One Beetle Too Many, written by Kathryn Lasky and illustrated by Matthew Trueman, RL 2
Kathryn Lasky is probably best known for her Guardians of Ga'Hoole series about owls, is also the author of twenty non-fiction books for kids on subjects ranging from spiders to sea turtles to the rain forest and lemurs to Phyllis Wheatley, John Muir, Sarah Breedlove Walker and Joshua Slocum, the first man to sail around the world alone. With One Beetle Too Many, Lasky brings us a fantastic biographical look at the life of Charles Darwin in bite-sized chapters that are sure to spark curiosity in readers. Matthew Trueman's illustrations are engaging and intricate while maintaining a playful tone that reminds me of the wonderful DB Johnson, author and illustrator of the superb picture books about Henry David Thoreau in which Henry is a bear, starting with Henry Hikes to Fitchburg. Best of all, One Beetle Too Many is now available in paperback!
Lasky divides Darwin's life into seven short chapters, all of which are enhanced by one and sometimes two full page illustrations. Beginning with the chapter titled, "One Beetle Too Many," Lasky tells us of Darwin's childhood as one of six children. The son of a doctor and a mother who raised fancy pigeons, Charles was allowed significant freedom. He used his time exploring nature and collecting beetles. One of the best stories Lasky shares, the one that gives the book its title, tells of the time that Charles uncovered a piece of bark and discovered two beetles he had never seen before. Seconds later, a third strange beetle crawls out and Charles, with his hands full, pops the beetle in his mouth so he can run for his collecting bottle.
There is a biography at the end of the book and, I wish there had been a timeline as well. Lasky ends her book with this wonderful quote from Darwin, "I am a compete millionaire in odd and curious facts."
2009 was the 200th birthday of Charles Darwin (and Abraham Lincoln!) and saw the publication of the thorough and thoroughly intriguing Charles Darwin and the Beagle Adventure, an extremely visual biography that includes fold-out maps, letters in envelopes and other goodies to discover as you read. The Tree of Life by Peter Sís is yet another spectacular biography of this infinitely fascinating man.


Older readers (of all older ages) should be sure to seek out Deborah Heiligman's multiple award winning book from 2009, Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith, which explores the role that Darwin's marriage and the religious views of his wife played in his scientific life.
ONE BEETLE TOO MANY. Text copyright © 2009 by Kathryn Laky. Illustrations copyright © 2009 by Matthew Trueman. Reproduced by permission of the publisher, Candlewick Press, Somerville, MA.