Gone Wild (Caldecott Honor Book)
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Beautiful Book
  • Boring to children
  • wild and wonderful
  • Worthwhile addition to the home or school library
  • Gone Wild Review
Gone Wild (Caldecott Honor Book)
David McLimans
Manufacturer: Walker Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

AlphabetAlphabet | Basic Concepts | Baby-3 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
NonfictionNonfiction | Environment | Nature | Science, Nature & How It Works | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
NonfictionNonfiction | General | Animals | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Look Inside Children's BooksLook Inside Children's Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:
  1. Flotsam (Caldecott Medal Book) Flotsam (Caldecott Medal Book)
  2. Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom (Caldecott Honor Book) Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom (Caldecott Honor Book)
  3. Rules (Newbery Honor Book) Rules (Newbery Honor Book)
  4. The Higher Power of Lucky The Higher Power of Lucky
  5. Penny from Heaven (Newbery Honor Book) Penny from Heaven (Newbery Honor Book)

ASIN: 0802795633
Release Date: 2006-09-05

Book Description

Feast your eyes on these amazing creatures before they disappear. This stampede of wild animals, from Chinese Alligator to Grevy’s Zebra, are so rare, they're all endangered. David McLiman’s bold and playful illustrations transform each letter into a work of art, graphically rendered with animal characteristics. Scales, horns, even insect wings transform the alphabet into animated life.

Once you take this eye-opening safari, you'll never look at letters or animals with the same way again. A striking work of art and a zoological adventure, Gone Wild is sure to be loved by children and adults alike.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Beautiful Book.......2007-09-29

A truly beautiful and creative book that reminds us of those great typography designers such as Aldus Manutius, Nicolas Jenson or Claude Garamond. My child loved discovering wild (and sadly endangered) animals through the pages of Gone Wild.

1 out of 5 stars Boring to children.......2007-09-11

This book was totally uninteresting to my grandchildren. It's a book that adults think will catch the interest of little ones and does not.

5 out of 5 stars wild and wonderful.......2007-05-22

this is a wonderfuly illustrated book that manages to incorporate the many species of endangered animals names with the letters of the alphabet.While I bought it for my grandson(2) he is too young to appreciate it, so I have put it away for him to enjoy in the years ahead. I recommend it for the art work and for all the information that is on each page.

5 out of 5 stars Worthwhile addition to the home or school library.......2007-04-13

Ostensibly about the alphabet, this book teaches so much more. Through clever illustrations, McLimans introduces children (and adults!) to a variety of endangered animals. Each page contains a stylized black-and-white illustration of the animal in the form of a letter along with a separate stylized red illustration of the animal. For instance, the head of the bald-headed Ukari is integrated into the shape of the letter U, while the entire animal is portrayed in red next to the letter design. Each page also contains facts about the animal (such as its natural habitat and potential threats).

Students, teachers, and parents interested in exotic or unusual animals or becoming more aware of environmental issues will find this book worthwhile. This book is appropriate for families or classrooms of mixed ages since younger children can practice their letters while older children can learn about these unusual and endangered animals.

5 out of 5 stars Gone Wild Review.......2007-03-26

I loved this book.. it can be used on many levels in elementary school.
Tropical Rain Forest
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Great, whether you get to the rain forest or not
Tropical Rain Forest
Donald M. Silver
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

NonfictionNonfiction | Environment | Nature | Science, Nature & How It Works | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
NonfictionNonfiction | Forests & Trees | Nature | Science, Nature & How It Works | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Science & TechnologyScience & Technology | Specific Skills | Education | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
Look Inside Children's BooksLook Inside Children's Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Ages 9-12Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
NonfictionNonfiction | Environment | Nature | Science, Nature & How It Works | Children's Books | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Forests & TreesForests & Trees | Nature | Science, Nature & How It Works | Children's Books | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Science & TechnologyScience & Technology | Specific Skills | Education | Professional & Technical | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
All 4-for-3 DealsAll 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:
  1. Nature's Green Umbrella (Mulberry Books) Nature's Green Umbrella (Mulberry Books)
  2. A Walk in the Rainforest A Walk in the Rainforest
  3. Arctic Tundra Arctic Tundra
  4. One Small Square: Woods One Small Square: Woods
  5. Cactus Desert (One Small Square) Cactus Desert (One Small Square)

ASIN: 0070580510

Book Description

Bats and big cats. Armies of ants. Squawking parrots. Strangling figs. From the ground up to the tree tops, the tropical rainforest teems with life. Stunning drawings, step-by-step experiments, fun-to-do activities, and fascinating facts abound in this magical exploration of an essential ecosystem, in danger of disappearing forever. Tropical Rain Forest is a new edition to the One Samll Square Series not previously published in hardcover.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Great, whether you get to the rain forest or not.......2002-03-14

The One Small Square series is wonderful: the concept is that you take a hypothetical square foot of an environment- woods, seashore, arctic tundra, rainforest, etc.- and explore it at all levels, from underground to the sky. Each book is extensively illustrated with all of the inter-connected layers of life- from fungus to megafauna- in the Square. On the margin of most of the 2-page spreads are activities that you can do, no matter where you live. Food chains, life cycles & seasons are explored, and the back section has an identification guide to all of the life forms presented in the book.

