And Then There Was One: The Mysteries of Extinction ANNOTATION
"A well-organized survey of the causes and victims of extinction--plus some examples of instructive 11th-hour recoveries."--Kirkus, pointer review. A School Library Journal Best Book of 1990. Illustrations.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
This book examines the many reasons why animals disappear from the face of the earth--from natural causes such as earthquakes, floods, and overspecialization, to human causes such as overhunting, habitat destruction, and pollution. Award-winning science author Margery Facklam also discusses how some near-extinctions have been reversed by people who care, through special breeding programs and legislation to save endangered species. Young readers are sure to be captivated by this unique look at the basics of the evolutionary process, and the wonders of the animal kingdom.
FROM THE CRITICS
School Library Journal
`` By the early 1990s, scientists expect, at least one species will vanish every hour .'' Facklam does not rely on such dramatic statements to grab readers' attention, but they undergird her thoughtful explanations of the natural and human forces affecting survival and extinction. Citing specific animals as examples, she explains the processes of adaptation, mutation, evolution, and extinction. She discusses the long historical cycles of mass extinction typified by the disappearance of the dinosaurs, noting that although the world is now in the middle of the 26 million year cycle, the massive impact of humans on animal habitats and the global environment has considerably accelerated the rate of extinction. The discussion is sobering, but not heavily didactic, and concludes with examples of successful efforts in saving endangered species. Organized into several chapters of two-column text and complemented by attractive full-page charcoal drawings, the book is similar in style and format to the author's recent volumes on hibernation and symbiosis. Facklam is adept at raising questions and providing clear, smoothly paced, interesting narrative. Her well-crafted blend of information and ideas makes for pleasant read-aloud material--a rare feat for nonfiction. --Margaret Bush, Simmons College, Boston
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