Pond Water Zoo: An Introduction to Microscopic Life - Softcover

Loewer, Peter; Jenkins, Jean

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1481488112 ISBN 13: 9781481488112

Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2016

Synopsis

Provides young readers with detailed illustrations that capture the various microscopic lives going on in a single drop of pond water, including that of spirogyra, paramecia, and other protozoa.

About this title

About the Author

Peter Loewer is vice president of the Botanical Gardens at Asheville in North Carolina and author of more than twenty gardening books.

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8. This utilitarian book catalogs the varieties of microscopic life in ponds and streams and offers instructions on collecting and studying samples. An introduction to the five kingdoms and microscopic life in general is followed by descriptions of Monera, Protista, and a variety of microscopic animals. Similar species are grouped together, but the text is weak on pointing out similarities and making comparisons that would help readers keep the data sorted out. There are also sensationalized statements that need more clarification. For example, the author claims that, "90 percent of the average human being is made up of bacteria;" it is not clear what this figure is based on. The explanation of the sizes of these species is muddy, too. Although Loewer explains how long a micron is in comparison to an inch, some organisms are described in terms of microns and others in terms of millimeters but how many microns are in a millimeter is never made clear. The book's strength is its instructions for collecting and studying these creatures; it explains getting samples, using microscopes, and what to look for. Some of the tasks will need adult supervision, but the information could be useful to students who need ideas for biology-based science projects. Excellent drawings complement the text, providing close-up views of the life forms described. The end result is mixed, with the book's appeal limited by its somewhat dull and sometimes vague text.?Jeffrey A. French, Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 2016
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1481488112
• ISBN 13: 9781481488112
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 96