We took One Small Square: Tropical Rain Forest with us on a trip to the Brazilian rainforest with our 5 & 7 year olds. The book was great- for the grown ups & the kids! We used it as a guide to identify many of the animals & plants we saw, as background to help the girls understand what they were going to see, as reading on the long trips up the river. We did many of the activities- some before, some during, and some after the trip. Our guide was so impressed with it that he ordered a copy for himself, saying that it was hard to find something with so much information that was both accurate and interesting to people at many different levels of knowledge. Highly recommended!
Last Chance to See
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Amazing
  • Great read!
  • A Favorite For Many
  • So long, Baiji (and Douglas too)
  • Goodbye, Baiji Dolphin
Last Chance to See
Douglas Adams , and Mark Carwardine
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

EcologyEcology | Biological Sciences | Professional Science | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
Endangered SpeciesEndangered Species | Conservation | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
ReferenceReference | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Ecology | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
Look Inside Outdoors & Nature BooksLook Inside Outdoors & Nature Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Look Inside Science BooksLook Inside Science Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:
  1. The Deeper Meaning of Liff: A Dictionary of Things There Aren't Any Words for Yet--But There Ought to Be The Deeper Meaning of Liff: A Dictionary of Things There Aren't Any Words for Yet--But There Ought to Be
  2. Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency
  3. Long Dark Tea Time of the Soul Long Dark Tea Time of the Soul
  4. The Salmon of Doubt: Hitchhiking the Galaxy One Last Time The Salmon of Doubt: Hitchhiking the Galaxy One Last Time
  5. The Meaning of Liff The Meaning of Liff

ASIN: 0345371984
Release Date: 1992-10-13

Book Description

"Very funny and moving...The glimpses of rare fauna seem to have enlarged [Adams'] thinking, enlivened his world; and so might the animals do for us all, if we were to help them live."
THE WASHINGTON POST BOOK WORLD
Join bestselling author Douglas Adams and zooligist Mark Carwardine as they take off around the world in search of exotic, endangered creatures. Hilarious and poignant--as only Douglas Adams can be--LAST CHANCE TO SEE is an entertaining and arresting odyssey through the Earth's magnificent wildlife galaxy.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Amazing.......2007-08-23

This book is extremely hard to find outside of Amazon which is a real shame because this is definitely one of Adams' greatest, one that is not only absolutely hilarious but that reveals his own amazing character and interests in a profound way.

If you are an Adams fan at all or just liked the Hitchhiker Guide you really need this book, I'm thinking about becoming a zoologist after reading this but I expect they are not as funny.

5 out of 5 stars Great read!.......2007-08-20

Great and witty read as only Douglas Adams seems to be able to. Really sad that he is no longer around to write more gems like this!

Ignacio

5 out of 5 stars A Favorite For Many.......2007-01-17

The publishers of this book were brilliant to get Douglas Adams (RIP) to accompany zoologist, Mark Carwardine, to "document" their journey and experiences visiting animals in danger of extinction. He gives you a good laugh and lots of fascinating information. This is a great book for young and old alike. I can't recommend it enough.

5 out of 5 stars So long, Baiji (and Douglas too).......2006-12-19

Being a fan of Douglas Adams, I picked up this book right away...and I personally consider it to be his best work. The world of conservation is not often viewed at from a light-hearted perspective, and this book allows readers to ease into serious topics with an infusion of humour. The people they meet, th experiences, the descriptions of the animal kingdom all point to a world that is quirky and loveable.

It was announced in the newspaper a few days ago that the Baiji dolphin has been written off as extinct...I would love to read a follow-up to see what happened with the sanctuary. Unfortunately Douglas has passed on as well, so an update is unlikely.

I can't recommend this book enough.

5 out of 5 stars Goodbye, Baiji Dolphin.......2006-12-14

I just finished reading this book last night. As I went to sleep I thought, "I should really check up on these animals tomorrow and see how they are doing." Today they announce that the Baiji Dolphin is functionally extinct. I'm too sick for words.

It's a wonderful book, probably my favorite of Douglas Adams' collection.
The Early Mesoamerican Village: Archaeological Research Strategy for an Endangered Species (Studies in Archaeology)
Average customer rating: Not rated
    The Early Mesoamerican Village: Archaeological Research Strategy for an Endangered Species (Studies in Archaeology)

    Manufacturer: Academic Press
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

    GeneralGeneral | Central America | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
    MexicoMexico | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Sociology | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Archaeology | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
    Look Inside History BooksLook Inside History Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
    Look Inside Nonfiction BooksLook Inside Nonfiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
    Look Inside Science BooksLook Inside Science Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
    Similar Items:
    1. A History of Archaeological Thought A History of Archaeological Thought
    2. Outline of a Theory of Practice (Cambridge Studies in Social and Cultural Anthropology) Outline of a Theory of Practice (Cambridge Studies in Social and Cultural Anthropology)
    3. Suicide Suicide

    ASIN: 0122598520
    Salmon Without Rivers: A History Of The Pacific Salmon Crisis
    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    • Peter Morrison
    • Great read
    • Pacific Northwest Salmon History Book
    • A captivating, human, informed book
    • Save the salmon and us
    Salmon Without Rivers: A History Of The Pacific Salmon Crisis
    James A. Lichatowich
    Manufacturer: Island Press
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

    GeneralGeneral | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | State & Local | United States | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
    Fish & SharksFish & Sharks | Animals | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Zoology | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
    RiversRivers | Earth Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
    ConservationConservation | Environment | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
    EcologyEcology | Environment | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
    Living on the LandLiving on the Land | Ecology | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books | Architecture | Hunting & Fishing
    GeneralGeneral | Conservation | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
    Endangered SpeciesEndangered Species | Conservation | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
    EnvironmentalismEnvironmentalism | Conservation | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
    ReferenceReference | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Zoology | Biological Sciences | Professional Science | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
    Similar Items:
    1. King Of Fish: The Thousand-Year Run Of Salmon King Of Fish: The Thousand-Year Run Of Salmon
    2. The Behavior And Ecology Of Pacific Salmon And Trout The Behavior And Ecology Of Pacific Salmon And Trout
    3. A Common Fate: Endangered Salmon and the People of the Pacific Northwest A Common Fate: Endangered Salmon and the People of the Pacific Northwest
    4. Atlas of Pacific Salmon: The First Map-Based Status Assessment of Salmon in the North Pacific Atlas of Pacific Salmon: The First Map-Based Status Assessment of Salmon in the North Pacific
    5. Field Identification of Coastal Juvenile Salmonids Field Identification of Coastal Juvenile Salmonids

