Charles Darwin & The Beagle Adven

This lavish account of Darwin's life and of the voyal of the Beagle form 1831 to 1836 provides the most detailed but accessible account for children about Dawin, his discoveries and a part of his life that was so important to our understanding of evolution.

.. it is sure to keep any reader, child or adult, amused for hours and provides a personal and scientific account of the experiences that shaped and sharpened Darwin's mind inducing the plants,the people and the animals he encountered. .... It brings to life quite brilliantly Darwin's discoveries.

* Lovereading4Kids *

This is a fabulously stylish book commemorating the 200th anniversary of Darwin's birth. Compiled using extracts from Darwin's own writings and illustrated throughout with his exquisite zoological drawings, the book is a delightful combination of detailed information and visual stimulation.

The story of the groundbreaking voyage of HMS Beagle unfolds in page after page of fascinating facts. The information is enhanced by fold-out letters, charts, lists if personal effects, cross-sections of the ship, maps and even details of the navigation equipment.

Darwin's discoveries are brought to life by extracts from his own observations - the richness and diversity of rainforest life explodes across the pages in fine colour and pencil illustrations of vampire bats, pumas and gorgeous orchids.

This is a quality production full of glorious descriptions that are sure to ignite the interest of a young audience. St Elmo's Fire - the light that danced around the ship's mast during story weather, the wonderful shoal of porpoises crossing the bows of the vessel and 'glittering glaciers' that 'plunged into the sea like frozen waterfalls' are among the many exciting observations.

The reader is drawn along as Darwin uncovers the curiosities of fossils and notes the dramatic effects of an earthquake, gradually using these 'stepping stones' to piece together his groundbreaking theory.

Totally absorbing, this book would appeal to older children (and adults!) rather than the usual picture-book age band. It is an absolute delight and deserves to be treasured, offering hours of pleasure and a high level of educational value. 'Charles Darwin and the Beagle Adventure' would make a wonderful gift. Highly recommended!

-- Ruth Doyle Walter * Armadillo *
Using a similar scrapbook format as the publisher's "ology" books, this is an engaging addition to the plethora of titles about Darwin that have come out on the 200th anniversary of his birth. Readers are immediately drawn into both the information on the man's life as well as his intriguing work observing the flora and fauna of the world, most notably in South America, where his theories on evolution first began to take seed. Detailed sidebars on topics such as hydrology, orchids, and beetles, while dry sounding, are actually quite fascinating. Excerpts from Darwin's own writings, as well as maps and drawings, lend substance to the book. Images are a combination of photographs, pencil drawings, color artwork, and diagrams, which add visual interest throughout. One drawback is that some of the fonts made to look like handwriting can be difficult to decipher, which may be a deterrent to some students. The handsome format will draw browsers, but the subject matter and the early look at evolutionary theory will hold readers. An excellent introduction to Darwin and his important work in the field of science. -- Jody Kopple * School Library Journal *
".. filled with amazing illustrations, pull-out maps and notes. A beautiful new book." * Young Archaeologist *
"contains wonderful sketches and drawings ... especially beautiful is the feature of the 'flip-cover' which folds in the middle of the book - makes the book look even more like a real treasure - which it surely is." * www.zauberspiegel-online.de *

When I first picked up Charles Darwin and the Beagle Adventure by A. J. Wood and Clint Twist, I did not see how to open the book. It had two spines! Then I saw the drawing of a lock on the front and popped the cover open to reveal an attractively illustrated book with tiny books-in-the-book, pockets, and fold-out maps. Filled with nature drawings by Darwin and his contemporaries and with old photographs, the book seemed almost like a portable museum. Liking the bird drawings particularly, I thought it pretty and clever. I also thought I could read it in minutes but found I was entertained for hours.
The authors have kept their text rather minimal, relying on illustrations and quotes from the naturalist to tell the story of the Beagle's voyage. It is a good story. The Beagle took five years to round the planet, spending much of its time in South America and the Galapagos Islands, where Darwin identified many species new to European science of the time. He sent thousands of specimens back to England. Studying them and thinking about the landscapes that he visited, he formed his ideas about evolution. He then spent the rest of his long life completing the work he began on this voyage.Young readers and adults who shun traditional science books will find Charles Darwin and the Beagle Adventure an attractive introduction to Darwin and his ideas of evolution.

-- Rick * thommyfordki