Island
A Story of the Galápagos
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- $13.99
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- $13.99
Publisher Description
Charles Darwin first visited the Galápagos Islands almost 200 years ago, only to discover a land filled with plants and animals that could not be found anywhere else on earth. How did they come to inhabit the island? How long will they remain?
Thoroughly researched and filled with intricate and beautiful paintings, this extraordinary book by Award-winning author and artist Jason Chin is an epic saga of the life of an island—born of fire, rising to greatness, its decline, and finally the emergence of life on new islands. Chin's approach makes this book a must-have common core tool for teachers and librarians introducing scientific principals to young students.
Island is one of Kirkus Reviews' Best Children's Books of 2012
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Chin (Coral Reefs) does more than just explain how species of reptiles and birds on the Galapagos have evolved. He begins with the birth of the islands themselves, a process in which volcanic eruptions punch successive holes in the Earth's surface as tectonic plates move over them. Set against changes in the islands' climate and geology over many millennia, the adaptations of the islands' animals take on new significance. Many explanations of Darwin's work mention Galapagos finches and the trend toward stronger beaks; fewer clarify that the larger seeds a stronger beak can crack are all that's left as the islands subside and droughts become more common. Other changes are attributed to drought, too: tortoise shells develop a "saddleback" shape, "better for keeping cool and navigating the desert." Chin's artwork features rich color, inviting detail, and a dynamic balance between small serial panels and majestic spreads. It's a remarkable work and an asset for educators struggling to present material about evolution in a balanced way. Explicating scientific content this gracefully and clearly is no small achievement. Ages 5 9.
