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Eukarya: A Child's Guide to Knowing Names of Nature
2015 NEW APPLE AWARD WINNER in Best Children's Non-Fiction
2015 NEW APPLE AWARD WINNER in Best OVERALL Cover Design
Allow your imagination to run wild with the poetry and images of Eukarya: A Child's Guide to Knowing Names of Nature by Cole W. Williams and illustrated by Ian Durneen. Eukarya is a children's introductory book to the biological world of creatures; exploring how humans name and classify living organisms while depicting the diversity of species. Eukarya explores our world and lets it come alive with exciting imagery and poetry that is accessible to all ages.
2015 NEW APPLE AWARD WINNER in Best OVERALL Cover Design
Allow your imagination to run wild with the poetry and images of Eukarya: A Child's Guide to Knowing Names of Nature by Cole W. Williams and illustrated by Ian Durneen. Eukarya is a children's introductory book to the biological world of creatures; exploring how humans name and classify living organisms while depicting the diversity of species. Eukarya explores our world and lets it come alive with exciting imagery and poetry that is accessible to all ages.
50 pages, Paperback
First published September 26, 2015
401 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 6, 2016
Eureka! No, Eukarya!
Delightfully drawn, the plants and animals (and myriad other living things) of Eukarya illustrate their names and make learning so easy, logical and, yes, even fun with rhymes, from the exceptionally clever Table of Contents to the asterisked organisms with “fictitious names of creatures* created by children.”
Starting at the beginning with an excellent overview of taxonomy then traipsing through the Protists, Fungi, Plants and Animals, Cole Williams uses phrases and terms like ‘different bubbles housing different jobs’ to designate membrane-bound organelles, and ‘roommates’ to describe dinoflagellates living peacefully with corals.
“Amoebas have no true feet,
But are very famous blobs.
Paramecia are predators
Eating little gobs.”
Looks Like a Coloring Book but for Kids or Adults?
With pages between chapters left mostly blank, Eukarya simply begs for the reader to draw his own creatures, real or imagined, and to name them. Williams has even included an alphabet of plant names and adjectives.
So much is included in this unassuming little tome that it appeals to curious kids and to college students who need a short explanation of taxonomy with oodles of examples.
Minutiae
I might add a pronunciation guide to help non-biologist parents but I am still considering using this in the college biology classes that I teach.
Eukarya is bound to be your child’s new favorite word!
* like horkey and froggert
Delightfully drawn, the plants and animals (and myriad other living things) of Eukarya illustrate their names and make learning so easy, logical and, yes, even fun with rhymes, from the exceptionally clever Table of Contents to the asterisked organisms with “fictitious names of creatures* created by children.”
Starting at the beginning with an excellent overview of taxonomy then traipsing through the Protists, Fungi, Plants and Animals, Cole Williams uses phrases and terms like ‘different bubbles housing different jobs’ to designate membrane-bound organelles, and ‘roommates’ to describe dinoflagellates living peacefully with corals.
“Amoebas have no true feet,
But are very famous blobs.
Paramecia are predators
Eating little gobs.”
Looks Like a Coloring Book but for Kids or Adults?
With pages between chapters left mostly blank, Eukarya simply begs for the reader to draw his own creatures, real or imagined, and to name them. Williams has even included an alphabet of plant names and adjectives.
So much is included in this unassuming little tome that it appeals to curious kids and to college students who need a short explanation of taxonomy with oodles of examples.
Minutiae
I might add a pronunciation guide to help non-biologist parents but I am still considering using this in the college biology classes that I teach.
Eukarya is bound to be your child’s new favorite word!
* like horkey and froggert
June 1, 2016
I received a copy of this book through the Goodreads First Reads giveaway program in the hopes that I would leave an honest review.
I had high hopes for this book. I homeschool my children so I'm always looking for good resources that make learning fun. Rhyming is typically a great way to hold the interest of young children in my experience, when it's done well. Unfortunately, that is not the case with this book. The rhymes had very little rhythm, and oftentimes seemed forced. I really felt like the information got lost in the attempts at rhyming. I had trouble making sense out of some of it, and I took and passed a college biology course. If I can't understand it, my five year old isn't going to be able to.
I liked the illustrations, although it would have been nice if all the different things (especially the protists) pictured had been labeled individually. That would make it easier to point at things and say "This is what a _______ looks like."
Overall I give this book 3 out of 5 stars because the idea is good, but I found the delivery lacking.
Reviewed on Just Another Girl and Her Books blog
http://www.justanothergirlandherbooks...
I had high hopes for this book. I homeschool my children so I'm always looking for good resources that make learning fun. Rhyming is typically a great way to hold the interest of young children in my experience, when it's done well. Unfortunately, that is not the case with this book. The rhymes had very little rhythm, and oftentimes seemed forced. I really felt like the information got lost in the attempts at rhyming. I had trouble making sense out of some of it, and I took and passed a college biology course. If I can't understand it, my five year old isn't going to be able to.
I liked the illustrations, although it would have been nice if all the different things (especially the protists) pictured had been labeled individually. That would make it easier to point at things and say "This is what a _______ looks like."
Overall I give this book 3 out of 5 stars because the idea is good, but I found the delivery lacking.
Reviewed on Just Another Girl and Her Books blog
http://www.justanothergirlandherbooks...
February 20, 2016
A wonderful book! The illustrations are beautifully done with lovely colors. The poetry makes it fun to read to the children. Like taking a walk through the forest or country side. I love the nurturing of the child's imagination to learn and fill in the rest of the story. Educational but at the child's level so they never lose interest and ask questions and answer questions presented. Appropriate for all ages as each can draw from the book at their own ability. A good read!
March 28, 2016
My daughter loves it when I read it to her....THANKS!!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews