, and the scientists who study them.and#8212;Booklist, ALA
"Even kids not remotely interested in science might find this work captivating." and#8212;Newsday, 9/30/07 Newsday
"There's plenty of good reading . .and#160;. "and#8212;Columbus Dispatch
"[L]oaded...with information, insight, and intellectual twists." and#8212;Natural History Magazine 12/07-1/08
Review
"The text and color photographs are interesting...the many questions still left for whale researchers should intrigue young readers." Kirkus 10/01/07 Kirkus Reviews
"[T]his is an engaging topic...Photographs scattered throughout keep the look inviting..." Bulletin December 2007 Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"Those heartbreaking images of the sea's giant mammals beaching themselves...form the core of this investigative picture book." Columbus Dispatch 11/14/07 Columbus Dispatch
"Hodgkins packs her text with an impressive amount of information...appealing subject and presentation." SLJ Jan 2007 School Library Journal
"Debut author Hodgkins offers a comprehensive overview of whale stranding." Booklist, 12/01/07 Booklist, ALA
"The engaginly designed pages are enhanced by well-captioned photographs." The Horn Book Jan/Feb 2008 Horn Book
Review
"It lives up to the standards set by others in this stellar series."and#8212;Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"This is a living, breathing window into the watery world of manatee studies, with eager scientists pursuing the preservation of stressed sirenian populations with determination and grit."and#8212;School Library Journal
Review
"While the clearly written text includes vivid passages about the dangers these scientists face, it goes on to discuss what drives them to pursue their subjects and what they have discovered along the way. Each of the three sections concludes with an interview. The many excellent, color photos portray these adventurers as scientists intently focused on their work, though sometimes in unusual or unusually beautiful surroundings . . . Fascinating."--Booklist, starred review
“Photos are key here, and theyre dramatic indeed . . . Kids who need convincing that science isnt all white coats and test tubes will have their eyes opened here.”--The Bulletin
"Readers will encounter fascinating facts about weather forecasting, cave bacteria and fungi and life in the treetops. Each section ends with a series of quick questions to these courageous scientists."--Kirkus Reviews
"Jackson hits just the right balance between informative descriptions of the science and excitement surrounding the risks involved in the activities of the scientists. The numerous intriguing photos achieve this balance as well, showcasing all three scientists both in the lab and out in their elements."--The Horn Book Magazine
"This exemplary title is just the thing for those who think that all scientists are sedentary."--School Library Journal
Review
and#147;Readers will come away with a much more informed view of wildlife at risk, enriched by Morseand#8217;s superb color photographs of lynx, bear, moose, and other species in their natural homes.and#8221; Booklist, ALA
and#147;Practical tips about tracking will no doubt encourage young readers to head to the woods.and#8221; The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
and#147;Readers will pick up a few hints about how to look for evidence of local wildlife but more important, they will come away with a much clearer sense of the importance of conservation.and#8221; Kirkus Reviews
Review
"Battens graceful text covers basic science concepts (what an anthropologist really does; what evolutionary biology is) in accessible, clear language and examples just right for kids, offering fascinating hypothesises along the way." Booklist, ALA
Review
"This wide-format book documents the restoration of the prairie ecosystem at the new refuge. . . . Through the bookand#8217;s clearly written text and many excellent color photos, readers will learn not only about this particular prairie project but also about the history of Americaand#8217;s tallgrass prairies and the complex web of plants and animals in a particular ecosystem." Booklist, ALA, Starred Review
"Excellent photographs prominently feature the scientists at work (predominantly women and people of color in scientific roles) as well as the . . . sweeping vistas of the prairie in midsummer." Horn Book, Starred
"The engaging text is accompanied by large, inviting color photographs. . . . An essential purchase for libraries in prairie regions and a worthwhile choice for others." -- School Library Journal, starred School Library Journal, Starred
Review
"This title is thoroughly researched and clearly written, and it provides suggestions for reader action and further investigation on the Internet."--Publishers Weekly
"The ants steal the show: super-close-up photos capture their swarming, maps sketch out their infestation, and a subsection details how the phorid fly actually emerges from the head of an ant. It's plenty gross and very exciting, but Collard makes sure readers realize it is not a laughing matter: invasive species cost us $137 billion annually, all the more reason for the back matter describing how readers can help the cause."--Booklist
"[Collard] shows how these endeavors just scratch the surface of a global problem and describes attempts by scientists and the government to try to prevent the transfer of species. The clear and helpful color photographs portray the scientists at work in field and laboratory settings, as well as the featured plants and animals. The final pages include steps readers can take to help fight invasive species and a call for more public funding to fight invaders."--Horn Book
Review
This fascinating title shows the thrill of scientific discovery up closeand#133;Part of the consistently excellent Scientists in the Field series; it provides readers with an inspiring introduction to a littleand#150;discussed field and to biology in general.
