The Bug Scientists (Scientists in the Field) - Softcover

Jackson, Donna M.

3.92

39 ratings by Goodreads

9780618432325: The Bug Scientists (Scientists in the Field)

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0618432329 ISBN 13: 9780618432325

Publisher: Sandpiper, 2004

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- NSTA-CBC Outstanding Science Trade Book
- New York Times, recommended science books- Children's Literature Choice Book

Small is beautiful--or so the bug scientists of the world believe. Insects, they say, boast qualities the rest of us have perhaps overlooked. They are among the earth's best fliers and farmers. They have survived and adapted for 350 million years, whereas we humans have been around for a mere 10,000 years. There are millions upon millions of species yet to be identified. Indeed, insects are perhaps nature's least celebrated but most successful creatures on earth.
By following the footsteps of several bug scientists, we take a closer look at the extraordinary bugs that crawl, swim, and whiz past us. We travel from an outdoor classroom in Indiana to the rain forests of Costa Rica--all in pursuit of a better understanding of bugs, glorious bugs.

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About the Author:

Donna M. Jackson is an award-winning author of many nonfiction books for young readers. Her work includes The Bone Detectives, The Name Game and, most recently, The Elephant Scientist -- named a 2012 Robert F. Sibert Honor book, a 2012 Boston Globe-Horn Book Nonfiction Honor Book, and an NSTA/CBC Outstanding Science Trade book. She lives with her husband, Charlie, and their family near the Colorado's Rocky Mountains.

From School Library Journal:

Grades 3-6--Jackson introduces four people with an interest in and knowledge of insects. Tom Turpin, a professor with a mission to make everyone interested in his field, feeds his students insect-based goodies and runs a yearly Bug Bowl in which contestants compete at cricket spitting and other contests. Valerie Cervenka, a forensic entomologist, gives essential information to crime investigators such as the time of death of a murder victim based on the insect infestation of the body. Steven Kutcher provides insect actors for Hollywood films, while Ted Schultz travels to rain forests to study farmer ants. Jackson also introduces the Monarch Watch program and some of the children and scientists who participate in it. Many well-reproduced color photographs add to the book's appeal. The author weaves in much information about the insects, devoting fully half of the text to them, including an "Amazing Insects" list of superlatives in the end, most of the glossary ("Buzz Words"), and bibliography ("Gone Buggy?"). While this is fascinating material covered in a lively manner, it does tend to take focus away from the scientists. There are many insect books and too few books about scientists and what they do for this audience. Nevertheless, this welcome successor to Jackson's The Bone Detectives (Little, Brown, 1996) and The Wildlife Detectives (Houghton, 2000) is sure to be popular with teachers and children alike and it may inspire many young readers to seek careers in entomology.
Louise L. Sherman, formerly at Anna C. Scott School, Leonia, NJ
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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