    ASIN: 1559633611

    Amazon.com

    The image of salmon battling upstream through whitewater cataracts to spawn in their birthplace is integral to any happy vision of the Pacific Northwest. Sadly, because they face more insidious obstacles than swift currents, few people today actually witness this remarkable spectacle. Armed with exhaustive research and an ability to synthesize his findings into a concise, readable indictment of the status quo, Jim Lichatowich, a fisheries scientist for 30 years, traces the sudden decline of Northwest salmon populations following the onset of Euro-American settlement. He points a finger at the usual suspects: logging, mining, damming, grazing, irrigation, commercial fishing, and development. Moreover, he cites the political establishment for a failure of nerve. Since the shift from a Native American "gift" economy based on sustainability to a profit economy based on self-interest and short-term financial gain, the historically resilient salmon have met one adversary after another, with little or no help from the legal apparatus charged with their protection. In fact, federal and state governments have responded to the deepening crisis mainly by building fish hatcheries up and down the West Coast. Contrary to the beliefs of entrenched bureaucrats and sport fishermen, says Lichatowich, hatcheries have merely diluted the gene pools of wild stocks while allowing resource extractors to continue their multifarious operations and politicians to shirk their responsibilities. In 1960, for instance, after decades of declining runs, the Washington Department of Fisheries reported, incredibly (and characteristically), that new advanced management techniques would soon result in "salmon without a river"--more welcome news to those who would continue to exploit these iconic fish and their habitat. At the dawn of the 21st century hundreds of hatcheries still operate, yet Northwest salmon populations have decreased 95 percent.

    Lichatowich is a learned and persuasive advocate for wild salmon. He's also eloquent, as in this description of his first visit to the Columbia River's Grand Coulee dam:

    As I sat there wondering and swatting mosquitoes, the face of the dam lit up. It was the start of the nightly laser show.... Appropriately, the lasers sent a series of large green dollar signs floating through the darkness. Then a series of laser salmon swam across the face of the dam. Here were the ideal salmon, I thought, the fish that fit perfectly into our worldview. We have complete control over them--press a button and they appear; press another and they change from green to red; press another and they swim over the dam. Salmon and dams are compatible--as long as you are not particular about the kind of salmon.
    So what to do? Lichatowich opines that we need a new "worldview," one that places natural resources within a context of respect and sustainability. He looks to state and federal governments to enforce the protections already granted by laws like the Endangered Species Act. And he sees evidence that public perceptions may be changing on such issues as habitat conservation and biodiversity; breaching four dams on the lower Snake River to aid fish passage would have been unthinkable even in the early 1990s. Whether this new worldview can save salmon in time is another question. --Langdon Cook

    Book Description

    "Fundamentally, the salmon's decline has been the consequence of a vision based on flawed assumptions and unchallenged myths.... We assumed we could control the biological productivity of salmon and 'improve' upon natural processes that we didn't even try to understand. We assumed we could have salmon without rivers." --from the introduction

    From a mountain top where an eagle carries a salmon carcass to feed its young to the distant oceanic waters of the California current and the Alaskan Gyre, salmon have penetrated the Northwest to an extent unmatched by any other animal. Since the turn of the twentieth century, the natural productivity of salmon in Oregon, Washington, California, and Idaho has declined by eighty percent. The decline of Pacific salmon to the brink of extinction is a clear sign of serious problems in the region.

    In Salmon Without Rivers, fisheries biologist Jim Lichatowich offers an eye-opening look at the roots and evolution of the salmon crisis in the Pacific Northwest. He describes the multitude of factors over the past century and a half that have led to the salmon's decline, and examines in depth the abject failure of restoration efforts that have focused almost exclusively on hatcheries to return salmon stocks to healthy levels without addressing the underlying causes of the decline. The book:

    Throughout, Lichatowich argues that the dominant worldview of our society -- a worldview that denies connections between humans and the natural world -- has created the conflict and controversy that characterize the recent history of salmon; unless that worldview is challenged and changed, there is little hope for recovery. Salmon Without Rivers exposes the myths that have guided recent human-salmon interactions. It clearly explains the difficult choices facing the citizens of the region, and provides unique insight into one of the most tragic chapters in our nation's environmental history.

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Peter Morrison.......2005-09-11

    This is a must read book for anyone interested in salmon, rivers and the ecology and history of the Pacific Northwest. Excellent information and a good read.

    5 out of 5 stars Great read.......2005-08-02

    This is an excellent book that documents the history of salmon, how native Americans viewed them and how modern Americans view them. It focuses on why the pacific northwest is facing a salmon crisis, and our failed attempts to replace what we have lost. Great read for anyone who is concerned about environmental issues.

    4 out of 5 stars Pacific Northwest Salmon History Book.......2003-12-02

    Salmon Without Rivers is a great book of historical facts. It includes many issues like; original salmon locations/populations, "Economy over Environment" issues, and the ineffectiveness of large decision making commissions/agencies. However, with all his good background information the book does not propose any solutions nor investigates today's coastal human communities as they relate to the salmon and/or habitat.

    5 out of 5 stars A captivating, human, informed book.......2001-01-16

    As a freelance author writing a piece about salmon for a California-based magazine, this book was indispensible and eye-opening. It is unfailingly sensitive and intelligent about salmon, discussing the fish as fellow creatures in the "natural economy" in which we all live, rather than as mere commodities in the "industrial economy" that has transformed the West in the last 150 years. It is fascinating about the geology that shaped the salmon's environment, the evolutionary history of the fish, the relationship between Native Americans and salmon in the Northwest, and it provides a detailed history of the many factors that have led to the salmon's decline, including habitat destruction, misbegotten hatchery programs, overfishing, dams, mining, grazing, irrigation. If you like to read books about ecology, the creatures of the earth, fish, or the Northwest--you can't go wrong. This is a wonderful book.

