Rusch, Elizabeth Impact! Asteroids and the Science of Saving the World

Rusch, Elizabeth        Impact! Asteroids and the Science of Saving the World   Houghton Mifflin/ Harcourt Brace  2018   76p     18.99  978-0-544-67159-1         ms/hs             E-BNS 

While asteroids assault our atmosphere on a daily basis with little impact on human lives, there have been some major strikes.  Rusch discusses several of the big hits including one in Russia in 2013.             While asteroids assault our atmosphere on a daily basis with little impact on human lives, there have been some major strikes.  Rusch discusses several of the big hits including one in Russia in 2013.  She offers a clear look into the activity in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, what can knock an asteroid out of its orbit, and the possibilities of a major Earth collision.  She describes the clues scientists use to discover long ago impacts and explains the aftereffects of these collisions and the parts they have played in the history of our Earth.  She also examines the processes scientists are developing that might prevent a major Earth-asteroid collision in the future. 

            This book offers an incredible look into the world of asteroids.  The text is clearly written, if a bit more technically advanced than previous books in the series, and the incredible photographs are carefully presented and enhance the text.  The book ends with a section on what students can do, chapter notes, bibliography of books, web sites for students and teachers, a glossary, and an index.
            Scientists In the Field (HM)#8        The exemplary series contains various outstanding titles about scientists who work in the natural world and make science and nature study much more accessible and interesting to budding naturalists.  These books offer an incredible look into hidden worlds at the frontiers of human knowledge.  The text is clearly written and the awesome photographs are carefully presented and enhance the text.      Ogintz, Susan       Asteroids

Carson, Mary Kay. Mission To Pluto.

Carson, Mary Kay.  Mission To Pluto.  Houghton Mifflin/Harcourt Brace  2016   73p  $18.99  ISBN 978-0-544-41671-0  (Series: Scientists in the Field) Hardback   elem/ms  Nonfiction  E-BNS

This book tells the story of the development of the New Horizons robotic spacecraft that traveled to the dwarf planet Pluto.  The text is written in a conversational manner and is enjoyable to read, and the facts are presented chronologically and fully. The book discusses how the project was repeatedly put on hold. Many items on the spacecraft had to be specially made to be both light and extremely durable. New Horizons travels so far away that help from earth is impossible, so the spacecraft has to be able to fix itself.
  

The book includes charts and tables and excellent photographs. In addition, a two-page listing of “Words to Know” and a list of web sites for further information are included, as well as a selected bibliography and index.
 

The text is excellent. However, this reviewer has a concern with the publisher’s choice of color on several pages that use a black background with blue print.  This color combination makes these pages very difficult to read. This is the only detracting feature of Mission to Pluto.

There are at least 27 titles in the Scientists in the Field series. Each title follows scientists through the specific tasks typical of their work. The series is an excellent purchase for students to learn about the work scientists do every day, and it may interest students in future fields of study.  

Summary: This book tells the story of the development of the New Horizons robotic spacecraft that traveled  to the dwarf planet Pluto and is now traveling beyond into the Kuiper Belt.  Grades 4-8.

Space exploration, Pluto                                          —Joan Theal

Montgomery, Sy. The Great White Shark Scientist.

Montgomery, Sy.  The Great White Shark Scientist.  Houghton Mifflin/ Harcourt

Brace  2016    70p      $17.99  ISBN 978-0-544-35298-8     ms/hs  Series: Scientists In the Field.  Nonfiction  E-BNS                  

Sharks, especially the great white, have fascinated humans for decades.  In this wonderful new addition to the Scientists in the Field series, the author describes the work of a group of scientists working off the Cape Cod coast who are studying them.  The group, led by Dr. Greg Skomal, is involved in locating, identifying, filming, and tracking these huge fish.   Their enthusiasm is boundless when they discover a new great white shark or find the pings of an old “friend”, and they draw their readers into the ocean with them.
         

