Charles Darwin

March 1, 2011

Gr 5-8-Krull does a fabulous job of making Darwin real, from boyhood to adulthood. The information is obviously well researched and it is presented in a reader-friendly manner. In addition, Kulikov's black-and-white illustrations give depth and character to the story. Darwin's ideas are presented as well as those of his opponents and fellow scientists. This is a fine addition to the series and a viable selection for anyone who didn't stock up on books on the scientist during his bicentennial year.-Carol Hirsche, Provo City Library, UT

Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from December 1, 2010
Grades 5-8 *Starred Review* In the latest entry in the acclaimed Giants of Science series, which began with Leonardo da Vinci (2005), Krull once again offers an illuminating, humanizing portrait of a famous scientist. Young readers will connect with descriptions of Darwin as a poor student who felt stifled at school but maintained a voracious curiosity for the natural world outside the classroom. At age nine, his goal was to know something about every single stone on the path to the front door. Krull is a seasoned pro, and as in the series previous entries, she writes in easily paced, lively, conversational prose, knitting together interesting facts, anecdotes, and historical overviews into a fascinating whole. She offers clear definitions of not only Darwins theories but also how his discoveries built on previous scientists work and notes that his greatest contribution to science was his theory of natural selection, not evolution, a distinction that sometimes gets muddied in the still-feverish debates about his work. Those ongoing arguments, Krull says in a final chapter about Darwins legacy, motivated her to add this title to the already crowded shelves of youth biographies of the scientist. Despite a few typos, this succinct offering will be an excellent resource for contemporary classroom discussions. Kulikovs whimsical ink drawings and a well-culled list of resources round out this strong entry in the series.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)