A Firefly Biologist at Work

School Library Journal

Gr 4-6-This series focuses on scientists who study animals. Lots of information about the creatures themselves is included in the engaging texts, but for the most part, the books detail each person's work, giving a balanced picture of what life in the field is like. Clear photos, both of the animals and the scientists, add to the overall appeal. The human side of the work is also emphasized in the "meet the author" sections that begin each title, in which the writers talk about how they became interested in these animals and how they learned about the scientist's work. Collard writes about his stepfather, James F. Case, a leading firefly researcher. Fridell writes about scientists studying poison-dart frogs in Suriname, and Patent describes wildlife biologist Randy Matchett's work at the UL Bend National Wildlife Refuge in Montana. These books will be helpful for reports on animals, but their real appeal will be to kids with a strong interest in natural history. Budding biologists will appreciate learning what scientists in the field do and might even find some inspiration for their own futures.-Arwen Marshall, formerly at New York Public Library Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.