Booklist, ALA, Starred Review
"The Scientists in the Field series continues to fulfill its promise." Kirkus Reviews
"Each of the profiles is filled with absorbing scientific information while also providing insights into the personalities involved in this work--adventurers who work in interesting field locales, sometimes with limited funding, to do what they love." Horn Book
and#147;Sayre offers good descriptions of work with the various species and its importand#133;and#8221; The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Review
and#147;Another fine addition to the exceptional Scientists in the Field series.and#8221; Booklist, ALA
and#147;This book broadens the scope of the Scientists in the Field series, illustrating that science in not always done by people with lots of degrees.and#8221; Horn Book
and#147;and#133;Osborn writes with a lively informality.and#8221; The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Synopsis
The extinction of dinosaurs some sixty-five million years ago is one of the greatest biological catastrophes in the history of our planet. Yet in recent years, paleontologists have turned up increasing evidence that ancestors of one group of dinosaurs still fly among us: birds. Join Cathy Forster, one of the few female paleontologists working today, on an expedition to Madagascar in search of clues to the mystery of bird evolution.
Synopsis
The extinction of dinosaurs some sixty-five million years ago is one of the greatest biological catastrophes in the history of our planet. Yet in recent years, paleontologists have turned up increasing evidence that ancestors of one group of dinosaurs still fly among us: birds. Join Cathy Forster, one of the few female paleontologists working today, on an expedition to Madagascar in search of clues to the mystery of bird evolution.
Synopsis
The universe is rapidly expanding. Of that much scientists are certain. But how fast? And with what implications regarding the fate of the universe?
Ellen Jackson and Nic Bishop follow Dr. Alex Fillippenko and his High-Z Supernova Search Team to Mauna Kea volcano in Hawaii, where they will study space phenomena and look for supernovae, dying stars that explode with the power of billions of hydrogen bombs. Dr. Fillippenko looks for black holes--areas in space with such a strong gravitational pull that no matter or energy can escape from them--with his robotic telescope. And they study the effects of dark energy, the mysterious force that scientists believe is pushing the universe apart, causing its constant and accelerating expansion.
Synopsis
The tale of one scientist's search for the illusive snow leopard of Mongolia, presented with spectacular photography by the Sibert Medal-winning team of Sy Montgomery and Nic Bishop.
Synopsis
There are hidden worlds in natureand#8212;places you can visit only with a microscope. For more than twenty-five years, Dennis Kunkel has been exploring these worlds. Through the lenses of powerful microscopes, he has examined objects most people have never even thought about: a mosquitoand#8217;s foot, a crystal of sugar, a grain of pollen, the delicate hairs on a blade of grass. Hidden Worlds takes you behind the scenes of Dennisand#8217;s work and explains how he captures his remarkable images of microscopic life and objects. Youand#8217;ll learn how Dennis became interested in microscopes as a boy, how he prepares specimens for study, and how different kinds of microscopes work. Youand#8217;ll also have the chance to follow Dennis as he collects in the fieldand#8212;from the ash-covered slopes of Mount St. Helens to the lava tubes, rainforests, and beaches of his home state of Hawaii.
