island-life, children's, nonfiction, natural-history, nature-study, illustrated, science, zoology, eco-awareness, NYPL, volcano, Pacific Ocean, evolving, geology, maps, endemic-species, biography*****

The Galapagos Islands (fifteen of them) have a rather unique history, flora and fauna. In this brilliantly illustrated introduction to the evolution of the islands and their specific inhabitants. This book is not to be missed and is also a grand teaching tool. I have the 2021 reprint in hardcover and am very pleased to have found it! ( )

Beautiful and packed full of information without being overwhelming. On some pages, 4-panel time-lapse pictures accompany short paragraphs to illustrate concepts more completely than the words alone can--Chin is a master of the "picture worth a thousand words." The illustrations are realistic, as befits a Science book, but soft and lovely; evolution and geographic change in this book are a beautiful natural processes, not brutal survival of the fittest situations, even as animals do die--Chin doesn't shy away from what a small beak means for a starving finch.

Overall, a beautiful book excellent for science discussions with kids. I had hoped to buy this one in the Galapagos on my honeymoon, to support a local business, but didn't find it--or any books--in my limited time among humans. ( )

Gorgeous--great introduction to evolution, geology, endemic species, and every awesome thing like that. ( )

508.86

This book provides an overview of the formation of the Galapagos Islands. It also includes many animals that are unique to the islands. I like how the author describes the modifications some animals needed to survive on the islands. It shows how life began there. I would use this book with a virtual field trip or video of the Galapagos Islands. There are many scientific terms for students to learn from this book. For example, volcano, endemic species, and many more. Although Jason Chin is only the author and illustrator, he did receive assistance in knowledge from professors, an ecologist, and a wildlife naturalist. He noted that the scientific information is accurate. However, since the formation of the islands happened so long ago no one can know every little detail. The book was written seven years ago so, it is fairly recently written. ( )