Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Publication
Scholastic (2012)
Description
An island is about to be born- one that in time will become the home of plants and animals that exist nowhere else on Earth. This book is the biography of a Galápagos island- from birth, through adolescence, to adulthood, and beyond.
User reviews
LibraryThing member AbigailAdams26
Brilliant picture-book author and artist Jason Chin, whose previous works of natural history for younger children have examined such unique ecosystems as the coral reef and the redwood forest, presents a "biography" of a Galápagos island in this latest venture. Beginning with the birth of the
Having greatly enjoyed Chin's Redwoods and Coral Reefs, I was quite excited to discover that Island: A Story of the Galápagos was forthcoming. All in all, I'd say that is lived up to my expectations, presenting an informative narrative in a coherent and engaging fashion. There is no fantasy storytelling device here, as there was in Chin's previous two books - no boy on a subway reading about the redwoods, and then finding himself amongst them; no girl picking up a library book about coral reefs and falling into a watery world - but that's OK, the notion of a "biography" of an island, with chapters devoted to the stages of its life, was entertaining enough to do the trick. The artwork, as is to be expected from Chin, was simply marvelous, beautifully capturing the wild charm of this very special part of the world. Highly recommended to all young naturalists, to anyone looking for a simple explanation of the concept of evolution for children, and to fans of Jason Chin's gorgeous artwork.
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island six million years ago, when an undersea volcano erupted, leading to its creation in the first place, the narrative follows the slow process whereby the island is colonized by both flora and fauna, and how that life evolved, in the relative isolation off the west coast of South America. The narrative concludes with the story of the island's gradual sinking back into the ocean, as newer islands take its place, while an informative afterword gives more details about the Galápagos in general, and about their role in inspiring Charles Darwin's theory of evolution.Having greatly enjoyed Chin's Redwoods and Coral Reefs, I was quite excited to discover that Island: A Story of the Galápagos was forthcoming. All in all, I'd say that is lived up to my expectations, presenting an informative narrative in a coherent and engaging fashion. There is no fantasy storytelling device here, as there was in Chin's previous two books - no boy on a subway reading about the redwoods, and then finding himself amongst them; no girl picking up a library book about coral reefs and falling into a watery world - but that's OK, the notion of a "biography" of an island, with chapters devoted to the stages of its life, was entertaining enough to do the trick. The artwork, as is to be expected from Chin, was simply marvelous, beautifully capturing the wild charm of this very special part of the world. Highly recommended to all young naturalists, to anyone looking for a simple explanation of the concept of evolution for children, and to fans of Jason Chin's gorgeous artwork.
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LibraryThing member lindamamak
Picture book of how an island (Galapagos) are formed. Based on the research of Charles Darwin.
LibraryThing member knhayes430
This book tells the story of how the Galapagos Islands were formed. The story starts with the first volcanic eruptions that created an island and continues to tell the story of how life and a unique ecosystem came to exist on the island. The creation of other islands, adaptation, and the
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death/sinking of the first island in also discussed in this book. Jason Chin does a wonderful job of engaging his audience with a story-telling nature and beautiful artwork while educating them on the scientific history of one of the most intriguing places on the planet. Show Less
LibraryThing member carolcavedon
This book is about the island of Galapagos and how it was created. The illustrations are beautiful and the information is correct. Visiting Galapagos is one of my dreams; that is why I chose to read this book. I would use it in my classroom (specially 5th grade) to teach about endemic species and
Reading Journal: counts as 1 Picture Book
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habits. Reading Journal: counts as 1 Picture Book
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LibraryThing member toribori19
When Charles Darwin visited the Galapagos Islands, he discovered many species that could not be found anywhere else on Earth. This book explains the saga of how the island was born, how it rose to its greatest capacity, how it began to decline and finally the branching off of new islands. Although
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this is all before Charles Darwin, the reader can also read about Darwin in the epilogue as well as an afterword that connects Darwin to the islands. Show Less
LibraryThing member Sullywriter
A remarkable, visually stunning book in which Chin effectively chronicles six million years of natural history and explains how the islands are a microcosim for the evolutionary process. In author's note, Chin explains what in the book is science and what is the product of his imagination but he
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does not include a bibliography (!). Is it too much trouble to list the sources used to write the book? Show Less
LibraryThing member hkent32
Short Description: In a picture book, the island of galapagos is introduced from over 6 million years ago and kind of explains the evolutionary process and the history of the natural world as we know it.
