your library for research, or just to thumb well in Bears: A Year in the Life. If nothing ) over a year-long ocean through on your own, you will find all else, one should take the time to read the exploration. While there is a preponder you should need to know about North book before creating a false impression of ance of marine mammals pictured, there American bears. He effectively teaches you bears. Iwas anxious to get the book home are also , fish, and a few (sadly few) volumes about the three species found in to show my children and they spent over invertebrates besides -forming corals, North America: the black bear, the brown an hour just looking through the photo as well as interesting satellite-perspective or grizzly bear, and the polar bear. You do graphs. Since that day, they have returned images of various locales and some inter come to understand much from the book to the book often, as would anyone who is tidal and terrestrial views. The schematic and in the end, learn to appreciate them. open to learning more about these amaz diagrams are clear and the figure leg ing creatures. ends accompanying the pictures and sche The first thing that dazzled me was matics are thorough and interesting. The the photography. The photos, all taken The text and photographs expertly book contains seven chapters, separated by Breiter, really capture some amazing give an honest overture of North American by geographic region: the Mediterranean, moments as Breiter brings the reader along bears that would be welcome in any home, the Atlantic Ocean, the Sea of Cortez (in on his journey. One shot in particular library, or classroom. Mexico), the , the , shows a bear with jaws wide open - makes the Southern Ocean, and the Arctic Ocean, you feel like you are about to be lunch! as well as an introduction and a foreword Reading Breiter's words ismore like sitting Michael Reeves by . On most pages, down to coffee with a wildlife biologist Biology and Environnmental Science Teacher there is a highlighted quote that is pulled Downloaded from http://online.ucpress.edu/abt/article-pdf/71/9/563/55325/20565384.pdf by guest on 01 October 2021 - easy to read and full of interesting facts. South Glens Falls Central High School out from the text in larger font to catch The book is arranged so as to give insight South Glens Falls, NY your interest, and largely these quotes are as to what is going on each month of the [email protected] tremendously effective. year for the North American bears. The book does not expand our scien The book opens where new life tific knowledge much by exploring new begins - in February with hibernation in areas. Most of the content has been docu full swing and the arrival of new cubs. Oceans: Exploring the Hidden Depths of mented elsewhere, and the photos pre According to Breiter, bears are the only the Underwater World. By Paul Rose and sented are not unusual photographs, just mammals that give birth at this time, Anne Laking. 2009. University of California very nice ones. This is a beautiful book for when winter is at its harshest. There is Press and BBC Books. (ISBN 978-0-520 perusal by an ocean enthusiast (or even some excellent content on what exactly 26028-3) 240 pp. Hardcover. $34.95 someone just discovering the wonders of hibernation in the bear entails, and Breiter Gorgeous, clear, glossy pictures that the ocean), especially for the price, but it goes into great detail later in differentiating cover a wide range of ocean views are does not present scientifically many of the between hibernation in bears and in other scattered throughout this coffee table-style pressing issues and cutting-edge research animal species. book that recounts the discoveries of four being performed in the ocean today. I particularly enjoyed Breiter dispel adventurers (a dive trainer to the U.S. There is, however, an interesting blend of ling some of the myths that have become Navy, a maritime archaeologist, a , , and archaeology, "common belief" in bear lore. Their eye biologist/oceanographer, and conserva historical and present-day information, sight is nowhere near as poor as once tionist Philippe Cousteau, grandson of interspersed with personal anticipation thought, and their sense of smell is com and reflective accounts of the adventure parable to that of canines. In talking that occurred. I, as a life-long lover about polar bears, Breiter mentions of the ocean, learned a number of that "the animals can detect the lair new interesting facts, and certainly of a seal from over half a mile away, enjoyed the read. The authors make even if covered by 3 feet of snow." an effort to cover many of the press Their sense of hearing is also much ing threats to the oceans (overharvest more highly developed than that of ing, warming , trash) as humans. well as the wonders, but typically the discussion of the is a simple The book proceeds to cover problems outline of the issue and no citations in great depth such topics as bear for further, more concrete informa physiology, mating behaviors, and the tion or scientific work performed on complex evolution of the bear spe the subject. The writing is clear, fluid, cies. Breiter addresses the challenges and interesting, effectively conveying that occur as a result of expanding the passion the writers have for their human populations - such as habitat subject. The information is separated destruction and increased interactions into logical sections so even a short between humans and bears. An appen perusal can be informative. But again, dix at the end covers information on attraction of this book is the five bear species that do not inhabit the real North America. amazing pictures, which make it a steal for thneprice. At one point, Breiterwas asked "Whatgood is a bear?"I feel strongly One irksome issue needs noting: that he has answered that question There is an entire page extolling the