    5 out of 5 stars Save the salmon and us.......2000-12-24

    A thoroughly researched and impassioned presentation including the history of salmon, their decline, why billions of tax dollars in restoration efforts have had paltry returns, and insights into the where we should go from here. A complex issue is examined from many perspectives in an easy to read and compelling book. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in salmon.
    The Song of the Dodo: Island Biogeography in an Age of Extinction
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • Science Journalism? Yeh, it rules!
    • Desultory fluff
    • Fabulous
    • Plotting the roadmap to species extinction
    • Comprehensive
    The Song of the Dodo: Island Biogeography in an Age of Extinction
    David Quammen
    Manufacturer: Scribner
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

    ContemporaryContemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Biology | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
    Environmental ScienceEnvironmental Science | Earth Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Nature & Ecology | Science | Subjects | Books
    EcologyEcology | Environment | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
    ReferenceReference | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Biology | Biological Sciences | Professional Science | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
    Environmental ScienceEnvironmental Science | Earth Sciences | Professional Science | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
    Popular FictionPopular Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Book Clubs | Specialty Stores | Books
    Look Inside Fiction BooksLook Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
    Look Inside Outdoors & Nature BooksLook Inside Outdoors & Nature Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
    Look Inside Science BooksLook Inside Science Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
    Similar Items:
    1. The Flight of the Iguana: A Sidelong View of Science and Nature The Flight of the Iguana: A Sidelong View of Science and Nature
    2. Wild Thoughts from Wild Places Wild Thoughts from Wild Places
    3. The Reluctant Mr. Darwin: An Intimate Portrait of Charles Darwin and the Making of His Theory of Evolution (Great Discoveries) The Reluctant Mr. Darwin: An Intimate Portrait of Charles Darwin and the Making of His Theory of Evolution (Great Discoveries)
    4. The Boilerplate Rhino: Nature in the Eye of the Beholder The Boilerplate Rhino: Nature in the Eye of the Beholder
    5. Monster of God: The Man-Eating Predator in the Jungles of History and the Mind Monster of God: The Man-Eating Predator in the Jungles of History and the Mind

    ASIN: 0684827123

    Amazon.com

    In a wonderful weave of science, metaphor, and prose, David Quammen, author of The Flight of the Iguana, applies the lessons of island biogeography - the study of the distribution of species on islands and islandlike patches of landscape - to modern ecosystem decay, offering us insight into the origin and extinction of species, our relationship to nature, and the future of our world.

    Book Description

    David Quammen's book, The Song of the Dodo, is a

    brilliant, stirring work, breathtaking in its scope,

    far-reaching in its message -- a crucial book in

    precarious times, which radically alters the way in

    which we understand the natural world and our place

    in that world. It's also a book full of entertainment

    and wonders.

    In The Song of the Dodo, we follow Quammen's keen

    intellect through the ideas, theories, and experiments

    of prominent naturalists of the last two centuries.

    We trail after him as he travels the world,

    tracking the subject of island biogeography, which

    encompasses nothing less than the study of the origin

    and extinction of all species. Why is this island

    idea so important? Because islands are where

    species most commonly go extinct -- and because, as

    Quammen points out, we live in an age when all of

    Earth's landscapes are being chopped into island-like

    fragments by human activity.

    Through his eyes, we glimpse the nature of evolution

    and extinction, and in so doing come to understand

    the monumental diversity of our planet, and

    the importance of preserving its wild landscapes,

    animals, and plants. We also meet some fascinating

    human characters. By the book's end we are wiser,

    and more deeply concerned, but Quammen

    leaves us with a message of excitement and hope.

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Science Journalism? Yeh, it rules!.......2007-09-26

    This is the first book I've read by Quammen, an imminently talented journalist who perfectly balances the information and writing style of the book. He follows a chronological progression of island biogeography from Darwin through Jared Diamond (who became hugely famous shortly after the release of this book). Quammen's travelogues are excellent, combining a sympathetic, open perspective that is adventurous and engaged. Late in the book, Quammen describes a climb to the nest of a Mauritius kestrel: "When I'm thirty feet up, a tree branch flicks off my glasses, which drop to the ground. I could go down and retrieve them, sure, that would be sensible, but I'd fall too far behind the cheerful maniacs...
    'Do you trust this vine?' I call up to Jones. Gangly but tall, he must weigh two hundred pounds, and from this angle I can appreciate the size of his feet.
    'Not greatly.'
    We ratchet our way upward, slowly, on the cliff face. It isn't Half Dome but it's more perilous than the average birdwatching stroll. We rise out above the valley. As we move beyond the treetops, I give myself an explicit mental reminder: Fall from here and you don't go home. Finally, Jones and I catch up with Lewis on a narrow rock shelf, like a window ledge ten stories above Lexington Avenue...
    I gaze out at the panorama--the forested canyon below us, the deer ranch beyond, and the cane plantation beyond that, all spreading westward for five miles to the crescent of beach and then the great turquoise plane of the Indian Ocean." (562-3)
    It's Quammen's excitement and sensitivty that inspire the reader to continue and to care, to take notice of humanity's influence: carving nature into islands, resulting in astonishing rates of extinction and ecosystem decay. But Quammen urges us to cling to hope, not despair, because "besides being fruitless it's far less exciting than hope, however slim." (636)

    2 out of 5 stars Desultory fluff.......2007-09-06

    This is by far the most desultory, fluff-filled history of biological evolution that I've ever read. Generally, I am not a skimmer of Quammen's work, and in fact often enjoy his wit and lithesome prose, but after only a dozen pages or so into Dodo I found myself flipping page after page looking for something substantive, looking for meat. In one word, the pace is SLOW. Over and over again in the margins I found myself scribbling "Go! Go! We'd advanced this far thirty pages ago!" But on the plus side I suppose if you are looking for a book to practice your speed reading, Dodo may be it: you can flip ten pages at a throw and hardly miss a thing.

    5 out of 5 stars Fabulous.......2006-09-06

    Quammen's book is a rare bird--a clearly written science book that doesn't condescend to readers. It's long enough to go fairly deep, and deep enough to be interesting: it's on my short list of favorites.

    As other reviewers point out, the history of squabbles wears a little thin, but neither Darwin nor anyone else sticks in my memory as having been unfairly kneecapped. In fact, the only faintly negative impression I had was of the excessive care Quammen takes in presenting some fairly basic math. Highly recommended.