Personal Reflection: The illustrations are enough to make me want to use this book in the
Personal Reflection: The illustrations are enough to make me want to use this book in the
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classroom! It has really strong visual elements that look like watercolor or even oil pastel? Some of the concepts and wording is kind of complicated (for younger readers) but I still think it would be great to open a lesson on history/geography with this one or to incorporate it into an art lesson even! I liked that this was straight forward but still remained imaginative through the illustrations. Show Less
LibraryThing member winterbower
A very good book, although it could be a bit confusing for early readers. It uses terms such as inheritance without explaining what inheritance is. This is a picture book for advanced readers, probably 2nd or 3rd grade and above. It could definitely be used as a read aloud for the younger kids but
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as teacher you had better be prepared to explain a lot of concepts that are fairly difficult. I forgot to mention, the illustrations are awesome. Show Less
LibraryThing member auhaddad
Charles Darwin first visited the Galápagos Islands almost 200 years ago, only to discover a land filled with plants and animals that could not be found anywhere else on earth. The illustration on this book are amazing. They show species found in the island and how they came to live there. It is a
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great way to explore unknown places that children would like to know about. Show Less
LibraryThing member Trinityc
very beautiful story, starting 5 million years ago, about the formation of the Galapagos Islands. It explains adaptations the animals have made over time as well as how volcanos form islands and then they eventually sink. The end of the book offers more information about Darwin, his discoveries and
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the science behind adaptations and island formation. Show Less
LibraryThing member ameliagilbertson
Another beautiful picture book by Jason Chin that combines beautiful illustrations with informational text about the natural world. He presents the evolution of distinct species from the Galapagos Islands in a fun, whimsical way.
LibraryThing member gfurth
This beautifully illustrated story tells the true story of the Galapagos.The book is written in biographical style beginning with the birth of the island and discussing its aging, and all the life the island has supported in its cycles.
LibraryThing member lrubin75
Tells the story of the Galapagos, a place studied by Charles Darwin, father of evolution, defining the principles of adaptation, survival of the fittest, natural selection. The unique species to this island, birthed from volcanoes out of the middle of the ocean, who must adapt to the particular
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elements and habitat, diet of this island. Show Less
LibraryThing member krmajor
Starting at an island of the Galápagos’s creation some six million years ago, Chin uses this particular island to tell the story of the entire island chain, and how it became home to so many unique plant and animal species that still exist today. Written in a traditional birth through death
Although the topic is fascinating, the length of the book might detract some readers; however, the beautifully detailed illustrations will surely invite readers even to just glance through. Chin’s illustrations showcase the uniqueness of the species of the island, as well as the natural beauty of the island. Chin also manages to explain complex theories like evolution and natural selection without it being too overwhelming, although at times, as mentioned, the pages get extremely text-heavy. At the end of the story, there’s more information on Charles Darwin (who is never named in the story, but attentive readers will catch his presence), the Galápagos Islands in general, and also about endemic species, of which the Galápagos Islands has an extraordinary amount. Recommended. Grades 1 to 3.
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cycle, readers get to experience an island from its birth to its disappearance millions of years later. Additionally, how the island became populated with such unique species as it did becomes a focal point of the story. Although the topic is fascinating, the length of the book might detract some readers; however, the beautifully detailed illustrations will surely invite readers even to just glance through. Chin’s illustrations showcase the uniqueness of the species of the island, as well as the natural beauty of the island. Chin also manages to explain complex theories like evolution and natural selection without it being too overwhelming, although at times, as mentioned, the pages get extremely text-heavy. At the end of the story, there’s more information on Charles Darwin (who is never named in the story, but attentive readers will catch his presence), the Galápagos Islands in general, and also about endemic species, of which the Galápagos Islands has an extraordinary amount. Recommended. Grades 1 to 3.
