The Woods Scientist

by Stephen R. Swinburne, Susan C. Morse (Photographs)

Sue Morse is at home in the woods; she has read the woods ever since she could remember. She believes that by reading the forests she can help save them. So outside the door of her small cabin lies her laboratory: the rich and extensive forest and all of the creatures who live there. Revealing just how active and engaging science—and scientists—can be, this book also gives us a closer glimpse into the vulnerable homes of bear, lynx, deer, bobcat, and all the dwellers of the woods.

Genres: Nonfiction

48 pages, Hardcover

Published September 30, 2002

About the author

Steve was born in London, England. He holds a BA degree in Biology and English from Castleton State College in Vermont. He has worked as a ranger in a number of national parks and is the author of over 30 children's books. His extensive travels to faraway lands such as Africa and treks through Yellowstone have all influenced his book projects. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt published Steve’s book Sea Turtle Scientist in 2014. His most recent title is from Scholastic and entitled Safe in a Storm, a comforting read-aloud story, where all the animals find cozy places to keep them safe and warm. Steve visits nearly a hundred schools a year across the United States as well as many international schools. He lives in Vermont with his wife Heather, two dogs named Scout and Jem, and a cat named Skittles.

Reviews

[Karen Witzler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part of the Scientists in the Field series. Susan Morse is a wildlife biologist and expert animal tracker who guides her students through field exercises and observations tracking bear, moose, and bobcat in the woods of Vermont. Habitat fragmentation and loss of the apex predator, the wolf, is discussed.

The language is simpler and scientific jargon minimized, making this one of the SITF appropriate to children 8 - 10, as well the intended audience of 12 and up. I enjoy this series.

[Tricia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was hoping this could serve as a woodland ecosystem companion recommendation to The Prairie Builders (for project at work), but alas, it is not. This isn't really about studying the woods at all. Instead, it's about a scientist who tracks and studies wildlife (mostly large cats in North America). One thing I liked is how it showed her reasoning through animal signs to determine what left them. In my experience, many people don't notice such signs until you draw their attention to them, but once they do, it expands their outlook on the world around them. I suspect she does important conservation work, but this book doesn't highlight the science the way others have.

But my 2 rating is not just due to the misleading title. Instead, it's because I found this book to be really disjointed and lacking coherence. It's also the most preachy that I've encountered in the series. If this were someone's introduction to the Scientists in the Field series, they'd probably give up!

[Allie L.]

Summary:
The book tells about the work conducted by biologist Sue Morse, who studies the forest. The book presents information about the work she does as she tracks animals and researches the ecosystems that exist in the forest. The reader also learns about the vulnerability of the forests and the organisms that are dependent on them. The author presents the reader with conservation information and how they can help protect forests.

Evaluation:
The author includes a great deal of information in the book, as well as maps and photographs that depict scientific data. The book shows that science does not occur exclusively in a laboratory. Readers are able to see that science occurs in the real world and has meaningful implications.

Teaching Idea:
The book can be used to help students identify the different ecosystems. The teacher can work to help the student identify the forest as an ecosystem. She can have the student identify the characteristics of the forest ecosystem. The book could also be used to demonstrate the application of science in the field and how different areas of science function.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Genre: Informational


Love the woods? Want to learn more about it? Then this is the book for you!

A. Susan C. Morse provides the photos for her walk through the woods. She is passionate and knowledgeable about the woods and the animals within.
B. This book is fun and informational. There are fun facts geared towards children and young adults but adults will enjoy this as well.
C. Providing these helpful tidbits of information to the reader help to keep the reader interested and they learn and don't know it! The picture and information about seed germination and animal scat is great.

I will have this book as a part of my library for school. Children of all ages will enjoy it!