Clark County School District Library Services - Kelly Wadley
This book explains the animal kingdoms, classifications, and evolution. It provides information about classification, the method used to group and name animals and other living things, describing Linnaeus’s classification system, explaining how animals are named, and including photographs, charts, and examples. Photographs are great. —Kelly Wadley, Sandy Valley <i>Clark County School District Library Services</i> 1/21/2010
January 21, 2010NSTA - Richard Lord
Describing topics that are both timely and interesting to middle school students, the Sci-Hi series explores science with accessible text and engaging pictures. The authors break complex content it into short chunks that students can read and think about. These sections provide background information on the subject, show flow charts to explain concepts, and introduce key vocabulary. In students' hands, these books provide a great place to start research on a topic or can just be interesting reads. Each book in the series has the essential elements of good informational text. The tables of contents draw students in by framing questions in bubbles; students can then find the answers in the text. Key words are presented in bold type and are defined in the glossaries. Interesting facts are featured in sidebar notes, and students are guided to new information as they read. The images in the books are both current and global in their content. The use of varied text elements, such as diagrams, graphs, and charts are a real plus, presenting information in a variety of ways. The books also contain bibliographies of current books and websites that students can explore if they want more information on the subject. Most people don’t realize that 99% of known species are smaller than bumblebees or that roaches can live for a week without their heads. These facts and many more await the student who digs into this book! Classification is not usually one of a student’s favorite topics, but this book should change things. Although the focus is on animals, the principles of classification are the same for all organisms. Beginning with the need to organize the vast and diverse collection of organisms, the book tells the story of the classification system that originated with Linnaeus. Using humans as an example, the levels of classification are explained, and the usefulness of these levels to demonstrate how closely two species are related is emphasized. The binomial naming system is also described. The use of taxonomic keys to identify animals is accompanied by a key to dinosaurs, allowing students to apply what they have learned. Descriptions and illustrations of the various invertebrate phyla as well as the classes and some of the orders and families of vertebrates are presented in an engaging, age-appropriate fashion with loads of interesting information. The use of classification to trace evolutionary pathways and the use of DNA to confirm relationships among animals are briefly addressed. The book concludes with examples of newly discovered species and how scientists go about classifying them, noting that "most of Earth’s species haven’t even been identified yet." —Richard Lord <i>NSTA</i>9/23/2009
September 23, 2009School Library Journal - Judith V. Lechner
Clear language, embedded definitions, and interesting examples illustrate abstract concepts through both text and well-chosen photographs. The authors do not avoid difficult or controversial issues: Changing Life, for example, provides a clear and useful explanation of the theory of evolution, with multiple sources of evidence and a discussion of how it helps scientists to predict the implications of changes to the environment. Science Ethics discusses topics such as global warming and animal research, and their implications for decision-making by scientists, policy makers, and voters. Because so many issues are raised in this book, it will be especially useful as a research starter in both science and social-studies classes. In addition to describing relevant theories and the scientific explanations for observed phenomena, each book also discusses the impact of human activities on the issues discussed, whether the way humans impact ecosystems (Ecology) or how smoking and drinking affect sperm count and the unborn child (Human Reproduction). The main focus, however, is on the scientific concepts rather than applications–for instance, Human Reproduction does not discuss contraception except to note the statistic that "sexually active teenage girls who do not use contraceptives (birth control) have a 90 percent chance of becoming pregnant within a year." Each book also includes suggested activities to test ideas as well as a thorough glossary and a Webliography.–Judith V. Lechner, Auburn University, AL<i> School Library Journal</i>September 2009
November 14, 2011
