Strange new species Astonishing discoveries of life on earth

Review by Booklist Review

Gr. 5-8. This large-format book showcases new species, particularly animal species, and the scientists who have discovered them. Following with a basic introduction to plant and animal classification, the Linnaean system, and the relatively new tool of genetic analysis, the book then profiles scientists (mainly American and Canadian) in the wild and spotlights some of the new species they have collected and studied. The discussion ends with information on cloning, genetically modified food, and the future of life. A typical double-page spread presents a subject through a few paragraphs of text and several color photographs, captions, and sidebars. With many excellent photos, this introductory book on new species will be an intriguing addition to classroom units on classification or biology. --Carolyn Phelan Copyright 2005 Booklist

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.

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Review by School Library Journal Review

Gr 5-8-You may think there is nothing new under the sun, but Kelsey shows readers that there's a lot that is "new"-and there's plenty more out there, not yet seen and/or classified by scientists. Beginning with a captivating foreword that describes the discovery of a finger-long monkey absolutely new to science, the text then presents the Linnaean system and the role of DNA in scientific classification. Kelsey then sails through a variety of habitats, from the expanse of tropical rainforests to the tiny ecosystem of the human mouth and its teeming populations of microbial life. From dime-sized lizards to gulper fish, from orcas that prey on seals to others that eat only fish, the lively narrative provides glimpses of what is going on in the classification side of science. Boxes introduce scientists currently at work in the field and the lab, while "Hot Debate" sections present topics from endangered plants to mosquitoes that call the London Underground home. Color photos and glossy pages catch the eye, and the brief text areas are inviting to less-than-excellent readers. While not an in-depth work, this title could certainly be consulted by report writers, and it's full of tidbits to entice browsers into further investigations, and perhaps lure them into scientific careers of their own.-Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

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