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24th out of 61 books
—
154 voters
One Beetle Too Many: The Extraordinary Adventures of Charles Darwin
A lively text and captivating images tell the story of the ever-curious boy who grew up to make one of the most significant discoveries of our time.
From the time Charles Darwin was a boy, he was happiest when he was out alone collecting specimens (especially beetles). And despite his father's efforts to turn young Darwin — a poor student — into a doctor or clergyman, the b...more
From the time Charles Darwin was a boy, he was happiest when he was out alone collecting specimens (especially beetles). And despite his father's efforts to turn young Darwin — a poor student — into a doctor or clergyman, the b...more
Hardcover, 48 pages
Published
January 13th 2009
by Candlewick Press
(first published May 13th 2006)
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Jun 08, 2012
Lisa Vegan
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
all young naturalists, scientists, philosophers, historians, ages 9-12 + all the way up
Ah, the title. Ha! Yuck! The reader finds out quickly why the title for this book is as it is.
This is a really superb book. It’s text heavy, although the illustrations are marvelous, and for older children, I’d say 9 (maybe 8) to 12 and up, all the way up.
This is an excellent biography of Charles Darwin. I knew quite a bit about his research and philosophy and his years on the Beagle, but not that much about what came before and after, so I learned a lot.
I appreciated how this book encompasses D...more
This is a really superb book. It’s text heavy, although the illustrations are marvelous, and for older children, I’d say 9 (maybe 8) to 12 and up, all the way up.
This is an excellent biography of Charles Darwin. I knew quite a bit about his research and philosophy and his years on the Beagle, but not that much about what came before and after, so I learned a lot.
I appreciated how this book encompasses D...more
Dec 05, 2012
Ed
added it
Lasky, Kathryn . (2009). One Beetle Too Many: The Extraordinary Adventures of Charles Darwin. New York: Candlewick. 368 pp. ISBN 978-0-7636-1436-2 (Hardcover); $17.99.
Charles Darwin collects beetles in his mouth when his hands are filled with other critters. From these beetle collections, Darwin gathers evidence for his growing ideas about how animals change—ideas that will soon scare the whole world. This picture book biography is not for the student who craves the detail-laden approach charac...more
Charles Darwin collects beetles in his mouth when his hands are filled with other critters. From these beetle collections, Darwin gathers evidence for his growing ideas about how animals change—ideas that will soon scare the whole world. This picture book biography is not for the student who craves the detail-laden approach charac...more
I thoroughly enjoyed Lasky's picture book biography regarding Charles Darwin's life although the illustration style was not my favorite--I enjoyed them, but in some cases I didn't feel they really fit with the story in either feeling or depicting the described event(s). I felt that the illustrations were more suited for a younger picture book audience, whereas the text (in both style and length) suggested something more for the upper age range on picture books.
Still, as for the story itself, I...more
Still, as for the story itself, I...more
With appealing, hypnotic artistry this book's tedious length becomes an engaging journey. Though I don't agree with every one of Darwin's theories, he and his life journey are fascinating to me and this books detailing lends to great parent-child discussions about science and religion--the important ways in which they can compliment each other in our quest for truth, and the confusion that can ensue when either one tries to stand in blind solitude. I didn't feel like this book had any other agen...more
Lasky's narrative portrays the life of a young man whose future would see him a clergyman--if his father had anything to do with it. Who would have suspected that Charles Darwin was an unwilling student whose lack of achievement in the classroom caused him to fail at his father's first career choice for him, law? The book proves that it was not a lack of skill or intellect that caused Darwin's failure, but a lack of interest in the careers others chose for him. His great love was science and onl...more
This is a book that I've been intending to read for quite a while and just haven't gotten around to. Now that I have though, I am pleased to share that I really enjoyed it. It was well written, using a couple of different literary devices that I'd like to revisit in the future including excellent use of items in a series. I think I counted that one three different times in here.
Also, it was a great biography on Darwin and filled in some details that make him, if nothing else, a more colorful, vi...more
Also, it was a great biography on Darwin and filled in some details that make him, if nothing else, a more colorful, vi...more
Charles Darwin was a child who was allowed to explore and he grew up, despite his terrible conflicts with schools, to be a man who explored the world of nature.
Lasky, as she has done in every book, writes the story of Darwin's life brilliantly. Darwin feels as round and human as any fictional character. He comes across as both a student easily bored and a thoughtful observer.
The pictures make Darwin feel even more real, smart yet bumbling.
I loved the richness of the writing and the fun of the p...more
Lasky, as she has done in every book, writes the story of Darwin's life brilliantly. Darwin feels as round and human as any fictional character. He comes across as both a student easily bored and a thoughtful observer.
The pictures make Darwin feel even more real, smart yet bumbling.
I loved the richness of the writing and the fun of the p...more
In One Beetle Too Many Lasky tells the story of Charles Darwin and his quest to learn more about the natural world. We learn of Darwin's childhood and his father's concern over his nonconformity. Charles did not do well in school and preferred to be with the bugs rather than the books. As readers, we follow his life aboard The Beagle, home to England and end with the publication of The Origin of Species. Lasky's tellings of specific anecdotes, along with the humorous pictures that accompany the...more
This is a cute picture book about a child with endless curiosity about everything around him. Charles Darwin wasn't ever done learning. I would have loved to see inside his home where ten children followed in his footsteps and had their fingers in everything. His wife was frightened by his ideas as are many people today. I think the antidote to fear is to learn about his ideas and evaluate them for ourselves. The book ends by mentioning his efforts to train earthworms which were unsuccessful. I...more
Jul 29, 2011
Catherine Woodman
added it
This is a great biography of Charles Darwin for the grammar school set==a mixture of Darwin the adventurer and Darwin the nerd, with all the true things in place, and enough for the to be able to follow the story of this momentous discovery and time in the mid-19th century. On top of that, the illustrations are gorgeous, and hit the right note of complexity to help kids visualize what it was that Darwin observed that made him thing that organisms adapt to their micro-environments. I would highly...more
I just started this book. Although it's a picture book, the text is pretty involved, which I don't mind at all. The illustrations are fun and the information is accurate and interesting. Can't wait to read it to the kids.
One thing occurs to me over and over as I've been reading about Darwin this past year. It is encased in a principle that I recently read in a book (can't recall which one!!). It was something to the effect of back some time ago, the people of Europe believed that there were only...more
One thing occurs to me over and over as I've been reading about Darwin this past year. It is encased in a principle that I recently read in a book (can't recall which one!!). It was something to the effect of back some time ago, the people of Europe believed that there were only...more
Good overview of Darwin's life & contributions to science, with personal touches appealing to young readers: i.e, he once popped a beetle in his mouth to carry home b/c his hands were already full. Supposedly he did poorly in school, too busy following his passion for nature & environment; I have a soft spot for stories like that. Illustrations incorporate found natural objects, really enhance the story & are nicely done. Looking forward to seeing the Darwin flick that's coming out s...more
This is a comprehensive look at the life of Charles Darwin. The narrative is quite lengthy, but informative and interesting and the illustrations are wonderful. We really enjoyed learning about this famous naturalist and we read the book all at once, although I probably should've broken it up into at least two readings as I started to lose our girls' interest toward the end. I think we all learned a lot by reading this book.
new word: cordillera
new word: cordillera
Great way to capture the adventures of Darwin
* Time span of lessons- couple of weeks
Discussions reviewing curriculum content:
- Big bang theory (if it is not banned)
- Observations
- Data analysis/collection
- Following dreams/ heart
- Geological changes/ Variations
- Evolution
- Survival of the fittest
This is a fun, engaging, story form to discuss the contents above!
* Time span of lessons- couple of weeks
Discussions reviewing curriculum content:
- Big bang theory (if it is not banned)
- Observations
- Data analysis/collection
- Following dreams/ heart
- Geological changes/ Variations
- Evolution
- Survival of the fittest
This is a fun, engaging, story form to discuss the contents above!
Great kids book about Darwin's life and accomplishments. It gets its title from a day in Darwin's childhood where he came across three beetles he'd never seen before, so he grabbed one in each hand but needed somewhere for the third, so he popped it in his mouth. Really cute story. The illustrations are very pretty and the author did a good job of not dumbing it down too much.
