4 Books for Young Scientists

When I was in elementary and middle school, serious science nonfiction geared to my age group that was engaging, accessible, and informative was fairly nonexistent. Today's young scientists are lucky to have Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in their court.

Their Scientists in the Field series and other science titles are some of my favorites, and I'm long past the middle grades. No matter the topic, I always learn something new in HMH's science books, and recommend them to readers of all ages. Note that HMH provides reader guides for these titles, perfect for educators, homeschoolers, and anyone who wants to know more.

Here is the latest batch of HMH nonfiction to cross my desk. The books have taken me to space, to the past, to my own backyard, and to lakes of my childhood. Let's take a look.

Eclipse Chaser: Science in the Moon's Shadow by Ilima Loomis with photographs by Amanda Cowan (Dec. 2019) focuses on the August 21, 2017, total solar eclipse, which was visible in North America. I was one of the millions who donned my special glasses to watch as the moon cast its shadow across the sun. My prep was to order the glasses, but Shadia Habbal, an astronomer at the University of Hawaii, spent many months preparing for the 2017 event and many years traveling the world to observe other total eclipses of the sun. Her specialty is the sun's corona and solar winds and their effect on our technology and even our climate. A total eclipse offers her the best chance to study the sun's surface, to test her hypotheses, and to further our knowledge.

Loomis gives it to us straight, from the logistics of setting up multiple teams at multiple viewing sites to the things that can't be controlled like bad weather and a harsh environment. Loomis's accurate and easy-to-understand explanations, enhanced with drawings and Cowan's (and other photographers') amazing photographs, make it easy to connect with Habbal's work. We see multiple photos of the eclipse as well as how the temporary field stations are set up and other behind-the-scenes activities. We feel Habbal's worries and her excitement, and we learn how scientists and technologists and everyday people come together to share knowledge and resources. The 2017 data are still being analyzed, but Habbal is already planning for the next total solar eclipse, which will take her South America.

Life on Earth: The Story of Evolution by Steve Jenkins (paperback: Jan. 28, 2020). Although not as detailed as the Scientists in the Field books, Jenkins presents an illustrated outline of evolution from the planet's beginnings to the modern era. Jenkins's watercolor cut–paper collages capture our imaginations, and the text gives us an accurate snapshot of how life on Earth came to be. I love the colorful illustrations of everything from one-celled bacteria to huge dinosaurs (see the cover for a hint). Jenkins introduces us to Darwin and his finches and then explains genetic variation and mutation and the development of new species as well as the extinction of others, through the process of natural selection. Although geared to a younger audience than the other books I'm reviewing today, Life on Earth will spark the interest of the paleontologists and biologists of the future and will have them heading to the library to explore the suggested readings listed at the back of the book.

Crow Smarts: Inside the Brain of the World's Brightest Bird by Pamela S. Turner with photos by Andy Comins and art by Guido Filippo (paperback: Jan. 14, 2020). Ever since I read a study showing that crows could recognize human faces and could remember who treated them nicely and who did not, I've been fascinated with the intelligence of the familiar backyard bird. In this Scientists in the Field book, I learned about crows' natural abilities to manipulate their environment and use tools to get what they want. How do they learn such skills? In a way that is similar to ours: they watch their parents and then practice on their own. Turner takes us to a New Caledonian forest, where we see the methods Dr. Gavin Hunt of the University of Aukland uses to study how these smart birds break open nuts, trick grubs into coming out in the open, and make hooked tools from pandanus plants.

Besides learning about crows and seeing them in action through photographs and drawings, we also learn about the ecology of New Caledonia and how human activity is threatening the environment. Hunt's observations and experiments have shown that crows do not act only on blind instinct; they use their brains to solve problems and enhance their survival. I had no idea of the extent of crow intelligence, and after reading this book, I'll never look at a crow the same way again. I like our neighborhood flock and always hope the crows recognize me as a friend.

The Call of the Osprey by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent with photography by William Munoz (paperback: Jan. 21, 2020): Although I've watched ospreys on wildlife cams on the internet and have seen at least the remnants of their nests along rivers and lakes, I didn't know much about them except that they mate for life and return year after year to same nest after their winters in the south. Patent takes us to osprey homes both in fairly remote areas and along urban waterways. We see how humans have erected platforms to encourage ospreys to settle in their area and how the cameras are set up to allow scientists to watch osprey couples raise their young from egg to independence.

Did you know that ospreys can live to 20 years? That the females are bigger than the males? Through Patent, we follow three scientists from the University of Montana, who teach us about osprey behavior, including hunting and migration patterns, and how they've been affected by a human-filled world. One of the things I love about the Scientists in the Field books is that we see the researchers as real people and discover conducting research in the elements isn't always pleasant, though the discoveries can make it all worth while. The main focus of the osprey research in this book is on conservation and pollution and how the birds act as barometers, offering insights into the state of the natural world and the status of environmental clean-up projects. The book ends with resources for getting involved in conservation programs and for learning more.