Discusses the life and work of botanist Alice Eastwood, who explored plant life in Colorado and California - (Baker & Taylor)

Booklist Reviews

%% This is a multi-book review: SEE also the title "Bug Watching with Charles Henry Turner". %% Gr. 3^-5. Each book in the Naturalist's Apprentice series tells the life story of someone from a minority group who became well known as a naturalist. At the same time, the books offer hints on observing birds, beasts, bugs, or plants, creating "museums," and getting together with others who enjoy nature. Bug Watching introduces Charles Turner, an African American who received his doctorate in zoology from the University of Chicago in 1907 and studied insects for many years. The experiments he conducted, using minimal equipment but careful observation, will intrigue children who have made their own, informal observations of ants, bees, and spiders. Flower Watching follows the career of Alice Eastwood, who with little formal training became an expert in the wildflowers of the Rocky Mountains and the West Coast. Illustrations are photographs of the naturalists and appealing watercolor paintings, including many close-ups of flowers and bugs. Effective writing and attractive presentations should encourage readers' enthusiasm for studying nature. Check the Series Roundup in the March 15 Booklist for volumes on bird watching and wildlife watching. ((Reviewed March 1, 1998)) Copyright 2000 Booklist Reviews

School Library Journal Reviews

Ross profiles two remarkable scientists who succeeded in their fields despite the racial and gender prejudices of the early 20th century. Turner, one of the few African Americans in his day to earn a doctorate (in zoology) was noted for his research on insect behavior. Eastwood was a self-taught botanist in an era when science was considered an inappropriate pursuit for women. She gained renown for her intrepid explorations of remote areas of Colorado and California, where she collected and identified plants, and for her books on the flora of these regions. A mix of assorted black-and-white reproductions and watercolor paintings of flora and fauna appear on about every other page. Many of the photos are not dated. For the most part, the texts are competently written however, some information is oversimplified. For instance, the text of Bug Watching consistently uses the unscientific term "bug" instead of the correct terms, "insect" or "spider," even after the correct terms are defined. Use of such imprecise terms does not match the predominantly straightforward text. Scientific miscellanea is juxtaposed with the main texts in beige-colored inserts designed to look like torn pages from an old notebook. The majority of them are only marginally relevant. Neither of these books attempts to be a definitive biography of its subject (both scientists appear to be near saints in character), but rather to provide overviews of their lives and accomplishments. Flower Watching will be the more useful title as it is more clearly written. Copyright 1998 School Library Journal