Synopsis
Yellow blood, silk of steel, skeletons on the outside! These amazing attributes donand#8217;t belong to comic book characters or alien life forms, but to Earthand#8217;s biggest and hairiest spiders: tarantulas. Here you are invited to follow Sam Marshall, spider scientist extraordinaire (heand#8217;s never been bitten), as he explores the dense rainforest of French Guiana, knocking on the doors of tarantula burrows, trying to get a closer look at these incredible creatures. Youand#8217;ll also visit the largest comparative spider laboratory in Americaand#151;where close to five hundred live tarantulas sit in towers of stacked shoeboxes and plastic containers, waiting for their turn to dazzle and astound the scientists who study them.
Synopsis
KAKAPO RESCUEand#160;gives young readers a first hand account of the efforts to save one of the world's rarest and more unusual birds, the kakapo. Part of the Scientist in the Field series.
Synopsis
On remote Codfish Island off the southern coast of New Zealand live the last ninety-one kakapo parrots on earth. These trusting, flightless, and beautiful birdsand#8212;the largest and most unusual parrots on earthand#8212;have suffered devastating population loss.
Now, on an island refuge with the last of the species, New Zealandand#8217;s National Kakapo Recovery Team is working to restore the kakapo population. With the help of fourteen humans who share a single hut and a passion for saving these odd ground-dwelling birds, the kakapo are making a comeback in New Zealand.
Follow intrepid animal lovers Sy Montgomery and Nic Bishop on a ten-day excursion to witness the exciting events in the life of the kakapo.
Synopsis
Dr. Robert Mason has been studying a mysterious phenomenon for over fifteen years: the reemergence of tens of thousands of red-sided garter snakes — the worlds largest concentration of snakes — after a winter spent in a state of suspended animation in subterranean caverns.
This gathering each spring in the forests of Manitoba, Canada, is one of the most extraordinary events of the natural world and is the subject of study for Dr. Mason, a.k.a. the Snake Scientist.
Synopsis
An introduction to the field of genetics through the story of Randy Lewis and his work with golden orb weaver spiders andand#160;his subsequent creation of artificial spider silk that can be used to save and improve lives.
Synopsis
In
Stronger Than Steel, readers enter Randy Lewis' lab where they come face to face with golden orb weaver spiders, and transgenic alfalfa, silkworm silk, and goats, whose milk contains the proteins to spin spider silk--and to weave a nearly indestructible fiber. Learn how this amazing material might someday be used to repair or replace human ligaments and bones, improve body armor, strengthen parachute rope, and even tether an airplane to an aircraft carrier! Readers explore rapid advancements in the application of genetic medicine and their potential to save and improve lives while considering the crucial ethical concerns of genetic research. A timely addition to the acclaimed Scientists in the Field series.
Synopsis
SITFand#160;sheds light on wild horse population control, a largely ignored area of equine animal science.
Synopsis
Dr. Ron Keiper and Dr. Jay Kirkpatrick have both, in their own unique way, made the wild horses of Assateague Island, Maryland their livesand#8217; work. Experience Dr. Keiper's handwritten notesand#8212;taken over countless watchful hours in the fieldand#8212;which are both a diary and a scientific log that chart the lives of his equine subjects, some of nature's greatest survivors. And follow Dr. Kirkpatrick from the lab to the field as he works tirelessly to find a way to manage the horse population with a birth control vaccine, and helps keep the precarious balance of Assateagueand#8217;s ecosystem intact. Descriptive prose meets solid science as author Kay Frydenborg offers a rare glimpse into the wild herds of Assateague, sharing beautiful photos of the Assateague herds in their island home and of both of the scientists at workand#8212;some of them never seen before.
