This author's specialty is illustrated maps, Darwin's five year voyage is an obviously good subject. The maps, eight in all, are cartoon-like and also informative. The end-papers consist of maps and an associated time-line, and are quite nice.

This book repeats once more the myth of Darwin's squeamishness, I quote "the sight of blood made him queasy". It also dips into romantic paradox, clumsily, as in this passage: "Charles was surrounded by the buzz of millions of insects, yet the jungle wrapped him in velvet silence." Who can that sentence be for? It also transfers the beetle-in-mouth episode to Darwin's childhood years from his college years. I suspect that the author did "research" by reading Kathryn Lasky's book "One Beetle Too Many", and failed to notice Lasky's brief historical note at the start of the book about the beetle-in-mouth episode.

The illustrations are light and a bit whimsical and include many animals, some labeled some not. There is one cutaway view of the interior of the Beagle, showing a bunch of Galapagos turtles waiting to be turned into dinner which is probably true to the life, although a bit out of scale.

There are some endnotes containing anecdotes and small facts as well as a brief capsule biography.

The author reminds the reader several times about how Darwin's time is different from our own. It's important to understand that, but I'm not sure her remarks are very effective.

There are a few malapropisms or grammar errors. I'll note just one, "As the Beagle blew across the sea". "was blown", "sailed", "travelled", would all have been better choices.

Mostly correct, pleasantly drawn, and reasonably informative, this is a good book for children. ( )

This book follows Charles Darwin from his childhood with bugs to his aspirations for what he wants to be as an adult. The book follows him to college and on to his sailing trips and the things that he saw along the way. I would recommend this book to children who want to know more about Charles Darwin and who like to look at pictures while reading. ( )

The story of Darwin’s adventures as the naturalist aboard the HMS Beagle takes readers to the coasts of South America, the waters of Tierra del Fuego, the Galápagos Islands, and to the Cape of Good Hope. Young readers will enjoy the beautiful illustrations and understand why Darwin made the natural world his life’s work. Author’s Note. Fun Facts.

I found myself fascinated my Charles Darwin as a person instead of a historical figure. He seemed so human and peculiar and curious! In the beginning it says teacher’s didn’t find him to be very smart, but that he was always collecting and exploring. I think it’s important they added some of these human qualities to a man that changed the world so much, because in this book, he’s just a guy doing what he likes even if that means he has little support and has to live on a ship for 5 years to do it. I also think it’s cool that they added in the fun facts that Charles Darwin didn’t agree with slavery and would argue with the ship captain about it. Charles Darwin was out of the norm for his day and age, and this shows kids you don’t have to fit in to make a difference.

good story!! ( )