2018 School Spending Survey Report
Sea Turtle Scientist
80p. bibliog. further reading. glossary. illus. index. maps. notes. photos. websites. (Scientists in the Field). Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 2014. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9780547367552. LC 2012034045.
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Gr 5–8—Another nifty entry in an impressively reliable series, this work follows the field work and the research of Dr. Kimberly Stewart, the "turtle lady" of the Caribbean island of St. Kitts. Her subjects are mainly the largest marine turtles of all, leatherbacks, though her drive for conservation includes all Caribbean species. Swinburne's engaging text engages readers in Stewart's efforts to record "turtle data," to compare and evaluate the discoveries she makes, and to encourage inhabitants of St. Kitts to help her in her drive to preserve this species. Stewart educates them in finding sources of protein other than turtle meat and eggs and assists them on new paths to economic independence without relying on turtle products. Accompanying the narrative are data boxes on such divergent topics as "A Brief History of St. Kitts," "Modern Sea Turtle Threats," and "How Sea Glass Saves Turtles," plus a detailed list of items stocked in her Turtle Watching Toolkit. Swinburne's excellent color photos (many full page) enrich his informative text and give readers a clear vision of a scientist hard at work recording the lives of her elusive subjects and trying to instill a sense of ecological conservancy in a community that has heretofore regarded turtles as a boost to their menu or their personal income. Pair this with Kathryn Lasky's excellent Interrupted Journey (Candlewick, 2001) and Swinburne's own Turtle Tide: The Ways of Sea Turtles (Boyds Mills, 2005) for a balanced look at species swimming in dangerous waters. This refreshing journey with a dedicated woman hard at work in her chosen field will resonate with readers. Inspiring.—Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NYDr. Kimberly Stewart, a.k.a. the "turtle lady," studies endangered sea turtles with The Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network (WIDECAST) on the island of St. Kitts. Swinburne covers what we know about the species and how we know it, and showcases WIDECAST's refreshingly cooperative, respectful approach to the island's human residents as it works for the turtles' preservation. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.
Engaging text and bright, lush photographs make this guide to the endangered sea turtles that nest on St. Kitts, an island in the Caribbean, an absorbing read. The book’s spotlight on stalwart scientist Dr. Kimberly Stewart, an animal lover known in St. Kitts as “the turtle lady,” gives the book an enthusiastic, relatable narrative focus: “I set out to be a veterinarian. Who would have guessed I would be developing a sea turtle-related microenterprise, working with fisherman, teaching Sea Turtle Camp, and mentoring young conservationists? I love every aspect of it.” Informative sidebars and text boxes offer in-depth looks at everything from threats to sea turtle habitats and the ways in which scientists track individual turtles to the island’s history and the volunteers who help keep beaches clean. Dr. Stewart’s work to save sea turtles involves the community, including education and public outreach efforts that will encourage anyone who wants to help endangered animals. Includes an inspirational chapter about a former sea turtle hunter who became a conservationist after hearing Dr. Stewart warn that leatherback turtles may not survive long enough for his grandchildren to see them: “No more sea turtle killing for me. It was the turtle lady who changed me.” Offers a detailed look at hands-on field work, including a checklist of necessary observation tools, images of scientists and volunteers weighing and tagging turtles, examining eggs, and protecting newly hatched babies.
Our seas once housed millions of turtles. Of the seven species that survive today, all are either threatened or endangered; six can be found in the Caribbean. The Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network (WIDECAST) operates in the area, studying the sea turtles and working for their preservation. Dr. Kimberly Stewart, a.k.a. the "turtle lady," lives and works with WIDECAST on the island of St. Kitts, and this entry in the Scientists in the Field series smartly reflects that setting. The main body of the book is printed on a sand-colored paper, while sidebars of varying lengths appear on aqua backgrounds the color of the sea. Swinburne opens with a scene of a female leatherback turtle hauling her immense body onto the beach and beginning the long process of laying her eggs. He continues by showing what we know about the species and how we know it, which entails some pretty gritty work. As Dr. Stewart says, "I eat, sleep, breathe sand." The conservation's preservation projects are refreshingly cooperative and respectful of the island's human residents: turtles are still legally hunted for food and slaughtered for money on St. Kitts, while projects such as ecotourism may create an alternate source of income and reduce the need for turtle fishing. A glossary, suggestions for helping and "adopting" sea turtles, and recommended websites and books are appended. betty carter
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