Darwin's defining voyage on the British navy ship The Beagle provides a focused introduction to the scientist's life and revolutionary work in this picture-book size title in the new Inside series. The spreads follow the naturalist's voyage around the globe, with introductory and closing sections that offer insight into his groundbreaking ideas. Macdonald uses balanced language, carefully referring to natural selection and evolution as theories even as she acknowledges that most scientists believe Darwin's ideas are correct. Her coverage of the scientist's encounters with indigenous peoples is not as evenhanded as it might have been: more care could have been taken when discussing Darwin's generalizations about, for example, the Maori people's poor and dirty conditions and traditional passion for fighting, and Macdonald presents a jarringly breezy view of South American peoples who were captured and converted to Christianity and English customs. Still, the excellent, detailed cut-away images of the ship; open layouts; and numerous watercolor-and-ink pictures of life at sea will ignite children's interest in Darwin's work and ideas. Time lines and a glossary close.

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.

Gr 4-6-Macdonald's informative text is complemented by many equally informative watercolor-and-ink illustrations. Readers will learn a great deal about life onboard the Beagle and its ports of call, as well as about Darwin's gathering of species, observations, and subsequent efforts to make scientific sense of both. The author also mentions the ship captain's violence with his crew and rather breezily describes his attempts to Christianize and educate four natives. Unfortunately, her writing is uneven: she does not include the ship's surgeon in the discussion of those onboard but refers to him as being jealous of Darwin on a later page, and she mentions Darwin's taking meals with the captain except when they "quarreled." Readers will wonder why they were quarreling. The text is choppy at times, with some lack of clarity. The small maps that show the route are helpful; for some reason, none include the Galapagos Islands. A time line of the voyage and another of Darwin's life and works enhance understanding. In spite of some weaknesses, this book will spark interest in the subject. Overall it is a good introduction to a famous voyage and the scientific theories coming from it.-Peg Glisson, Mendon Center Elementary School, Pittsford, NY Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.