    5 out of 5 stars Plotting the roadmap to species extinction.......2006-07-23

    "Islands are where species go to die." - David Quammen, author of THE SONG OF THE DODO

    This book is all about the birth, maturation, and real world applications of the science of island biogeography as it relates to the circumstances of species isolation and diversification and subsequent decline and extinction. Here, "island" means not only the obvious - a bit of land surrounded by water - but any habitat separated from the rest of the world by a geographic barrier which its resident species are unlikely to cross. "Island", then, can refer, for examples, to a lake, a remnant of rain forest surrounded by clear-cut, a temperate mountaintop surrounded by desert, a national park hemmed in by human habitation, a cave, an expanse of jungle bordered by wide rivers, or a literal island in the sea.

    Island biogeography inexorably leads the reader to the concept of conservation biology and viable-population theory. You see, the rampant human population is cutting the world's diverse ecosystems into little bits - islands - thus dooming countless species living within them - especially large vertebrates - to eventual destruction.

    THE SONG OF THE DODO is a lucid, erudite, troubling, and extensively researched piece of science writing by journalist David Quammen. It's biggest fault is that he just about beats the subject to death. Where, perhaps, just a few examples of past species extinction (the Dodo or the Micronesian honeyeater) and present pending extinction (the indri of Madagascar or the Concho water snake in Texas) would suffice, the author includes at least a dozen more. But, as Quammen is such an excellent writer who feels strongly about this important subject, one cannot award less than five stars. Amidst the record of both realized and threatened animal extirpations, David even manages to be humorous when his narrative becomes a personal travelogue as he journeys to exotic places to observe the pending carnage for himself, as when tripping face-first into a spiderweb on Guam ("My worst nightmares feature tarantulas the size of badgers") or getting mugged in Rio de Janeiro. About the last incident, when confronted at the local police station with the one (of three) of his attackers unlucky enough to get caught, David quips:

    "He's looking at five years (imprisonment) I'm told. Cinco anos. Cinco, no kidding? that's a lot of anos, I say. Probably I should feel terrible for the young thug, on grounds of socioeconomic extenuation, but in the weakness of the moment my liberal knee fails to jerk and cinco anos sounds fine."

    The most glaring negative is the lack of photographs, both of the various creatures under discussion and the scientists, past and present, who've contributed to, and fought over, the theory and practice of island biogeography.

    Recently, I saw AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH, a documentary on global warming. Taken together with THE SONG OF THE DODO, my pessimism is kindled to a white heat. I don't have a high opinion of my fellow man: Homo sapiens is a rapacious species ungenerous to the other life forms riding Mother Earth. We blithely defecate on our own doorstep. At some point, the planet, which will ultimately endure, will turn to Man and say, "I'll show you!" Then, as Quammen puts it:

    "When we ourselves do go (extinct), the sparrows and the cockroaches and the rats and the dandelions that survive us should eventually give rise to a new inflorescence of diversity. I'll leave it to you to decide whether that represents a gloomy scenario or a cheery one."

    5 out of 5 stars Comprehensive.......2006-07-19

    Mr Quammen's work is the finest written on the facts of island biogeography. Broad in scope, the writer visited the leks of the birds of paradise and those nasty lizards on Komodo. Other places of interest the book visits are Madagascar and the Galapagos, known for their weird endemic faunas that can only be explained in an evolutionary, and biogeographic manner.
    Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See?
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • Exciting new spin on Brown Bear, Brown Bear
    • Sorta Weird
    • There is hope!
    • Everyone should have this book
    • I should like this one, but...
    Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See?
    Bill Martin Jr.
    Manufacturer: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Hardcover

    Sense & SensationSense & Sensation | Basic Concepts | Baby-3 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Baby-3 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
    FictionFiction | Bears | Animals | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
    FictionFiction | General | Animals | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
    FictionFiction | Nature | Science, Nature & How It Works | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Carle, Eric | ( C ) | Authors & Illustrators, A-Z | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
    HardcoverHardcover | Carle, Eric | ( C ) | Authors & Illustrators, A-Z | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
    Look Inside Children's BooksLook Inside Children's Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
    Similar Items:
    1. Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?
    2. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
    3. From Head to Toe Board Book From Head to Toe Board Book
    4. 1, 2, 3 to the Zoo (The World of Eric Carle) 1, 2, 3 to the Zoo (The World of Eric Carle)
    5. The Very Hungry Caterpillar board book The Very Hungry Caterpillar board book

    ASIN: 0805017585

    Amazon.com

    Fans of Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle's Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? and Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? will be delighted to see another title in this lilting call and response series. Much like their earlier picture books, Panda Bear features a string of fine feathered (and furry and scaly) friends watching over each other. In this book, however, all the animals are endangered, from a swinging spider monkey to a strutting macaroni penguin (kids will get a kick out of that name!) to a splashing sea lion. Carle's trademark tissue paper collages will be as familiar--and welcome--as the text ("Whooping Crane, Whooping Crane, what do you see?" "I see a black panther strolling by me."); young readers will quickly get the hang of the rhythm and join right in. The book concludes on a hopeful note, with a dreaming child seeing the ten f! eatured animals "all wild and free--/ that's what I see!" Martin includes a note on endangered species that may spark concern and interest in older readers--our hope for these disappearing creatures. (Ages 3 to 8) --Emilie Coulter

    Book Description

    Thirty-five years after their first groundbreaking collaboration, the creators of Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? and Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? reunite to address the important topic of animal conservation. A Bald Eagle soars, a Spider Monkey swings, a Macaroni Penguin struts, and a Red Wolf sneaks through Bill Martin Jr's rhythmic text and Eric Carle's vibrant images, and all are watched over by our best hope for the future-a dreaming child.

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Exciting new spin on Brown Bear, Brown Bear.......2007-10-03

    This book follows the same pattern as the classic Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? but with an exciting new spin -- exotic, endangered animals. It also has a delightful surprise ending that makes it perfect for a bedtime story.

    -Sherry North, author, Because You Are My Baby

    3 out of 5 stars Sorta Weird.......2007-09-11

    My 2-year old twins like this book because they like to see the animals, but I think they'd get more out of it if more mainstream animals were used. I think they're a little thrown by animals like "macaroni penguin" - sounds like food to them. The dreaming child part is weird looking too.

    I think it's great to use endangered animals, although my kids aren't exactly as concerned about animal endangerment as I am. It's not a bad book or anything, but honestly, if I had read it in a bookstore, I wouldn't have bought it.