Synopsis
In the sprawling African scrub desert of Etosha National Park in Namibia, they call her "the mother of all elephants." Holding binoculars closely to her eyes, American scientist Caitlin Oand#8217;Connell could not believe what she was seeing from these African elephants: as the mighty matriarch scanned the horizon, the other elephants followed suit, stopped midstride, and stood as still as statues.
This observation would guide the scientist to a groundbreaking discovery about elephant communication: elephants actually listen with their limbs.
The Elephant Scientist was named a 2012 Robert F. Sibert Honor Book.
Synopsis
A capitivating and beautifully photographed Scientists in the Field title about a man trying to discover the effects pesticides have on frogs and, in turn, on us.
Synopsis
The critically acclaimed Scientist in the Field book about how one boyand#8217;s interest in backyard science inspired a career in scientific discovery.
When Tyrone Hayes was growing up in South Carolina, he didnand#8217;t worry about pesticides. He just liked to collect frogs. Tyroneand#8217;s interest in science led him to Harvard University, and though he struggled at first, he found his calling in the research lab of an amphibian scientist.
Meanwhile, scientists discovered that all around the globe, frogs were dying. The decline has many causes, including habitat loss and disease. Tyrone discovered that the most commonly used pesticide in the United States, atrazine, may also play a role. Tyrone tested atrazine on frogs in his lab at Berkeley. He found that the chemical caused some of the male frogs to develop into bizarre half-male, half-female frogs. What was going on? Thatand#8217;s what Tyrone wants to find out.
Synopsis
It looks like a bear, but isnand#8217;t one. It climbs trees as easily as a monkeyand#8212; but isnand#8217;t a monkey, either. It has a belly pocket like a kangaroo, but whatand#8217;s a kangaroo doing up a tree? Meet the amazing Matschieand#8217;s tree kangaroo, who makes its home in the ancient trees of Papua New Guineaand#8217;s cloud forest. And meet the amazing scientists who track these elusive animals. and#160;This title has been selected as a Common Core Text Exemplar (Grades 4-5, Informational Texts)
Synopsis
Human beings have always looked at the heavens and asked: Are we alone? Is there life elsewhere in the universe? What is that life like? Unfortunately, people canand#8217;t actually travel to other solar systems. Even the closest stars are too far away to visit.
Today, astrophysicists such as Jill Tarter are looking for other ways to search for extraterrestrial life. Jill is the director of Project Phoenix at the SETI Institute in Mountain View, California. SETI stands for and#147;Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence.and#8221; Twice a year, Jill and her team travel to the mountains of Puerto Rico where they use the worldand#8217;s largest radio telescope to examine nearby stars. They search the sky, listening for radio signals that, if found and verified, would provide strong evidence that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe.
Author Ellen Jackson and photographer Nic Bishop introduce us to a dedicated scientist and her thrilling, rigorous, and awe-inspiring work in the field.
Synopsis
A Sibert Honor Book An ALA Notable Book A John Burroughs Nature Book for Young Readers A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year A 2005 Outstanding Science Trade Book for Kand#8211;12 A Kirkus Reviews Editorand#8217;s Choice List and#160; * and#8220;Superb color photos abound in this spectacular series addition. . . . This is a vivid look at an enthusiastic scientist energetically and happily at work. . . . A treat, even for arachnophobes.and#8221;and#8212;School Library Journal, starred review
Synopsis
THE HIVE DETECTIVES will be a science book for middle-grade readers in the Scientists in the Field series.and#160;Pulled straight from todayand#8217;s headlines: the disappearance of Americaand#8217;s honey bees.
Synopsis
Without honey bees the world would be a different place. There would be no honey, no beeswax for candles, and,and#160;worst of all, barely a fruit, nut, or vegetable to eat.and#160;So imagine beekeeper Dave Hackenburgand#8217;s horror when he discovered twenty million of his charges had vanished. Those missing bees became the first casualties of a mysterious scourge that continues to plague honey bee populations today. In
The Hive Detectives, Loree Griffin Burns profiles bee wranglers and bee scientists who have been working to understand colony collapse disorder, or CCD. In this dramatic and enlightening story, readers explore the lives of the fuzzy, buzzy insects and learn what might happen to us if they were gone.