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LibraryThing member debnance
Redwoods was my introduction to the wonderful Jason Chin a couple of years back, but it was a bit too fiction-y for the other Cybils panelists back then. Times have changed, though, and we readers are more open to a whisk here and there of fiction elements in our nonfiction. And (at least I think)
So then Island. Let's look at Island. Chin, panel by panel, takes us through the birth, growth, and eventually disappearance of an island in the Galápagos. We see the island and its inhabitants change, over years and years, in little ways that, as time passes, become big and helpful modifications. Chin pulls his characters, all the creatures who begin to populate the island, right to the center of his drawings, posing for us, where we can look closely at all the curious developments, and slowly, reading along, we are pulled into the story of this intriguing spot in the world. Perhaps for the first time, like the first people who visited the islands, we see the inevitability of slow evolution and change in our world. Beautiful.
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it makes for a better world.So then Island. Let's look at Island. Chin, panel by panel, takes us through the birth, growth, and eventually disappearance of an island in the Galápagos. We see the island and its inhabitants change, over years and years, in little ways that, as time passes, become big and helpful modifications. Chin pulls his characters, all the creatures who begin to populate the island, right to the center of his drawings, posing for us, where we can look closely at all the curious developments, and slowly, reading along, we are pulled into the story of this intriguing spot in the world. Perhaps for the first time, like the first people who visited the islands, we see the inevitability of slow evolution and change in our world. Beautiful.
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LibraryThing member Emackay24
An island rises from out of the ocean, grows, populates life, and eventually sinks back down into the depths. Finishes with an overview of Charles Darwin's world-changing discoveries in the region.
LibraryThing member HeidiJones
This is a beautiful book. The text is informative, and the book is truly a biography of the chain of islands. This book would be wonderful for my 3rd grade students, as we have just finished a unit on adaptations. Chin takes us through the life of the island, and the ways the animals adapted to
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grow along with it. This book is full of emotion and wonder. Show Less
LibraryThing member magen.rauscher
This historical fiction of the Galapagos Island was absolutely breathtaking. The author told the story of how a volcano started a whole new island with a unique ecosystem. I would use this book to introduce natural selection.
LibraryThing member APatricia
A story of the formation and evolution of land, animal and plant life. The illustrations demonstrate the changes that occur on the Galapagos Islands and the migration and evolution of the animals.
LibraryThing member burtmiller
A- This gave the book a graphic novel feel, but also felt like a documentary or a museum presentation. Each of the five chapters handles a major development in the geological history of the islands (in chunks of millions of years), and the interior of the chapter details life during that epoch. Not
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as good as Gravity, but good non the less. Show Less
LibraryThing member troberts719
Combines geology, biology, and history to tell the story of an island in the Galapagos that spans six million years. Beautiful illustrations.
LibraryThing member kquisling
I hope the Chin's nonfiction picture book "Island" sparks a wave of curiosity about the Galápagos Islands. These islands have so much to teach us, history to share, and beauty to inspire wonder. Although this book is heavy with informational text, the illustrations are enough to capture the
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attention of the reader. This book shows the beauty of nonfiction, and would be a great stand-alone lesson in any classroom. Show Less
LibraryThing member kbuffum13
This book talks about the Galapagos Islands and adaption in a kid friendly way. I like the book because of the illustrations and the way they support the text in the book. The book is also broken up chronologically which supports a reading standard in third grade. I think that this would be a good
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book to help teach adaption, biology, inheritance, and islands. However, this is a complex subject for students so this book might need to be broken up or only chucks read aloud to support learning in the classroom. Show Less
LibraryThing member melodyreads
natural selection
LibraryThing member LibroLindsay
Gorgeous--great introduction to evolution, geology, endemic species, and every awesome thing like that.
Awards
A Horn Book Fanfare Best Book (Nonfiction — 2012)
BCCB Blue Ribbon Book (Nonfiction — 2012)
Utah Beehive Book Award (Nominee — Informational Books — 2015)
Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award (Nominee — Grades K-3 — 2014)
Rhode Island Children's Book Award (Nominee — 2015)
Gryphon Award (2013)
Mind the Gap Awards (2013)
William C. Towner Student Award for Informational Text (Nominee — 2014)
Nerdy Book Award (Nonfiction Picture Books — 2012)
Notable Children's Book (2013)
Language
Physical description
8.43 inches
ISBN
0545627508 / 9780545627504