 Montgomery’s writing is, as always, animated and inspiring.   Presented in an engaging manner, the title offers a travelogue of her expeditions to both Cape Cod and Guadalupe Island off the Mexican coast.  It is filled with unique stories about the sharks and the natural world that she finds, and is greatly enhanced by the outstanding color photographs that showcase the sharks along with the environmental and zoological aspects of the region.  The book ends with a series of extras:  unique facts and statistics about the sharks, shark maps and sharks by the number, a bibliography for further reading, and an index.
           

This exemplary series includes various outstanding titles about scientists who work in the natural world and make the study of science and nature very accessible and interesting to budding naturalists.  These books offer an incredible look into hidden worlds at the frontiers of human knowledge.  The text is clearly written and the awesome photographs are carefully presented and enhance the text.  This book should be a required purchase for all libraries.  It is sure to be  a winner, great for browsing as well as for research.

                       

Summary: Sharks, especially the great white, have fascinated humans for decades.  In this wonderful new addition to the Scientists in the Field series, the author describes the work of scientists off Cape Cod who are studying them. 

Great White Sharks                                                                                                     --Susan Ogintz

Montgomery, Sy. The Tapir Scientist.

Montgomery, Sy.  The Tapir Scientist.  Houghton Mifflin     2013  80p   $18.99   ISBN 978-0-547-81548-0  series: Scientists In the Field #8  ms/hs Nonfiction

E-BNs      

Tapirs, according to Brazilian naturalist Patricia Medici, are the “gardeners of the forest” and responsible for planting fruit seeds (complete with fertilizer) throughout the world’s largest freshwater wetland.  In this fascinating book, naturalist Sy Montgomery takes the reader on a trip to the Pantanal with a group of tapir scientists.  The reader is invited to accompany the author and her guides in their search for this elusive animal, encountering different species of plants and animals as well in their quest.  The difficulty of the hunt for the elusive tapirs, including the heat, the insects, and the predators, are vividly described in a daily account.  Through a series of mini-biographies, the author introduces the reader to the scientists and researchers who have been studying the tapirs.  The author writes in an engaging manner and offers a travelogue of her expedition to the Pantanal.  It is filled with unique stories about the tapirs, the dedicated scientists, and the natural world that she finds there.  The book is greatly enhanced by Nic Bishop’s outstanding color photographs showcasing the environmental and zoological aspects of the region.  It ends with a bibliography for further reading, web-site links, and an index.    

Summary: In this fascinating book, naturalist Sy Montgomery takes the reader on a trip to the Pantanal with a group of tapir scientists.  Tapirs    

Tapirs                                                            --Susan Ogintz

Rusch, Elizabeth. Eruption!

Rusch, Elizabeth.  Eruption!  Houghton Mifflin  2013  76p  $18.99  ISBN 978-0-547-50350-9   series: Scientists In the Field #8  ms/hs  Nonfiction  E-BNs 

     

In well-organized and clearly written text, Eruption presents a look at the terrifying results of the eruption of volcanoes across the globe.  It begins with an historical perspective of the eruptions of Nevado del Ruiz that ultimately led to the deaths of 23,000 people in 1985, the gigantic explosion of Mt. Pinatubo in the Philippines, and that of Mt. Merapi in Indonesia.  The three eruptions are tied together through the actions of the dedicated scientists of the Volcano Disaster Assistance Program who have shared their knowledge with other volcanologists to limit the deaths of the local peoples.  The book vividly evokes these disasters through compelling primary-source material, personal accounts, and eye-catching photographs of the volcanoes.   It ends with a volcanic vocabulary, chapter notes, a extensive bibliography that includes a link to the USGS volcano site, and an index.

Summary: Eruption offers a fascinating look into the unstable world defined by the Ring of Fire.  It is yet another spectacular addition to the outstanding Scientists in the Field series, offering a fascinating look into the unstable world defined by the Ring of Fire.  

Volcanoes                                                         --Susan Ogintz