THE AMERICAN BIOLOGY TEACHER BOOK REVIEWS a the body" where readers get the informa tion fast. Even the motion of turning the BUILDING BRIDGES book to view some of the pages engages Biology Lab Book is the connection the reader. Through this publication, one between lecture and lab. learns that "the highest recorded speed of a sneeze is 102 mph (165 km/h) - a fact that is certain to capture young imagi Used by over 70 colleges BI Y nations. Navigators: Human Body sup BIOLOGY & universities. ports instruction in life sciences and sup BOOK i * All lab experiments work plies Web sites particular to each theme. & adjust to your budget. Unexplained facts (adults have 206 bones ,* while newborns begin lifewith 350) invite It's the perfect choice for the reader to hypothesize and research. high schools operating a Pages are thick, inviting multiple users, Concurrent A/P Program and images stimulate such as the antibod with their local college. ies surrounding the viruses or the scan of e a large kidney stone in the bladder of a L Our books are affordable. 63-year-old man. This book would be an

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Sharon Cornwall wonder of CCRs (closed-circuit The universal curiosity to know Little Flower Catholic High Schoolfor Girls units), which recycle a diver's exhaled more about one's anatomy and physiol Philadelphia, PA air so that bubbles are not released into ogy, especially keen in adolescents (the [email protected] the water. While this trait is a boon to target audience for this volume), is visu professional underwater photographers, ally told through hundreds of images require significant care and photographed, computer drawn, through continual maintenance to avoid unex CT scans, electron microscopy, and with pected, deadly malfunctions. The authors succinct captions and minimal copy that even state: "So if you want to dive long, inform without slowing the pursuit under The Illustrated Atlas ofWildlife. By Channa deep and silently you should always opt standing of the human body. In addition Bambaradeniya, Cinthya Flores, Joshua for a CCR." Making such blanket state to outstanding images, interesting items Ginsberg, Dwight Holing, Susan Lumpkin, ments is a dangerous thing, especially in a are included in each page spread, such George McKay, John Musick, Patrick book meant for recreational divers. I know as "There are more bacteria in your body Quilty, Bernard Stonehouse, Eric John almost no one who uses rebreathers, and than there are cells of which there are 100 Woehler, and David Woodruff. 2009. The I know many scientific and recreational trillion, which is written also as '100 mil University of California Press, Berkeley, divers. CCRs are powerful equipment, but lion million million,"' in an effort to give California (ISBN 978-0-520-25785-6). 288 they should be used only by those knowl the reader the scope of this number. An pp. Hardcover. $39.95 a edgeable of the risks and necessary pre elaboration box highlights feature of the The first impression I had of this cautions. Not at least some of On the muscle the discussing system depicted. pages, book was: WOW! The book is visually very the draw-backs and of facial "The potential dangers following explains expressions, inviting. It is large and has a great deal of this equipment is unconscionable. muscles in your face do not connect to the beautiful full color photographs, as well bones. are attached to other Instead, they as many accurate, life-like drawings. The muscles or to the skin." book is separated into 10 sections, eight of especiallyfor the price Miranda Smith respects the young which cover a different part of the globe. Erika Iyengar reader by using appropriate terminolo The first section is called "The Living Associate Professor gy. The author transcends anatomy with Earth" and is subdivided into the follow Biology Department to the quotes that incorporate references ing: life on Earth, evolution, where animals Muhlenberg College human form, like this one from Martin live, basic ecology, seven habitat types, Allentown, PA Luther King, Jr.: "Themoral arc of the uni threats to wildlife and conservation. This iyengar@muhlenberg. edu verse bends at the elbow of justice" or this section alone contains enough informa fromWoody Allen: "I have bad reflexes. I tion to get a beginning student interested a was once run over by car being pushed in science. In the threats towildlife section, two by guys." the authors detail some of the animals The vivid graphics remind one of that have become extinct during the last the traveling exhibit "Body Worlds," and several hundred years: "Steller's sea cow: Navigators: Human Body. By Miranda those plastination recreations which Formerly inhabiting the Pacific Coast from Smith. 2008. Macmillan Children's Books, awed museum goers of the wonder of the Japan to California, this sea-weed eating published by Kingfisher. (ISBN: 978-0 human form. The book lives up to the giant was hunted to extinction by 1768 (p. 7534-6229-4) 48 pp. Hardcover. $10.95. claim on the back cover: "Avisual guide to 35)." The recently extinct baiji is also cov

a THEAMERICAN BIOLOGYTEACHER VOLUME71,NO. 9,NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2009