Book Review: Charles Darwin (Giants of Science)

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Krull, Kathleen. 2010. CHARLES DARWIN. Ill. by Boris Kulikov. New York: Viking Children’s. ISBN 0670063355.

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Charles Darwin has attained legendary status in scientific and nonscientific circles alike, but what about the man behind the theory? Charles Darwin himself was a fascinating person, who went public with the theory of evolution at great personal risk. Krull takes the reader on a journey through Darwin’s childhood, to his journey on the H.M.S. Beagle, and back home, where he lived for a further twenty years before he would publish the Origin of Species.

Charles Darwin, another entry in Krull’s critically acclaimed Giants of Science series, brings to light the real life of a real man who just happened to revolutionize science as we know it. Darwin grows, throughout the book, from an underachieving student whose headmaster once “humiliated him in front of the entire school for wasting his time,” to the revered (and reviled) Father of Evolution that we know today. Krull’s accessible writing and clever narrative once again bring a true Giant of Science to life for young readers.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Krull speaks frankly and concisely to her readers about mature topics such as controversy, risk, and intellectual censorship, helping to make these concepts accessible and engaging to young readers. Krull’s Giants of Science series is known for its ability to make historical figures relatable, and Darwin is no exception. Krull makes good use of credible resources in crafting an accurate narrative that also entertains. While Kulikov’s pen-and-ink artwork is never pivotal to the overall purpose of the book, it does serve to add a welcome and aesthetically-appealing visual aid that in no way detracts from the experience.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
BOOKLIST starred review: “…this succinct offering will be an excellent resource for contemporary, classroom discussions..”
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL review: “Krull does a fabulous job at making Darwin real, from boyhood to adulthood.”

5. CONNECTIONS
*Invite children to work in groups designing their own ecosystems, and the animals that inhabit them.
*Other books in the Giants of Science series:
Krull, Kathleen. ISAAC NEWTON. ISBN 0142408204.
Krull, Kathleen. ALBERT EINSTEIN. ISBN 0670063320.
Krull, Kathleen. LEONARDO DA VINCI: GIANTS OF SCIENCE #1. ISBN 067005920X.