How Dogs Came from Wolves: And Other Explorations of Science in Action (Scientists Probe 12 Animal Mysteries) - Softcover

Myers, Jack

Softcover

ISBN 10: 159078278X ISBN 13: 9781590782781

Publisher: Boyds Mills Press, 2004

Synopsis

How did snarly wolves change into loving pets? Do dogs really see everything in black and white? How can elephants talk to one another even while they are miles apart? These are just a few of the questions that scientists tackle in this book of true science stoires. In his warm, personal style, Jack Myers shows that science is much more than a collection of facts. It's an adventure of discovery.

About this title

About the Author:

Jack Myers (deceased) delighted curious kids with his articles in Highlights for Children for more than forty years. He was Professor Emeritus of Zoology at the University of Texas at Austin and a member of the National Academy of Sciences. He is the author of On the Trail of the Komodo Dragon and What Happened to the Mammoths?

John Rice is a wildlife artist and illustrator of What Happened to the Mammoths? and On the Trail of the Komodo Dragon. He lives in New York City.

From School Library Journal:

Gr 3-6-Myers introduces 12 unusual aspects of the natural world, including elephant communication, birds' ability to hatch eggs, and how the Antarctic cod manages to keep from freezing to death in its harsh environment. Each chapter examines one mystery and focuses on a specific scientific experiment or study devised to help solve it. For example, the chapter on dog evolution looks at a study involving the breeding of generations of foxes to see if domestic behavior (e.g., gentleness) can be selectively bred. The investigations are based on articles originally printed in Highlights magazine. Some of these studies involve relatively complex scientific principles (much of the bibliography cites articles from scientific journals), so this is not for newly independent readers. However, the writing is clear and the science is explained well without being oversimplified. The narrow focus on one experiment per subject means that this is not always the best primary source for reports, but it might serve as useful supplemental material. Full-color drawings help illustrate the concepts, and each chapter begins with a humorous illustration that sums up the main idea. Browsers might enjoy this book, and it would be a good choice for kids looking for answers to specific science questions.

Arwen Marshall, formerly at New York Public Library

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Boyds Mills Press
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 159078278X
• ISBN 13: 9781590782781
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 64
• Illustrator: Rice John