Today we add a new category at Wrapped In Foil, the e-book. The Boy Who Loved Ants: Edward O.Wilson
Dr. Edward O. Wilson, or E. O. Wilson as he is also known, has worn many hats over his lifetime, and is renowned for his studies of ants, island biogeography, sociobiology and biodiversity. Author van Dyck makes his life story accessible to children by emphasizing how his interest in nature during his childhood led him to become a leader in the conservation movement later in life.
The book is broken into sections of two or three paragraphs of text about Wilson’s life, then a sidebar-style paragraph in italics that explains the text further or adds interesting facts. Each section is separated from the next by either a photograph or an illustration of a row of ants. At the end are suggested activities to accompany the book. You can tell van Dyck is truly passionate about her subject and has spent a lot of time researching Wilson’s life.
Also included is how Dr. Wilson, with the help of his friend Peter Alden, developed the “BioBlitz,” a way for volunteers from all walks of life to collect organisms intensively from a given area in a short period of time to find out about the diversity that exists there. Information about how to participate in upcoming BioBlitz events (as well as information about past events) is available at the National Geographic Society. Author van Dyck has instructions for taking your own personal bioblitz walk, as well.
Recently the National Geographic Society honored Dr. Wilson with a Hubbard medal at its 125th Anniversary Gala. According to their press release, “Wilson was honored for his lifelong commitment to the planet’s rich diversity through his research and writing.”
Scientist and author Edward O. Wilson looking for ants and butterflies on Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu, in 2011. (Photograph by K. Horton)
The Boy Who Loved Ants: Edward O.Wilson introduces children to the life of this leading scientist, writer, and conservationist in an electronic format. Hopefully, learning about his life will inspire some future naturalists and scientists to learn more about the wild creatures around them, and perhaps even discover new species like Wilson did.
File Size: 321 KB
Print Length: 14 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: Sara van Dyck (January 27, 2012)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
An electronic copy was provided via Smashwords by the author for review purposes.
Come visit the STEM Friday blog each week to find more great Science, Technology, Engineering and Math books.
by Anthony Browne takes the straightforward concept book and “adds” 
