The attractive, contemporary illustrations have kid appeal. I give it four stars, rather than five, because in places it's rather jumpy: clarity of expression and narrative got sacrificed for style and format choices. (For instance, in the mini-chapter "The Voyage of a Lifetime Begins", it isn't until the second sentence of the second paragraph that the text explains what is actually under discussion!) But I found it works quite well as a "read aloud", when I could add a transition or a bit of context beyond the text. As for instance, when the text discusses Darwin's abhorrence of slavery, it's a good point to add a mention that the idea of common descent (common ancestry for all humans) was congruent with the abolitionist beliefs in his family.
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One Beetle Too Many: The Extraordinary Adventures of Charles Darwin
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Is it age appropriate?
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Not age appropriate for kids under 5, age appropriate for kids over 7; suggested age 7. -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Extraordinary book celebrates curiosity, and an amazing man.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 7 and Up
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What Parents Need to Know
About One Beetle Too Many: The Extraordinary Adventures of Charles Darwin
Parents need to know that this book offers an insightful, beautifully balanced introduction to Charles Darwin: what drove him to discover the things he did, and how the world received his new ideas about the order of life on Earth.
Read our full review by Patricia Tauzer
Families Can Talk About
- Families can talk about what kind of boy, and man, Charles Darwin was. How did he learn about all the different types of beetles, birds, and bones? What does it mean to be a "naturalist"? How is observing things different from reading about things in books? Besides getting outside and putting their own "noses in the grass," kids and parents will enjoy studying each illustration and seeing what tiny mysteries they can uncover there. Families also might enjoy tracing Darwin's journey on a map and studying the different places he stopped when sailing on the Beagle. What do you think it would be like to travel all over the world for five years, just observing things and collecting specimens? What did Darwin think caused all the changes in things he found around the world? What did the world think of Darwin and his ideas? Why? What do you think?
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Most Recent Reviews
- I rate this title on for age 7 and give it
Appealing depiction of the man, and the formation of a revolutionary idea
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