Wade, Mary Dodson. Deadly Waves: Tsunamis.

Wade, Mary Dodson.  Deadly Waves: Tsunamis.     Enslow  48p $23.93     978-0-7660-4018-2 elm/ms  Series: Disasters - People in Peril (Enslow) E-BNS

The causes and results of tsunamis are explained, citing three major tsunamis as examples.  On April 1, 1946, there was an earthquake off the coast of Alaska, causing a tsunami that destroyed a lighthouse on Unimak Island.  At the same time the wave moved toward Hawaii.  Many details from eyewitness accounts are included.  The second tsunami cited occurred on December 26, 2004, in the Indian Ocean.  It decimated Sumatra, Sri Lanka, and surrounding areas, killing 280,000 people.  There are now early-warning devises in the Indian Ocean, in addition to the ones in the Pacific Ocean.  The third tsunami detailed happened on March 11, 2011, in Japan.  Besides the loss of life, the text explains the destruction to the fishing industry, farmlands polluted by salt water, and the nuclear-power-plant damage.

The use of first-person reports and photographs both modern and old bring an intimacy and immediacy to the text.  The science is clearly explained.  With the inclusion of the most recent major tsunami in the world, this text is up-to-the-minute, yet very accessible for young students.

This book is very highly recommended for grades 4-9.  There are four titles in the Disasters - People in Peril series.  Each one addresses a different kind of disaster: tsunamis, terrorism, school shootings, and deadly storms. All are up-to-date and highly recommended for grades 4-9.                -- Joan Theal

Burns, Loree Griffin The Hive Detectives: Chronicle of a Honey Bee Catastrophe

Burns, Loree Griffin The Hive Detectives: Chronicle of a Honey Bee Catastrophe
Houghton Mifflin/Clarion/Graphia/Kingfisher 2010 66 18.00
978-0-547-15231-8 elm/ms E-BNS
Scientists In the Field (HM)#8
Scientists across the globe are scrambling to solve a mystery that may compromise the world food supply -- why are honey bee colonies vanishing and dying?
What would a world without honey bees be like?

This is a valid – and disturbing -- question in view of the millions of bees that have died or vanished since colony collapse disorder (CCD) was first identified in 2006. CCD is a mystery that has scientists scrambling to find the cause – and a solution -- before the world’s food supply is irreparably compromised.

The author, a beekeeper herself, takes readers inside a beehive, while telling a compelling story of the decimation of pollinating insects world-wide – and the collaboration of scientists and beekeepers in researching the alarming drop in honey bee populations. The stunning, high-quality photographs (by Ellen Harasimowicz) draw the readers into a clear, succinct text that investigates the race to solve a real-life disaster-in-progress.

Information is presented in an accessible and appealing manner, from the book’s scrapbook-style layout and clear, concise glossary, through the descriptions of bee keeping, hives, bee anatomy, and bee society

This book is relevant, exciting -- in short, superlative -- and should be considered for the ALSC Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal.
This is a superlative, informative volume on bees, bee-keeping, and colony collapse disorder. Welliver, Hilary
Colony collapse disorder of honeybees;

Eggs. by Marilyn Singer

Singer, Marilyn. Eggs.
Holiday House, 2008, 32p, $16.95, 978-0-8234-1727-8.
Elementary
This is an excellent explanation of variety of styles, functions, and general characteristics of eggs throughout a variety of species.
This book is memorable because of the perfect symmetry of the detailed gouache paintings and the succinct text. The blending of both styles present an insightful picture of the wonders of the life of an egg in today’s world. Students of all ages will sit entranced as they read this book or simply browse through it.
The resources added at the back of the book further enhances the usefulness of the book for school libraries.
The Marilyn Singer’s choice of facts and style is appropriate for young readers and other ages. The amount chose is just enough to entice and inform.
Emma Stevenson has a wonderful understanding of the natural world. Her gouache paintings provide a vivid interpretation of the wildlife found in nature. The details enhance and supply the readers with factual details not presented by words. LM