Synopses & Reviews
The people of northern Namibia in the African desert refer to Caitlin O'Connell as "the mother of all elephants." In this book, O'Connell juggles several roles while she studies elephant behavior in Namibias Etosha National Park: field scientist, mediator, ecologist, conservationalist and environmentalist. In decoding the patterns of elephant communication, she has aided tremendously in the fight against killing and poaching elephants--in some cases, those which are endangered, like the Asian elephant. Her scientific observations and procedures have also acted to mediate between the farmers of the region and the elephants who eat their yet-to-be harvested crops.
Donna M. Jackson, author of Extreme Scientists and ER Vets captures the most intriguing pieces of Caitlin O'Connell's scientific observations of elephant communication through seismic signals--vibrations they transmit with their feet. Interestingly enough, Caitlin found herself hypothesizing and discovering how elephants "listen with their limbs" through her early observations of how insects communicate through vibrations they cause in the leaves of plants. The text teems with other intriguing facts about these pachyderms (which means "thick skin"). Elephants are nature's largest mammal weighing in at 14,000 pounds. There are 40,000 muscles in an elephant's trunk, which is a multifaceted tool used for many more purposes than just smelling daisies. A hundred year ago, 10 million African elephants roamed the earth; now only 500,000 remain.
Review
Praise for the
Scientists in the Field Series "A first rate [series]." ––
Horn Book, starred review "Consistently excellent" ––
Booklist, starred review, a Top 10 Continuing Series selection: This universally acclaimed series, which follows actual scientists in their daily work from the field to the lab, not only conveys science concepts with precision through engaging narratives and dazzling photographs but also displays the contagious enthusiasm of those who love their work." "Exemplary." ––
Kirkus Review, starred review
Extreme Scientists
"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
ER Vets
An Orbis Pictus Honor Book
An ASPCA Henry Bergh Children's Book Award Honor Winner
"Well-researched and well-written, ER Vets is an engaging book on a hot topic." - School Library Journal, starred review
Bug Scientists
Winner, Parent's Guide to Children's Media Award
NSTA-CBC Outstanding Science Trade Book for Children
"The much maligned world of insects becomes fascinating in this latest entry in the excellent Scientists in the Field Series." Booklist, starred review
The Wildlife Detectives: How Forensic Scientists Fight Crimes Against Nature
"[T]his is an enjoyable, informative volume with well-placed, clear photos that add interest. Offer it to fans of the author's The Bone Detectives (Little, Brown, 1996) and nature enthusiasts, who will appreciate this foray into an intriguing and little-known area of wildlife conservation work." --School Library Journal
"A book that will be welcomed by mystery fans and anyone who cares about animals." --Booklist
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 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
"This intriguing volume from the Scientists in the Field series will interest readers." --Booklist
Synopsis
It looks like a bear, but isnand#8217;t one. It climbs trees as easily as a monkeyand#151; 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.
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
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
Today, an ancient world is vanishing right before our eyes: the age of giant animals. Over 40,000 years ago, the earth was ruled by megafauna: mammoths and mastodons, saber-toothed tigers and giant sloths. Of course, those creatures no longer exist, due to the evolution and arrival of the wildly adaptive human species, among other factors. Many more of the worldandrsquo;s biggest and baddest creaturesandmdash;including the black rhino, the dodo, giant tortoises, and the great aukandmdash;have vanished since our world became truly global. Last of the Giants chronicles those giant animals and apex predators who have been pushed to extinction in the modern era.
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
In this beautifully designed addition to the Scientists in the Field series, journey to the Namibian desert and witness one of natureand#39;s largest, most complex, and most intelligent mammals through the eyes of an exacting and innovative scientist.
Synopsis
With stunning photographs and exemplary narrative nonfiction, the Sibert Honor-winning creators ofand#160;The Elephant Scientist,and#160;Caitlin Oand#39;Connell and Timothy Rodwell, give readers a heartwarming insiderand#39;s look into a day in the life of zoo curators and the meaningful bonds that they form with their menagerie.
About the Author
Donna M. Jackson spent many rewarding days at Colorado State University's Veterinary Teaching Hospital while researching ER Vets. She says that watching the highly skilled, committed, and compassionate emergency vet team in action inspired her work. An award-winning author of nonfiction books for children, Ms. Jackson holds a master's degree in journalism from the University of Colorado at Boulder and lives in Colorado with her family.
Dr. Timothy Rodwell has a medical degree specializing in International Health and a Ph.D. in disease ecology. The couple lives in San Diego and directs a nonprofit organization called Utopia Scientific which promotes elephant conversation and scientific understanding around the world.
Caitlin O'Connell (Rodwell) has a Ph.D in ecology, a graduate degree in entomology, for which she studied insect communications. This eventually led to her acoustic work with wild elephant herds in Africa. She has more than nineteen years experience working on research projects from elephant conservation to coral reef restoration.