Paleontology

June 1, 2012

Gr 2-5-These books maintain the high standards of the established series. Each title encapsulates the field of science, the history leading to current theories and techniques, and the many specialties people pursue within each area. Even before the table of contents, readers are engaged in the topic with a challenge to determine the accuracy of two statements. The science is then introduced, often with questions and always with a focus on what scientists in the field are doing. A history chapter introduces key events and groundbreaking scientists and then reviews them in a time line. Midway through each title, "The Big Truth" section looks at a high-interest topic, such as "The Deep, Deep Sea" (Oceanography) and "The Facts Behind Mass Extinction" (Paleontology). An occasional focus page highlights a specific event or adds detail to a topic. Geology explains the differences between rocks and minerals, while Ecology looks at the cane toad problem in Australia. The final chapters look at ongoing work and challenges for the future. Each title concludes with a brief selection of kid-centric statistics and answers to the opening statements. Additional back matter includes references to strong print and online resources. Engaging writing, accurate science, and carefully selected and captioned photographs on each page make these titles invaluable.-Carol S. Surges, Longfellow Middle School, Wauwatosa, WI

Copyright 2012 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2012
Grades 3-5 Much like the other subsets, these volumes in the A True Book: Earth Science series are models of introducing a broad range of topics while still being conciseand graphically pleasing to boot. Each book boasts a layout that never feels the least bit lazy and is kept fresh with sharp pictures, fun time lines, and breakout sections isolating the most dazzling of subtopics. Those weren't dragon bones discovered by the ancient Chinese, reports Paleontology. From the 1800s bone wars to modern excavation tools, this volume has your dino requirements covered. A bright, appealing package perfect for writing reports or for following individual interests.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)