Product Description

Can whales communicate across miles of vast ocean? Can elephants talk to one another with sounds we cannot hear? These are the kinds of questions that drive the work of acoustic biologists. Follow three creative scientists—Christopher W., Clark, Katy Payne, and Bill Evans—as they research why and how animals communicate. Through remarkable photographs and stories about all sorts of animals, this book celebrates the challenges of lab work and fieldwork and the thrill of discovery.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #132257 in Books
• Published on: 2006-07-24
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 64 pages

From Booklist
Gr. 4-7. This fascinating title shows the thrill of scientific discovery up close. Sayre profiles three bioacousticians--scientists who study the sounds made by living things, communication that is often outside the range of human hearing. Each extensive chapter follows the scientist into the field: the ocean, where Christopher Clark studies whales; the rain forest of the Central African Republic, where Katy Payne studies elephants; and throughout the U.S., where Bill Evans studies birds in migration. Sayre's text explains scientific concepts in simple, engaging language, and she gives plenty of detail about work conditions, equipment and research techniques, and what it takes to enter the field. Sayre also shows how the scientists' work contributes not only to a better understanding of the animals but also to conservation and protection of the species. Lots of well-edited quotes from the scientists convey their contagious enthusiasm for what they do, and sharp color photos, sound charts, and activity boxes break up the text, making it even more readable. Like Ellen Jackson's Looking for Life in the Universe, reviewed on p.684, this book is part of the consistently excellent Scientists in the Field series; it provides readers with an inspiring introduction to a little-discussed field and to biology in general. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review
"Sayre offers good descriptions of work with the various species and its import…"

About the Author
April Pulley Sayre is a writer, video producer, and bird watcher with a special interest in "overlooked, sometimes maligned creatures," including bats, insects, and lemurs. She and her husband live in South Bend, Indiana.

Customer Reviews

The Secrets of Sound
April Pulley Sayre's Secrets of Sound is an invaluable resource for teachers. It is packed with information yet engagingly written. Not only does the book provide a fresh look at whales, elephants, and migratory birds, but also at the scientists who study these creatures. This behind-the-scenes peek into the lifestyles of these scientists may motivate children to explore a scientific career. At the end of each section, Sayre brings out the conservation effots of the featured scientist. This book on bioacoustics supports curriculum standards which require children to understand the physics of sound. Fine photos bring the text to life.