Parents' Guide to

The Frog Scientist

By Darienne Stewart, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 9+

Captivating look at a scientist and his work.

Book Pamela S. Turner Science 2009
The Frog Scientist Poster Image

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What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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What's the Story?

Amphibian scientist Tyrone Hayes is trying to understand why frog populations around the world are declining. He suspects a popular pesticide, atrazine, is causing feminization of male frogs -- causing them to grow eggs instead of sperm. This book explores Hayes’ research -- how he tests his hypothesis, the unique problems facing frogs, and the big-picture implications -- and describes his journey from a frog-crazy kid in the segregated South to a struggling student at Harvard and finally a respected leader in his field.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
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Kids say (1):

This is no dry book on frog life cycles. Author Pamela S. Turner skillfully weaves together many threads into a smooth, cohesive, irresistible story. On one level, it’s a mystery about the decline in frog populations and researchers’ scramble to understand it. On another level, it’s a textbook on how to undertake scientific research to tackle real-world problems. And finally, it’s an engaging, nuanced biography portraying scientist Tyrone Hayes as a child, a student, a father, a mentor, and a scientist.
Turner touches on everything from segregation and racism to achieving consensus in the scientific community to nurturing a team. There’s the big picture (how to test a hypothesis, for example) and satisfying detail (how to prepare slides of frog tissue, and why Hayes celebrates the Fifth of July). The well-organized text is complemented by vibrant photographs and a wealth of supplemental material for further exploration.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the difficulty of testing a hypothesis. Hayes ends up with unexpected results and new questions. If you were in his shoes, how would you feel? What would you do next?

  • Hayes intentionally contaminates a pond with atrazine, and kills frogs so he can study them. Do you think those actions are justified? Why or why not?

  • Try conducting an experiment at home. Develop a hypothesis, identify manipulated and responding variables, and have a control group. Try changing variables and see what happens.

Book Details

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