Great Canadian Scientists

Grade 5-8-Covering 19 contemporary scientists in depth, and providing short profiles on over 100 more, this is a welcome and surprisingly readable account that successfully blends science and biography to engage readers. Shell interviewed the featured scientists, four of whom are women, with the intent to cover as many disciplines as possible. The profiles run five-to-six pages, each of which includes a photograph, a highlighted box of facts at a glance, a personal story to help readers understand a scientist's life, and information detailing the individual's field of work and discoveries. Each profile also contains an activity to help youngsters better comprehend the concepts presented and a mystery the scientist is currently trying to solve. The layout is crisp and easy to use. Each longer profile concludes with a short bibliography. The shorter profiles are useful as a starting point. The text is accompanied by black-and-white charts and diagrams that are sometimes too complicated for the age level, and small black-and-white photographs. This is a must purchase for Canadian libraries and is recommended to round out information about international scientists for libraries in the U.S.
Miriam Driss, Kent Regional Library, WA --Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.