Synopsis
The Tapir Scientist introduces young readers to one of the weirdest and most fascinating animals on the planet and recounts the extraordinary work of the dedicated scientists trying toand#160;save them.
Synopsis
If youand#8217;ve never seen a lowland tapir, youand#8217;re not alone. Most of the people who live near tapir habitat in Braziland#8217;s vast Pantanal (and#8220;the Everglades on steroidsand#8221;) havenand#8217;t seen the elusive snorkel-snouted mammal, either. In this arresting nonfiction picture book, Sibert winners Sy Montgomery and Nic Bishop join a tapir-finding expedition led by the Brazilian field scientist Pati Medici. Aspiring scientists will love the immediate, often humorous and#8220;you are thereand#8221; descriptions of fieldwork, and gadget lovers will revel in the high-tech science at play, from microchips to the camera traps that capture the and#8220;soap operaand#8221; of tapir life.
Synopsis
One of the world's experts on hammerhead sharks, marine biologist Pete Klimley is fighting the stereotype of sharks as primitive and vicious killers. In fact, hammerheads exhibit some remarkably sophisticated social behaviors, including their schooling in the hundreds at underwater seamounts in the Pacific Ocean.
To tell the story of these incredible animals, author Ken Mallory talked with Pete Klimley and then traveled to tiny Cocos Island, 330 miles off the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. There, he had the chance of a lifetime to see these awe-inspiring animals up close.
Synopsis
Mountain gorillas are playful, curious, and protective of their families. They are also one of the most endangered species in the world. For years, mountain gorillas have faced the threat of death by poachers. Funds raised by and#147;gorilla tourismand#8221;and#151;bringing people into the forest to see gorillasand#151;have helped protect them. This tourism is vital, but contact between gorillas and people brought a new threat to the gorillas: human disease. The Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project is a group of scientists working to save the mountain gorilla population in Rwanda and Uganda. The gorilla doctors study the effects of human exposure, provide emergency care, and act as foster parents to an orphaned gorilla.
Synopsis
Seahorses, some of the oceanand#8217;sand#160;most charming fish, are in trouble.and#160;In the past twenty years their populations has declined.and#160;They are threatened by overfishing, pollution and climate change. In Handumon in the Philippines, villagers and conservationists have joined to protect the seahorse and the coral reefs whereand#160;they live. Amanda Vincent and Heather Koldewey, founders of Project Seahorse, work with Filipino colleagues and local fishers like and#147;Digoyand#8221; Paden to protect seahorses and the livelihood of local fishing families. Through their efforts the Handumon Marine Protected Area is now a model and#147;underwater parkand#8221; where marine life is safe from fishing.
Synopsis
With powerful and rare photographs by Jim Brandenburg, Once a Wolf explores the long, troubled relationship of humans and wolves. The book traces the persecution of the wolf throughout history and also reveals the role scientists have played in wolf preservation.
Synopsis
We all know that dolphins are considered very smart. But why is this? It is the size of their brains? Is it what they eat? Is it due to their environment? Author Pamela S. Turner takes us to Australia to follow dolphins in the wild so we can figure out just what makes dolphins tick in the newest book in the critically acclaimedand#160;Scientists in the Field series.
Synopsis
Ride alongside the author Pamela S. Turner and her scientific team and meet a cast of dolphin characters large enough (and charismatic enough) to rival a Shakespearean playand#8212;Puck, Piccolo, Flute, and Dodger among them. You will fall in love with this crew, both human and finned, as they seek to answer the question: just why are dolphins so smart? And what does their behavior tell us about human intelligence, captive animals, and the future of the ocean? Beautiful photos of dolphins in their natural habitat and a funny, friendly, and fast-paced text make this another winner in theand#160;Scientists in the Fieldand#160;series.
