Burns,
Loree Griffin Citizen Scientists
Macmillan/
Henry Holt 2012 80p $12.99 978-0-8050-9517-3
elm/ms E-BN Nonfiction
Picture book
Citizen
Scientists offers budding young ecologists a
wonderful introduction into Mother Nature’s realms. In clear and accessible language, the author
describes four projects, one for each season, that will entice the readers
outdoors in all kinds of weather. Fall butterflying
describes the tagging of monarch butterflies to track their migration from the eastern half
of the United States to the mountains of Mexico. Winter birding discusses the Christmas Bird
Count used to identify different species at feeders and in parks. Spring frogging talks about identifying frogs
by their calls, and how a middle-school class discovered malformed frogs on a field trip. Summer ladybugging examines the tiny insects
for species recognition. Each project
begins with a description of young naturalists actively participating in the
research, along with background information on each study. Then it continues with a checklist of practical items necessary for further
field study, an image of the animal discussed with important parts labeled, and
a quick quiz about each. Fabulous
full-color photographs of the butterflies, birds, frogs, and ladybugs and of
the children involved in the research enhance the text. The book ends with resource pages of field
guides, books, and Internet addresses for each study, as well as sources for extra
information, answers to the quizzes, a bibliography, a glossary, and an
index. This is a wonderful introduction
to nature studies that will fascinate children and adults alike.
E-BN Susan Ogintz Environmental
science, Animals in the wild