    5 out of 5 stars There is hope!.......2007-08-19

    My son loves Eric Carle books, and this is our most recent addition to his collection. I just caught on to the fact that all of the animals are endangered, but I think it's so cool that one of them isn't anymore! The bald eagle was recently taken off the endangered species list. I think that gives us (and especially kids) hope that more of those animals can come off that list, and maybe even in their lifetime.

    5 out of 5 stars Everyone should have this book.......2007-06-16

    In a world of highways, malls, highrises, greed and land excavation, it's good to find a book that dares to dream of thick forests, lush jungles and untouched oceans where wonderful creatures can thrive. This is my favorite of all the "bear" books. It's statement is strong and I can't wait until my 16 month old daughter can recognize it.

    2 out of 5 stars I should like this one, but..........2007-03-07

    I oughta like it, I want to like it, but it just left me flat. More to the point, it left my kids flat. The two stars I gave this were for the illustrations -- they are really cool, as you'd expect with Eric Carle. Normally, you can't go wrong with Bill Martin, but I guess everybody has their bad days. The language doesn't flow as well as the other bear books, and that makes it a little awkward for reading aloud. We have Brown Bear, Brown Bear and Polar Bear, Polar Bear, and both are big favorites with the under-3 set around our house. Panda Bear just doesn't make the grade.
    Wildlife Issues in a Changing World, Second Edition
    Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    • A textbook, with pluses and minuses
    Wildlife Issues in a Changing World, Second Edition
    Michael Moulton , and James Sanderson
    Manufacturer: CRC
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

    GeneralGeneral | Real Estate | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
    Environmental & Natural Resources LawEnvironmental & Natural Resources Law | Law | Subjects | Books
    PropertyProperty | Business | Law | Subjects | Books
    English LawEnglish Law | Law | Subjects | Books | Business | Citizenship | Civil | Commercial | Courts & Procedures | Criminal | Employment | Financial | General | Landlord & Tenant | Law of Evidence | Reports | Social Security & Welfare | Statutes, Cases & Law Reports | Tort | Transport | Wills & Probate
    WildlifeWildlife | Animals | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Biology | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Zoology | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Ecology | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
    ConservationConservation | Environment | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
    EcologyEcology | Environment | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Conservation | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
    Endangered SpeciesEndangered Species | Conservation | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
    WildlifeWildlife | Conservation | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
    ReferenceReference | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
    EcologyEcology | Biological Sciences | Professional Science | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Zoology | Biological Sciences | Professional Science | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Evolution | Professional Science | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
    Look Inside Business BooksLook Inside Business Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
    Look Inside Nonfiction BooksLook Inside Nonfiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
    Look Inside Outdoors & Nature BooksLook Inside Outdoors & Nature Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
    Look Inside Science BooksLook Inside Science Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
    All TitlesAll Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
    Business & InvestingBusiness & Investing | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
    Outdoors & NatureOutdoors & Nature | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
    ProfessionalProfessional | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
    ScienceScience | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
    Similar Items:
    1. The Beast in the Garden: A Modern Parable of Man and Nature The Beast in the Garden: A Modern Parable of Man and Nature
    2. Owl Puke: Book and Owl Pellet Owl Puke: Book and Owl Pellet
    3. Biodiversity and the Law Biodiversity and the Law

    ASIN: 1566703514

    Book Description

    Students of conservation encounter some of the most complex issues on our planet. The resolution of existing problems become more complex when humans create further stresses on the natural balance. Moulton and Sanderson brought the challenging issues in wildlife conservation into greater clarity in Wildlife Issues in a Changing World. The Second Edition of this definitive reference focuses more closely on the causes of wildlife issues. The examination of Jared Diamond's "Evil Quartet" (the four principal causes of extinction) provides a framework for categorizing and resolving these issues. The authors encourage the use of the scientific method basis for resolution - especially where environmental laws have failed. The three new chapters provide further counterpoints to preconceived notions. A two-part history of wildlife in the U.S. shows how wildlife had already been decimated by the year 1900. "Can Humans Manage Wildlife?" questions efforts to revive endangered species, acts which may inadvertently jeopardize the survival of other life. Viewing the natural order from prehistoric times to the present, Wildlife Issues in a Changing World, Second Edition gives students and instructors an all-encompassing introduction to past relations between humans and nature; explorations of current threats to species and their habitats; and recent "novel solutions," where humanity and industry have made adjustments to protect the natural order. Professionals will also find invaluable reminders of the importance of their work - the continuation and endurance of wildlife everywhere on Earth.

    Customer Reviews:

    4 out of 5 stars A textbook, with pluses and minuses.......2006-09-30

    Wildlife Issues in a Changing World is a textbook on... wildlife issues! There is an emphasis on the United States, but there are a good number of international examples as well. I really like the chapters on the Evil Quartet, what is wildlife, and what are wildlife issues. As I use this book in my courses, I depend on it as a source of wildlife issue examples, supplemented with DVDs and videos (to "bring" wildlife into the classroom).

    It is, in general, a hard book for students. I don't mean hard in terms of the materials. It is well-written, and rather easy to read. It is hard to use to study for tests. I tell students that it compliments the lectures, and doesn't repeat them. Students tend to complain that it has too many examples, so the "themes" that they are tested on are difficult to find.

