Houghton Mifflin's Scientists in the Field series provides an excellent introduction to both careers in science and to specific scientific investigations. There are presently three books in the series. "The Snake Scientist" was published in 1999, while "The Wildlife Detectives" and "Digging for Bird-Dinosaurs" were published in 2000. The books are designed for children in the fourth through the sixth grade. However, I think they'd work well as read alouds for younger children interested in science and would also be of interest to older readers, particularly reluctant readers.
Each of the books is about 48 pages long and profusely illustrated with photographs. The page design and format of the books differ somewhat, as do the authors and photographers. However, each book features the fascinating story of a particular scientist and/or investigation. Each book emphasizes careers in science, and each provides additional resources for children interested in learning more.
"Digging for Bird-Dinosaurs"
I read "Digging for Bird-Dinosaurs" (compare prices) first. The book was written and illustrated by Nic Bishop, a well-known nature photographer. It chronicles the work of Cathy Forster, a paleontologist on an expedition to Madagascar. Her area of interest is bird evolution and whether birds evolved from dinosaurs. The story is very well told (except for an excess of exclamation points). The account of how Cathy's childhood interest in dinosaurs and fossils led her to her profession should be of particular interest to young readers. The author provides a clear description of the work Cathy is doing on bird evolution, emphasizing that there are no firm answers yet, just questions. The field work is well illustrated in both words and photographs. There is also information about the people they meet and work with in Mahajanga, Madagascar, and the need for a school there. At the end of the book, there is a page of additional recommended reading.
"Digging for Bird-Dinosaurs" has been recognized as a 2000 Smithsonian Notable Book for Children.
Next page > "The Wildlife Detectives" and "The Snake Scientist" > Page 1, 2
