(2) K-3 Translated by Adriana Domínguez. Illustrated by Angela Dominguez. This bilingual picture-book biography chronicles the early life of biologist Valentina Cruz, born in 1971 on Floreana, a Galápagos island. Readers accompany Cruz on an introductory tour of Floreana and its animals that she vows to protect, brought to vivid life through Dominguez's vibrant, digitally-colored pencil illustrations. Translation of the English text into Spanish (including the appended author's note and animal descriptions) is concise and accurate. Bib.

Reviewer: Monica Tapia Boyer | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2018

(3) 4-6 How Nature Works series. The Galápagos Islands are home to marine iguanas that, like no other iguana species, swim and feed in the ocean. Collard's story of how this came to be is an explanation of island biogeology, evolution, and natural selection in the locale that inspired Darwin. Crisp, detailed photographs of the animals, along with sidebars that provide deeper explanations of evolutionary biology, are included. Reading list. Glos.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Laurel Molk. Giant Galápogos tortoise Harriet defies other creatures' jeers and explores the ocean and surrounding islands at her own slow pace: "She was in no hurry. There was plenty to see." A calmly voiced narrative encourages readers to follow their own rhythms, while eye-catching watercolor and block-print illustrations depict the exotic creatures along Harriet's saunter. Note on a real tortoise named Harriet included.

Reviewer: Renée Wheeler

(3) 4-6 Back from Near Extinction series. Each volume follows the featured animal's journey to the brink of extinction and back. Four chapters cover the species' decline over time; its physical characteristics, diet, behavior, and reproduction; specific threats to its survival; and various conservation efforts. Layouts with large stock photos, maps, charts, and text boxes enhance the informative, workmanlike texts. Comprehension exercises and writing prompts appear throughout. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Back from Near Extinction titles: Giant Galápagos Tortoise, Gray Wolf, Grizzly Bear, California Condor, American Alligator, Humpback Whale, American Bison, and Bald Eagle.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Wendell Minor. The author asks readers to extrapolate from the life cycle of a single female Galápagos tortoise, Giantess George, to the development of the species as a whole. She and other tortoises are swept away to different islands in a storm; over thousands of years, they evolve into different subspecies. Minor's painterly illustrations showcase the changing setting and the magnificence of the tortoises. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2014

(1) K-3 Readers witness the six-million-year development of classic biogeography example the Galápagos. The organizational structure--five chronological chapters--echoes the story line and underscores the ecological message. Gorgeous illustrations include sweeping double-page spreads and panels arranged to show dynamic changes (e.g., species adaptation). Back matter addresses natural selection, volcano formation/plate tectonics, and endemic species. An author's note discusses scientific facts versus speculation.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2012

(2) YA Girls don’t fly, and neither do flightless cormorants, the species seventeen-year-old Myra intends to study if she wins a research scholarship to the Galápagos Islands. Myra is a likable, level-headed narrator from a sympathetically drawn working-class Utah family. Chandler's depiction of small-town dynamics, high-school breakups, crappy after-school jobs, and Myra’s growing desire to break free from limited expectations is both fresh and relatable.

Reviewer: Christine M. Heppermann | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2012

(4) 4-6 Checkerboard Geography Library: Troubled Treasures--World Heritage Sites series. This volume presents an overview of the unique islands, including history (Darwin's explorations are touched on), geography, topography, and wildlife. Preservation efforts, especially with the increase in tourism, are also discussed. Photographs and a map, in addition to a useful pronunciation guide, help support the rather sparse information. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) PS Illustrated by Grazia Restelli. In singsongy rhyme, two visitors spend a week roaming the Galápagos Islands. "On Thursday, skipping lava crabs, / With shells of brilliant red, / Find food that hides in ebbing tides / Across the lava bed." Colorful collages of cut paper and natural materials provide nearly tangible texture. Extensive endnotes about the Galápagos, animals pictured, and Charles Darwin are included.

Reviewer: Hilary Breed Van Dusen

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Mark Bergin. This book focuses on Darwin's experience and enthusiasm as the scientific expert on the Beagle, the ship itself and life aboard her, the principal ports of the five-year voyage, and Darwin's later cataloguing and synthesis of his observations into the theory of evolution. Captioned art illustrates the chronological text, with smaller details and maps to the side. Timeline. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) 4-6 Endangered and Threatened Animals series. Each book lists thirty links to active websites for students researching an endangered or threatened animal. Information about reasons for the species' decline, such as habitat loss, genetic flaws, and food depletion, are outlined, and scientific studies and remedies are proposed. The web page design and screen shots give the books a gimmicky look. Bib., ind. Review covers these Endangered and Threatened Animals titles: The Rhino, The Cheetah, The Otter, The Galápagos Penguin, The Wallaby.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Jean Cassels & Jean Cassels. A simple narrative about the Galápagos saddleback tortoise artfully incorporates details about his life: his habits and characteristics, his apparent sole-survivor status, his discovery by wardens from the Galápagos National Park, and his removal to the Darwin Research Station. Detailed illustrations extend the text, and a brief afterword offers more information. Directory.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) YA After summarizing the history and geography of the Galápagos Islands, this book looks more closely at three of its important endemic species: tortoises, frigate birds, and marine iguanas. Besides giving information in steady prose about the animals' features and habits, the book also recounts the effects of human intervention on the islands and, in a strongly cautionary tone, argues for species protection. The text is illustrated with color photos. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Tom Pohrt. Inspired by a visit to the Galápagos Islands, the author penned thirty-four poems paying tribute to its flora and fauna. The poems are full of keen observations, rich images, and an underlying environmentalist concern for habitat preservation. Undistinguished black-and-white drawings illustrate the slim volume, which contains a map and an author's note.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute