Seashells: Jewels from the Ocean

by Budd Titlow

They have done time as jewelry and tools, as medicines, currency, and symbols of industry--and they have intrigued people, from beach-combing toddlers to serious scientists, since time began. Native interest meets natural history in this exquisitely illustrated account of the science and culture of seashells. With closeup photography and basic explanations of different shell types--univalves, bivalves, and cephalopods--how they are formed, what mollusks inhabit them, their morphology and life cycles, and much more, this is the book for anyone with an interest in seashells. This book includes information on the bewildering array of shell shapes, colors, sizes, and types, and describes where the different shells can be found throughout the world. As informative as it is visually arresting, the book will appeal to amateur and expert, collector and casual beachcomber.

Genres: Nature, Nonfiction

112 pages, Hardcover

First published November 15, 2007

About the author

For the past 50 years, professional ecologist and conservationist Budd Titlow has used his pen and camera to capture the awe and wonders of our natural world. His goal has always been to inspire others to both appreciate and enjoy what he sees. Now he has one main question: Can we save humankind’s place — within nature’s beauty — before it’s too late?

Budd’s two latest books are dedicated to answering this perplexing dilemma. PROTECTING THE PLANET: Environmental Champions from Conservation to Climate Change, a non-fiction book, examines whether we still have the environmental heroes among us — harking back to such past heroes as Audubon, Hemenway, Muir, Douglas, Leopold, Brower, Carson, and Meadows — needed to accomplish this goal. Next, using fact-filled and entertaining story-telling, his latest book — COMING FULL CIRCLE: A Sweeping Saga of Conservation Stewardship Across America — provides the answers we all seek and need.

Having published five books, more than 500 photo-essays, and 5,000 photographs, Budd Titlow lives with his music educator wife, Debby, in San Diego, California.

Reviews

[MKF · Rating 3 out of 5]

After looking at these beautiful shells I told my daughter we just need to buy a huge jar full of shells. We live in a landlocked state so shell hunting is just small sometimes tiny shells that all look the same. A medium sized one also makes a great cat toy but not with a shell they can swallow.
I found this book in the adult non-fiction at my library but this book is short and looks like a kids book. It's a good book for kids who's interested in shells and to also learn information about the oceans. After reading this book, kids will be begging for a beautiful shell or two like the ones in the pictured in this book.

[Debbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Frequent references to mollusks as a food source bored me. To title a book based on the beauty of seashells and then to constantly mention shellfish that are eaten is misleading. There is only one picture of a living mollusk and few of the pictures match up with the species being described on that page.

[Laura Salas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Used for info for shell poems for KNOW magazine submission.

[FSU Alumni]

Budd Titlow (B.S. '70)