    I still find it the best text for my purposes for a general course with primarily non-natural resource students. I like it for its price as well.
    Endangered Species (Anna Pigeon Mysteries)
    Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    • Typical Barr; solid and readable
    • A good read
    • He or she?
    • Believable plot & characters
    • another winner
    Endangered Species (Anna Pigeon Mysteries)
    Nevada Barr
    Manufacturer: Avon
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Mass Market Paperback

    ContemporaryContemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
    SeriesSeries | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
    Women SleuthsWomen Sleuths | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
    Barr, NevadaBarr, Nevada | ( B ) | Authors, A-Z | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
    Look Inside Fiction BooksLook Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
    Look Inside Mystery & Thriller BooksLook Inside Mystery & Thriller Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
    ContemporaryContemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
    ( B )( B ) | Authors, A-Z | Mystery & Thrillers | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books | Beaton, M.C. | Block, Lawrence | Braun, Lilian Jackson
    GeneralGeneral | Mystery & Thrillers | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
    SeriesSeries | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
    Women SleuthsWomen Sleuths | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
    All 4-for-3 DealsAll 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
    Similar Items:
    1. Firestorm (Anna Pigeon Mysteries) Firestorm (Anna Pigeon Mysteries)
    2. Blind Descent:: An Anna Pigeon Mystery (Anna Pigeon Mysteries) Blind Descent:: An Anna Pigeon Mystery (Anna Pigeon Mysteries)
    3. Liberty Falling (Anna Pigeon Mysteries) Liberty Falling (Anna Pigeon Mysteries)
    4. A Superior Death (Anna Pigeon Mysteries) A Superior Death (Anna Pigeon Mysteries)
    5. Ill Wind Ill Wind

    ASIN: 0380725835

    Amazon.com

    As her legions of loyal readers know, Nevada Barr is not a stripper nor a Las Vegas lawyer; she's a former actress and National Park Service ranger who writes excellent mysteries set in the wilderness. Her alter ego, ranger Anna Pigeon, is once again called upon to be mentally and physically astute--this time on Cumberland Island, off the Georgia coast, where the ghosts of the millionaires who used to live there are being added to by a determined killer. As usual, Barr is best at creating believable scenes of action in a setting that is beautifully detailed but never romanticized. Past Barr books in paperback: Firestorm, Ill Wind, A Superior Death, Track of the Cat.

    Book Description

    In the midst of a dangerously dry season, national park ranger Anna Pigeon has been posted to Cumberland Island off the Georgia coast for a monotonous, twenty-one day fire watch. But her boredom is short-lived, for this remote and marshy place is breeding ground for more than just the imperiled Loggerhead turtle; it also spawns eccentricity and secrets, greed, suspicion. . .and murder.

    A small plane crashes into the palmetto thickets nearby. Anna and her crew arrive in time to control the blaze, but too late to save pilot and his passenger, Cumberland's sole law enforcement ranger. When the cause of the "accident" is determined to be sabotage, Anna becomes entangled in an investigation that threatens to upset the very delicate balance of this fragile ecological preserve. For she is precariously close to exposing dark, clandestine crimes both old and new that someone has worked very diligently to conceal. . .and which make Anna Pigeon the most endangered creature on the island.

    Customer Reviews:

    4 out of 5 stars Typical Barr; solid and readable.......2007-07-25

    I find Barr solid as an author. She writes well but not as poetically and lyrically as some others I read. Her mysteries are nicely constructed and quite page-turning at the end. This book is no exception.

    Anna is a good character. Flawed and misanthropic at times, she is a very believable character. Her little insecurities always strike me as genuine and I like her wise cracking and her affection for the parks. She's well developed and yet still something of an enigma.

    I was glad to see Molly round out this story though the subplot involving her was rather throwaway at best. Still, it was nice to see this character in person rather than at the other end of a telephone, which is how she was always viewed in past novels in this series. It was also interesting to learn some tidbits about her childhood with Anna.

    I was deeply disappointed in Frederick in this novel. I can't help but feel that Barr's ideas for him just sort of petered out. He added an interesting twist to the series.

    One of the most enjoyable aspects of this novel was the introduction of several new characters, always a strength of Barr's. Dijon was funny and made a nice counterpart to Anna. Mona and Dot were nice and multi-faceted and the Disneyish twist with Flicka the fawn was fun.

    As always, what resonates most deeply is Barr's vivid depiction of the latest park in which Anna is working. Barr's descriptions of its wildlife and flora and her evocative writing about the heat and humidity of such climes makes it easy to get lost in the setting. While she is good at creating characters, her true strength lies in setting a scene.

    4 out of 5 stars A good read.......2007-05-22

    I've read several of Barr's books, not in the order of publication. The more recent books have become so dark and violent that I was pleased to find that Endangered Species relied more on character and plot than sheer evil (as in High Country). The marijuana burning incident sounded a bit far-fetched to me, but it was an interlude of humor. The parallel plot about Frederick and Molly was a bit distracting, but it did help to fill in some of Anna's personal history. It was refreshing to read a book in which the people who are attracted to each other don't immediately fall into bed but resist temptation to an involvement that could be damaging to others.

    3 out of 5 stars He or she?.......2007-04-30

    Without giving anything away, I wonder if other readers of "Endangered Species" have noticed the very odd gender change of a major character in the novel (not Anna, of course!) In the hardcover edition available at most public libraries, this character is female. However, in the paperback edition, the same character is suddenly male. I find this completely inexplicable - why the change? Please inform, as I have been curious about this for years.

    5 out of 5 stars Believable plot & characters.......2006-12-27

    I'm a big fan of Nevada Barr, and although this is one of her older books, it's an excellent read. The book takes place on an island off the coast of Georgia and Ms. Barr does an exceptional job of making you feel like you are not only on the island with the heat and mosquitos, but part of the pre-submission fire crew. As always the characters are written with humor. You will fall in love with the deer.

    5 out of 5 stars another winner.......2006-11-08

    This is my wifes rating since she finished the book and I have only started.So far ,I agree.It's another completely different area of the country which make her books so interesting.
    Archipelago: Portraits of Life in the World's Most Remote Island Sanctuary
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • A Gorgeous Book, but Shoddy Packing
    • Not that good
    • Exquisite look at hidden world
    • 5 for the Book, 3 for the Shipping
    • Beautiful book, inadequately packed
    Archipelago: Portraits of Life in the World's Most Remote Island Sanctuary
    David Liittschwager , and Susan Middleton
    Manufacturer: National Geographic
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Hardcover