Wonderfully wonky, earth-toned images and casual, lilting narration treat us to the antics, adventures, achievements and apprehension of Charles Darwin, the curious young collector who changed our view of the world.
You can listen in on our chat about this book on our Just One More Book! Children's Book Podcast.
You can listen in on our chat about this book on our Just One More Book! Children's Book Podcast.
I'll read any biography Kathryn Lasky writes - she has such a talent for writing about people's lives that even if I wasn't interested in the person when I looked at the cover, by the first page, I'm hooked. I didn't love the art for this book, but it's still a book I'll recommend the next time someone needs a picture-book biography.
I found this on a list of read-alouds for second graders. While it might be a bit long for a single session read aloud, it is a simplified yet compelling version of Darwin's story. The illustrations are just funky enough to offset the serious nature of Darwin's quest. At the end, I felt a bit closer to old Charley.
I liked the illustrations in this biography a lot (Matthew Trueman). The process that Darwin went through to formulate his theories is interesting. I previewed another Charles Darwin picture book biography by Peter Sis. I think this one is more accessible to young kids.
This is an excellent chronicling of the life of Charles Darwin; includes pieces of information giving readers insight into the man and his passion as a naturalist, documenting his observations of our world. There is an extensive bibliography in the back.
Jun 04, 2011
Cheryl/Aradanryl
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommended to Cheryl/Aradanryl by:
El Paso Public Library
Cute illustrations make this picture book enjoyable and interesting. A great deal of text though, that would be daunting to most early readers (and listeners if it is read aloud). I would label this a chapter book in picture book format.
This seems like a Caldecott contender because the illustrations so perfectly convey Darwin's curiosity and love of all things in the natural world. Read this and you will be outside collecting beetles, drawing birds and examining every plant!
This is the sort of picture book that's really better suited for the older grades. It's NOT well-suited as a read-aloud, and it's written on a "6.8" reading level... that's right, suited for the end of the 6th grade.
It offers an ample view of Darwin's life and research. I've put it away for now, though, as my nieces simply aren't old enough and there's no room on their shelves for books they aren't reading!
It offers an ample view of Darwin's life and research. I've put it away for now, though, as my nieces simply aren't old enough and there's no room on their shelves for books they aren't reading!
Great intro for kids to learn about Darwin and his contribution to our understanding of modern science. Lasky simply and clearly defines the difference between evolutionism and creationism.
A great book for kids to learn about Darwin and his theories. I don't think it sutable for younger kids but 5 and up can enjoy it. The illustrations were cute and fit in with the story well.
I completely enjoyed this book. I am a sucker for picture book biographies, and this one was very well done. plus, while it was heavy enough in text to be a short chapter book, Candlewick was wise enough to make it a large picture book and it has brilliant illustrations. Can we be looking at next year's Caldecott or Sibert award?
A very interesting look at Darwin; his childhood, young adulthood as a studying clergyman, trip on the Beagle, and above all his fascination with all creatures great and small. I think Lasky did a really, really nice job with the touchy subject of creationism vs. evolution.
Interesting. Darwin was fascinated by the world around him. Have to give him credit for that.
I quite enjoyed the illustrations.
Plus the title is GENIUS.
I quite enjoyed the illustrations.
Plus the title is GENIUS.
A good biography for grades 3 or 4. Touches on difficult topics without explaining them so teachers will be on their own for that. No end notes, unfortunately.
Sep 07, 2009
Daisy Huffman
added it
quick bio on charles darwin.. great for middle schoolers and elementary..
of course,i like these books because its easy to read and i get what i need to teach in class
of course,i like these books because its easy to read and i get what i need to teach in class
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Kathryn Lasky is the American author of many critically acclaimed books, including several Dear America books, several Royal Diaries books, 1984 Newbery Honor winning Sugaring Time, The Night Journey, and the Guardians of Ga'Hoole series. She lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Her latest book, Guardians of Ga'Hoole Book 15: The War of the Ember, was released on November 1, 2008. Guardians of Gahoo...more
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May 09, 2012 01:50pm