Children's Book Review: One Beetle Too Many

One Beetle Too Many: The Extraordinary Adventures of Charles Darwin by Kathryn Lasky, illustrated by Matthew Trueman (Candlewick, 17.99, 9780763614362/076361436X, 48 pp., ages 9-12, January 2009)

The Origin of the Species will celebrate its 150th anniversary of publication on November 24, 2009. Would Charles Darwin be surprised to discover that there may well be as much debate now as there was during his lifetime concerning his theory of evolution versus creationism? Lasky (Sugaring Time) suggests that Darwin himself was anxious about how his theory would be received: "Very often when he thought or began to write about how species changed over time, his stomach problems would become worse." If not for a rival naturalist, Darwin may have kept his most probing ideas to himself. Lasky begins, however, with a depiction of young Charles (whose 200th birthday is next February 12, as is Abraham Lincoln's), instinctively curious, who loves to collect things, especially beetles. Trueman (Chickens on Strike) captures the moment when Charles, with a beetle in each hand, two of a sort that he'd never seen before, discovers a "third strange beetle . . . and . . . lacking a free hand, quickly popped one beetle into his mouth and scooped up the third one." The illustration strikes a commendable balance between the comical situation and the boy's passion for science (his various collections in evidence). Throughout, the author and artist leaven Darwin's serious work with such humorous touches. Young Charles earned the nickname "Gas," for instance, because of his activities with his brother in the laboratory ("Explosions were their favorite things"). Trueman depicts Charles holding at arm's length a test tube erupting into flames as his brother shields himself with his arms.
 
Lasky and Trueman devote much of the book to Darwin's pivotal voyage on the Beagle, but they break up the discoveries into manageable sections of one to three spreads. The artwork offers breathtaking views of foreign landscapes and close-ups of exotic creatures; and Darwin's sketches of various finches he discovered on his travels through the Galápagos Islands demonstrates the birds' subtle differences from island to island--observations that figured prominently in the foundation of Darwin's ideas on natural selection. Readers may also be intrigued to discover that Charles's father had sent him off at one point to become a clergyman, and that Charles did not believe his scientific theory was at odds with his belief in God: Charles "felt that his notions did not disprove God in the least but in fact made God more powerful." Lasky and Trueman arrive at quite an achievement here: They take Darwin's sophisticated ideas and make them accessible to readers young and old--through humor and simplicity of language; and, by suggesting that Darwin felt there was room for God in his theory, they set a foundation for a lively discussion of evolution and creationism--does one rule out the other? Or can they co-exist? Most of all, this intelligently and elegantly designed volume makes clear how much Darwin's ideas continue to create an impact on science, society and culture, a century and a half later.--Jennifer M. Brown