Module #12:  

One Beetle Too Manny

Book Summary: One Beetle Too Many is a biographical picture book about the life of Charles Darwin. The illustrations, by Matthew Trueman, are unique and created using earthy colors; they portray Darwin from curious young man to curious old man.  We are told and shown about his voyage on the Beagle and the discoveries he made. This book also includes information on Darwin’s great work On the Origin of Species and the challenges he faced due to information some viewed as sacrilegious.

APA Reference of Book:

Lasky, K. & Trueman, M. (2009). One beetle too many (1st ed.). Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press.

Impressions: This is a wonderful book for grade school students looking for information on Charles Darwin, but it can also be enjoyed by teens and adults alike. The text is informative without being dull.  The illustrations add to the wonder of discovery that filled Darwin’s life. This book also contains a bibliography a great source of added resources for those students needing to find additional information.

Professional Review:

One Beetle Too Many: The Extraordinary Adventures of Charles Darwin. By Kathryn Lasky. Illus. by Matthew Trueman. Jan. 2009. 48p. Candlewick, $17.99 (9780763614362). 576.8. Gr. 3–5. Darwin’s legendary five-year voyage to South America aboard the HMS Beagle forms the centerpiece of this informative picture book for confident readers. Lasky begins with Darwin’s childhood as a poor but remarkably curious student; he landed his spot as the naturalist on the Beagle more due to his enthusiasm than any standing in the scientific field. With clarity and style, Lasky recounts the puzzling things that he found on the trip, explores the questions he began asking, and hints at the conclusions he would arrive at, both in terms of biology and geology. Trueman’s skillful blend of inks, watercolors, pencils, gouache, and collage nicely capture Darwin’s fascination with the natural world, with fanciful scenes of Darwin peering through ferns, exploring islands, and even riding a giant turtle. With only a quick rundown of the hullabaloo surrounding the publication of The Origin of Species, the focus here is clearly on Darwin’s travels, and this accessible jaunt will easily situate the man as a natural adventurer in kids’ minds before he becomes just another stuffy old scientist. —Ian Chipman

Chipman, I. (2009). One Beetle Too Many: The Extraordinary Adventures of Charles Darwin. Booklist, 105(9/10), 68.

Library Uses: This book can be used as part of an Earth Day Display or a science display dealing with animals, insects, and plant life.