Synopses & Reviews
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. When Tyrone Hayes was growing up in South Carolina, he didnt worry about pesticides. He just liked to collect frogs. Tyrones 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? Thats what Tyrone wants to find out.
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
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.
About the Author
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. and#12288;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.
and#160;and#160;and#160; 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."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#8212;at work in field and laboratory settings, as well as relaxing at lab picnics and at homeand#8212;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,and#160;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,and#160;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;Pamela S. Turner lives in Oakland, California with her three children and her husband.and#160; She has a B.A. in social science from UC-Irvine and a Master's of public health from UC-Berkeley.and#160;She has written numerous books for young readers, includingHachikoandGorilla Doctorsfor Houghton Mifflin, as well asLife on Earth - and Beyond: An Astrobiologist's Quest, recently published to rave reviews from Charlesbrige, andA Life in the Wild: George Schaller's Struggle to Save the Last Great Beasts, coming this fall from FSG.and#160;and#160; Andy Comins is a California photographer who specializes in portraiture and children's photography.and#160; This is his first book for children.and#160; You can see his work at www.andycomins.com.