Ecology

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