Pair this with other intriguing stories of real-world science,and#160;at www.sciencemeetsadventure.com.
Synopsis
Dr. Merlin Tuttle and his colleagues at Bat Conservation International aren'tand#160;scared of bats. These bat crusaders are fascinated by them, with good reason.and#160;Bats fly the night skies inand#160;nearly every part of theand#160;world, but they are the least studied of all mammals. As the major predator of night-flying insects, bats eat manyand#160;pests. Unfortunately bats are facing many problems, including a terrifying new disease. White-nose Syndrome is infecting and killing millions of hibernating bats in North America. But Dr. Tuttle, with the help of his fellow bat scientists areand#160;inand#160;the trenchesand#8212;and cavesand#8212;on the front line of the fight to save their beloved bats.
Synopsis
Terri Roth trudges through the thick, dark Sumatran jungle. Sheand#8217;s looking for a rhinoceros thatand#8217;s been seen in the area. Itand#8217;s a rare Sumatran rhino, the worldand#8217;s smallest rhino and one of the most endangered mammals on the planet.Suddenly she spots a young female rhino through the tangle of ferns and trees. The stocky animal is covered in reddish hair, and her snout sports two stubby horns. The rhino walks right up to Terri. The scientist slowly reaches out her hand and touches the rhinoand#8217;s big nose. The wild rhinoand#8217;s curiosity and friendliness remind Terri of Emi, the female Sumatran rhino that lives at the Cincinnati Zoo where Terri works. Terri is working with Emi to help save Sumatran rhinos from extinctionand#151;one calf at a time.
Synopsis
Slaughtering elephants for their ivory; shooting bears for their gall bladders; capturing sea turtles for soup. In the name of vanity, fashion, and greed, man stalks and kills wild animals -- and gets away with it, even when it is clearly against the law. But now scientists have a way to catch and convict poachers. In a laboratory in Ashland, Oregon, they analyze clues to link suspects to crimes. In words and pictures, this book tells a poignant story and reveals how science can indeed save the day.
Synopsis
This compelling addition to the award-winning Scientists in the Field series explores the leatherback sea turtle's remarkable natural history and recounts the extraordinary efforts by scientists trying to save them.
Synopsis
Dr. Kimberly Stewart, also known as the Turtle Lady of St. Kitts, is already waiting at midnight when an 800-pound leatherback sea turtle crawls out of the Caribbean surf and onto the sandy beach. The mother turtle has a vital job to do: dig a nest in which she will lay eggs that will hatch into part of the next generation of leatherbacks. With only one in a thousand of the eggs for this critically endangered species resulting in an adult sea turtle, the odds are stacked against her and her offspring. Join the renowned author and photographer Steve Swinburne on a journey through history to learn how sea turtles came to be endangered, and what scientists like Kimberly are doing to save them. For the complete selection of books in this critically acclaimed, award-winning series, visit www.sciencemeetsadventure.com. and#160;
Synopsis
Scientists have mapped less than 10 percent of the ridge of underwater mountains in the middle of the Atlantic ocean. It is here that 95 percent of the volcanic activity on earth occurs. And it is also where the scientist Rich Lutz has tracked the remarkable evolution of bizarre creatures that spawn in hydrothermal vent fluids that are poisonous to most other forms of life. How can life exist in this world of utter darkness?
For Rich Lutz, a pioneer in marine biology, each dive to the frontier of the deep holds the possibility of discovering more clues that might help us learn how life on earth began after our planet was formed billions of years ago.
Synopsis
Aided by an army of beachcombers, oceanographer Dr. Curtis Ebbesmeyer tracks trash in the name of science. From sneakers to hockey gloves, Curt monitors the watery fate of human-made cargo that has spilled into the ocean. The information he collects is much more than casual news; it is important scientific data. And with careful analysis, Curt, along with a community of scientists, friends, and beachcombers alike, is using his data to understand and protect our ocean.