    GeneralGeneral | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
    Nature & WildlifeNature & Wildlife | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
    Photo EssaysPhoto Essays | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | United States | Travel | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
    WestWest | United States | Travel | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
    ConservationConservation | Environment | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Conservation | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
    Endangered SpeciesEndangered Species | Conservation | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
    ReferenceReference | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
    EcotourismEcotourism | Specialty Travel | Travel | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Hawaii | States | United States | Travel | Subjects | Books
    Look Inside Art BooksLook Inside Art Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
    Look Inside Outdoors & Nature BooksLook Inside Outdoors & Nature Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
    Look Inside Science BooksLook Inside Science Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
    Look Inside Travel BooksLook Inside Travel Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
    Similar Items:
    1. Vanishing Act Vanishing Act
    2. Water Light Time Water Light Time
    3. On This Earth: Photographs from East Africa On This Earth: Photographs from East Africa
    4. The Smaller Majority The Smaller Majority
    5. Ocean Ocean

    ASIN: 0792241886
    Release Date: 2005-10-04

    Book Description

    For this project, Middleton and Liittschwager gained unprecedented access to photograph on and around these protected islands that are otherwise completely off-limits to people. Home to nearly seventy percent of our nation's coral reefs, known as the "rainforests of the sea," the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands is a remarkable ecosystem that supports a vast array of interdependent native plants and animals that have evolved in this habitat over millions of years, many existing nowhere else on the planet.

    The result is Archipelago. With its more than 300 stunning images, the book illustrates the spectacular diversity of these ocean and island creatures, as well as profiles many of the people dedicated to the preservation of this habitat. The inaccessibility of these islands and the need to protect them means that few people will ever be able to visit them in person, though now, for the first time, the area's inhabitants are available for all the world to see through this important body of work. In conjunction with the publication of Archipelago, exhibitions of these photographs will be mounted in Honolulu and Washington, and will then travel to venues around the country throughout 2006.

    Customer Reviews:

    4 out of 5 stars A Gorgeous Book, but Shoddy Packing.......2007-10-09

    I've lived in Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, where many of these photos were taken, for several months while working as a marine ecologist, so I've seen a large portion of these organisms, marine and terrestrial. Yet, despite the thousands of hours I've spent in the water there, Middleton and Liittschwager managed to find and photograph many organisms I've never seen before. Their photographs are unique because they mostly have a white background, so the organism is more starkly highlighted. Personally and as a marine ecologist, I think it's important to see the habitat and the other organisms that the organism may interact with, plus it's more interesting; however, that is what most fish or invertebrate books do and what any person with a camera or dive camera can do - Middleton and Liittschwager's technique is unique, much more difficult to accomplish, and therefore very special. Definitely a gorgeous book to keep on your coffee table - and a great way to see the organisms of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. One of my favorites is the group of images of one albatross growing up - from an egg to looking like an adult - I've always wanted to do that myself. This book will especially be a treasure for those lucky few who will visit Midway in the coming years as the new visitor program begins. I highly recommend it for those who have seen the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and those who haven't but want to.

    Secondly, somehow this book was not packed very well. Others before me have commented on this, and I agree. I've ordered lots of things from Amazon and never seen this before; however, for an expensive book with glossy covers that you don't want to get scratched, it really wasn't packed very well. However, my copy was not damaged in any way, so no worries. I just think Amazon should talk to whoever is packing these books!!

    3 out of 5 stars Not that good.......2007-02-03

    Like most people I purchased this book to use as a coffee table book. Although this book does have some nice images in it. It does not have the wow factor that you would normally expect from a good coffee table book. I would suggest purchasing Ocean by Robert Dinwiddie. (ISBN 0756622050). That book is 1000 times better (in content, pictures, and volume of material), and will keep you entertained much longer.

    5 out of 5 stars Exquisite look at hidden world.......2007-01-05

    The northwest Hawaiian islands, stretching all the way to Midway are rarely visited because of their remoteness and fragility. This beautiful book gives a comprehensive tour of the area. The coffee table format allows the strange lands and creatures to be seen at their best. The authors' skill and dedication to their topic shows clearly in both photos and text. Recommended for all nature lovers.

    5 out of 5 stars 5 for the Book, 3 for the Shipping.......2006-08-16

    Like the other reviewer, my book was improperly shipped, this time in a box too large so it sloshed around on its journey, getting dinged in the process.

    However, the book itself is magnificent. It is a gorgeous, comprehensive collection of images detailing the flora and fauna of the Northwest Hawaiian Islands. This thriving Archipelago is beautiful in every sense of the word, and the intimate portraits that Middleton and LIttschwager have painstakenly produced of these creatures are superb. This is a jewel of a book, for photographic as well as conservationist reasons.

    4 out of 5 stars Beautiful book, inadequately packed.......2006-01-31

    This is a magnificent book, with unique photgographs of sea creatures on white backgrounds. It would have made a splendid gift, except for the unfortunate fact that it was shipped in a box hardly bigger than itself and had obviously been dropped and crushed. Every page was dented, but it was too late to return it and get a new copy. One wonders why tiny objects are so often shipped in a box many times larger than themselves, but books like this one are tossed casually into the mail with no real protection at all.

    Books:

    1. Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies
    2. Handbook of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience (Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience)
    3. History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
    4. History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
    5. History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
    6. Home Cheese Making: Recipes for 75 Delicious Cheeses
    7. How to Prepare for the AP Biology with CD-ROM (Barrons How to Prepare for the Ap Biology. Advanced Placement Examination (Book & CD-Rom))
    8. Human Physiology: An Integrated Approach (4th Edition) (The Physiology Place Series)
    9. If You Give a Mouse a Cookie (If You Give...)
    10. In Defense of Animals: The Second Wave

    Books Index

    Books Home

    Recommended Books

    1. Coming of Age in Mississippi
    2. 90 Minutes in Heaven: A True Story of Death & Life
    3. The Perfect Storm: A True Story of Men Against the Sea
    4. The Princess Present: A Princess Diaries Book
    5. The Thrill of the Chaste: Finding Fulfillment While Keeping Your Clothes On
    6. A Defence of Poetry
    7. Where Queen Elizabeth Slept and What the Butler Saw: A Treasury of Historical Terms from the Sixteen
    8. Inside the Fashion Business
    9. The Tropics and the Traveling Gaze ; India, Landscape, and Science, 1800-1856
    10. The New England Berry Book