Our seas once housed millions of turtles. Of the seven species that survive today, all are either threatened or endangered; six can be found in the Caribbean. The Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network (WIDECAST) operates in the area, studying the sea turtles and working for their preservation. Dr. Kimberly Stewart, a.k.a. the "turtle lady," lives and works with WIDECAST on the island of St. Kitts, and this entry in the Scientists in the Field series smartly reflects that setting. The main body of the book is printed on a sand-colored paper, while sidebars of varying lengths appear on aqua backgrounds the color of the sea. Swinburne opens with a scene of a female leatherback turtle hauling her immense body onto the beach and beginning the long process of laying her eggs. He continues by showing what we know about the species and how we know it, which entails some pretty gritty work. As Dr. Stewart says, "I eat, sleep, breathe sand." The conservation's preservation projects are refreshingly cooperative and respectful of the island's human residents: turtles are still legally hunted for food and slaughtered for money on St. Kitts, while projects such as ecotourism may create an alternate source of income and reduce the need for turtle fishing. A glossary, suggestions for helping and "adopting" sea turtles, and recommended websites and books are appended. betty carter (c) Copyright 2014. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

In Swinburne's words, sea turtles are ancient creatures, whose fossils date back as far as the dinosaurs. Despite their age-old lineage, their future is uncertain, due to the pollution of their oceans habitat, development along their nesting beaches, and other dangers to their lives and their eggs. From the Scientists in the Field series, this book profiles Dr. Kimberly Stewart known locally as the turtle lady and lets readers observe her at work on the Caribbean island of St. Kitts. The text explains how she promotes sea turtle survival through education as well as, more directly, by inserting tracking devices into adult turtles and occasionally intervening to protect turtle eggs and help the hatchlings survive. The color illustrations feature numerous, remarkably fine photos, including many taken by Swinburne. Some of the pictures are too small to be effective, but most offer useful and beautiful views of the sea turtles and the scientist who studies them. An informative addition to science collections.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2014 Booklist

Gr 5-8-Another nifty entry in an impressively reliable series, this work follows the field work and the research of Dr. Kimberly Stewart, the "turtle lady" of the Caribbean island of St. Kitts. Her subjects are mainly the largest marine turtles of all, leatherbacks, though her drive for conservation includes all Caribbean species. Swinburne's engaging text engages readers in Stewart's efforts to record "turtle data," to compare and evaluate the discoveries she makes, and to encourage inhabitants of St. Kitts to help her in her drive to preserve this species. Stewart educates them in finding sources of protein other than turtle meat and eggs and assists them on new paths to economic independence without relying on turtle products. Accompanying the narrative are data boxes on such divergent topics as "A Brief History of St. Kitts," "Modern Sea Turtle Threats," and "How Sea Glass Saves Turtles," plus a detailed list of items stocked in her Turtle Watching Toolkit. Swinburne's excellent color photos (many full page) enrich his informative text and give readers a clear vision of a scientist hard at work recording the lives of her elusive subjects and trying to instill a sense of ecological conservancy in a community that has heretofore regarded turtles as a boost to their menu or their personal income. Pair this with Kathryn Lasky's excellent Interrupted Journey (Candlewick, 2001) and Swinburne's own Turtle Tide: The Ways of Sea Turtles (Boyds Mills, 2005) for a balanced look at species swimming in dangerous waters. This refreshing journey with a dedicated woman hard at work in her chosen field will resonate with readers. Inspiring.-Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.