In engaging text and unforgettable images, readers meet the woman who started it all (Curtand#8217;s mother!), the computer program that makes sense of his data (nicknamed OSCURS), and several scientists, both on land and on the sea, who are using Curtand#8217;s discoveries to preserve delicate marine habitats and protect the creatures who live in them. A Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Honor Book for Nonfiction.
Synopsis
They began as land creatures. Then, for more plentiful food, or so scientists believe, whales made the water their home and evolved into the colossal, majestic creatures of the sea that we know todayand#151;the same majestic creatures that humans learned to hunt and kill: first for food and then for oil, soap, candles, furniture, and even waspwaist corsets. Rich in meat, blubber, bone, and baleen, the whale served so many purposes for humans that its stranding was seen as a gift from the sea.But now, with their numbers diminished worldwide, whales have become the subject of scientific study. Humans hunt now for a deeper understanding of cetaceans. Why would the worldand#8217;s largest mammal do something that would most likely cause it to die? Around the world, scientists are trying to find the answer.
Synopsis
In The Manatee Scientists, John Reynolds does an aerial count of manatees from the Florida sky; Lucy Keith spends a weekend rescuing manatees trapped in a dam in Senegal; and Fernando Rosas takes the author on an Amazonian boat trip, looking for a young manatee he released back into the wild, with emotional results. These scientists are working hard to save manatees: docile, large sea mammals who are eaten in some parts of the world, feared in others, and adored in still others. But factors such as human encroachment, disease, environmental hazards, and being hunted are causing their numbers to decline: they are an endangered species, in need of help.
Synopsis
Scientists in the Field .s.s. to the extreme!
When Paul Flaherty goes to work, he climbs into a four-engine WP-3D Orion turboprop plane and heads directly into the eye of a hurricane. Miles below, Hazel Bartons job in microbiology takes her to the depths of the worlds most treacherous caves. And on the other side of the topsoil, way, way above the forest floor, Stephen Sillett passes his days (and sometimes his nights) in the canopies of the tallest trees on earth.
Welcome to the workand worldsof extreme scientists. From hurricanes to caves to the crowns of towering redwoods, these scientists battle some of the earths most intense conditions in order to save lives, preserve species, and help us to better understand the way our planet works.
Synopsis
Sue Morse is at home in the woods; she has read the woods ever since she could remember. She believes that by reading the forests she can help save them. So outside the door of her small cabin lies her laboratory: the rich and extensive forest and all of the creatures who live there. Revealing just how active and engaging scienceand#151;and scientistsand#151;can be, this book also gives us a closer glimpse into the vulnerable homes of bear, lynx, deer, bobcat, and all the dwellers of the woods.
Synopsis
Can whales communicate across miles of vast ocean? Can elephants talk to one another with sounds we can not hear? Can birdsand#8217; calls help us count them in the sky? These are the kinds of questions that drive the work of acoustic biologists.
In Secrets of Sound, author April Pulley Sayre introduces us to three creative scientistsand#8212;Christopher W. Clark, Katy Payne, and Bill Evansand#8212;who have dedicated themselves to researching how and why animals communicate. Sayre explores how new technologies and secret military information recently released are helping these scientists make exciting discoveries. Such work raises as many questions as it answers, and for the scientists (and readers) thatand#8217;s half the fun.
This book celebrates the challenges of lab and fieldwork and the thrill of discovery. It not only explores the world of animal communication but also highlights the critical role scientific research can play in preserving endangered animals.
Synopsis
Imagine making your living by hunting, fishing, and collecting wild plants and insects. Imagine having to worry about being attacked by a jaguar or some other wild animal. This is how our ancestors lived for hundreds of thousands of years, but only a few peoples carry on this ancient lifestyle today. One of the few are the Ache, hunter-gatherers living in Paraguay, a country in South America.
Magdalena Hurtado is an anthropologist who has been studying the Ache for fifteen years. She has spent years living with the Ache people: learning their language, observing their history. The photographs and text offer invaluable insight into the work of an anthropologist.
Synopsis
Barely a century ago a vast tallgrass prairie covered Americaand#8217;s heartland. Bison, elk, coyotes, and bear roamed this wilderness. Hundreds of species of prairie plants supported an explosion of birds and insects, including hundreds of kinds of butterflies. By the early part of the twentieth century, however, the tallgrass prairie was gone, its rich soils converted to farms to feed a growing world population.
Here, author Sneed B. Collard III tells the remarkable story of an effort to bring back part of the native tallgrass prairie. By following scientists who are working on the 8,000-acre Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge in Iowa, readers will learn where the vision for a new prairie came from and how a dedicated group of scientists and volunteers is working to turn this vision into reality, from locating seeds of native prairie plants to using fire to drive out weeds to and#147;bringing homeand#8221; bison, elk, and one of the prairieand#8217;s most spectacular butterflies, the Regal Fritillary.
Synopsis
Sneed B. Collard III profiles Pauline Drobney and her crew as they struggle to rebuild a tallgrass prairie in central Iowa. From setting fires to rejuvenate the landscape, to searching for native seeds, to tracking down the elusive Regal Fritillary with Dr. Diane Debinsky, the story of rebuilding and regenerating the prairie landscape is a compelling and inspiring one.
Synopsis
It has been nearly 200 years since hunters killed the last of the trumpeter swans living in the eastern part of North America. Now that the birds are protected by law, scientists hope to restore them to their former range. But unlike birds who have their migration maps built in, trumpeters must learn the routes from their parents. So scientists in the Trumpeter Swan Migration Project are taking on the role of parent swans, teaching cygnets to follow ultralight aircraft in an effort to reintroduce a migrating population to the Atlantic coast.
and#160;and#160;and#160; This fascinating fieldwork includes transportation of ten-day-old cygnets from Alaska to the training site in New York State, the design of a special uniform to prevent the baby swans from recognizing their caretakers as human, and the process of training the birds to follow the ultralightand#8212;including the heartbreak of setbacks and the exhilaration of successes.
Synopsis
There are 6,200 known invasive species in the United States, and scientists are scrambling to stop their unique paths of destruction, which can take a huge toll on regional economies and ecosystems. To effectively combat an invader, scientists must know the organism inside and out: What does it eat? How does it reproduce? What was its environment like in its native home? There are many questions, but just one right answer might yield a weakness in the enemy. In this entry in the Scientists in the Field series, Sneed B. Collard III introduces readers to some of the most brilliant minds, and promising advances, in the war against invasive species.
About the Author
Travel to the corners of the universe with Ellen Jackson and Nic Bishop as they follow Dr. Alex Fillippenko and his High-Z Supernova Search Team to Mauna Kea volcano in Hawaii. There they study space phenomena and look for supernovae, dying stars that explode with the power of billions of hydrogen bombs. Dr. Fillippenko looks for black holesand#8212;areas in space with such a strong gravitational pull that no matter or energy can escape from themand#8212;with his robotic telescope. And they study the effects of dark energy, the mysterious force that scientists believe is pushing the universe apart, causing its constant and accelerating expansion."[This] handsomely designed volume displays the joys of being fascinated by one's work.and#8221; 6/1-615/2008 Booklist, ALA
and#8220;Thoughtful design adds to the pleasure of this splendid invitation to explore darker corners of the universe." 5/1/08 Kirkus Reviews, Starred
"[A] sense of adventure that readers will feel as they join a team of researchers on science's biggest frontier." School Library JournalEllen Jackson is the award-winning author of more than fifty fiction and nonfiction books for children. Like her father, an amateur astronomer, Ellen has been interested in planets, stars, and galaxies since she was a child. She remembers family "star parties," at which neighbors were invited to gaze through her father's telescope at an eclipse of the moon or other astronomical objects.