What's Smaller Than a Pygmy Shrew? (Robert E. Wells Science) [Paperback]

Robert E. Wells (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Grade Level: 1 and up | Series: Robert E. Wells Science

A pygmy shrew is among the tiniest of mammals. A ladybug is even smaller. But in this book you will find small things you could not ordinarily see.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-4?In this presentation that goes from small to infinitesimal, Wells compares the size of a tiny animal (a pygmy shrew) to an insect (a ladybug), which is in turn contrasted with one-celled animals, bacteria, molecules, atoms, and sub-atomic particles. Bright, colorful cartoons and a text that looks like hand lettering in a variety of fonts are jauntily arranged across the pages. Readers are encouraged to try to imagine being the sizes of the creatures under discussion. This lighthearted treatment is fine for the familiar, but begins to become confusing for a paramecium, an amoeba, and bacteria. Viruses are skipped as the narrative continues to include molecules, atoms, quarks, and electrons of the physical sciences instead of a parallel journey through diminishing sizes in the animal world to perhaps ovum, sperm, and DNA. The book has the look of an introduction for young readers. As the narrative continues, however, many terms are introduced, without pronunciation guides even in the two-page glossary, and the cartoon approach becomes cluttered and less effective.?Frances E. Millhouser, Reston Regional Library, VA
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Ages 6^-9. In Is a Blue Whale the Biggest Thing There Is? (1993), Wells used words and pictures to give young children an inkling of how big things can be. In his latest book, he reverses the concept to introduce smallness. A pygmy shrew looks small beside an elephant, but not when it's next to a ladybug. In turn, the ladybug looks enormous compared to a paramecium. Showing that even a single cell is not the smallest thing, Wells introduces molecules, atoms, electrons, and quarks. The acrylic-and-ink artwork includes touches of humor. Despite the inherent problems in illustrating what cannot be observed, Wells introduces a challenging concept in a way that will entertain and intrigue young children. Carolyn Phelan --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company (January 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0807588385
• ISBN-13: 978-0807588383
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 10.4 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #346,399 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #93 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Baby-3 > Basic Concepts > Size & Shape

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun food for curious minds., August 22, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: What's Smaller Than a Pygmy Shrew? (Robert E. Wells Science) (Paperback)

From a pygmy shrew, the smallest mammal, to a ladybug, to an amoeba, to an atom, and even smaller (protons and neutrons, quarks...) this book takes a look at the miniature universe. It is a great book for kids with boundless curiosity, and it does not talk down to kids. The concepts are illustrated through comparisons; how small each thing is compared with something else. The illustrations are breezy and cartoon-ish.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What an incredible idea for a scientific children's book!, February 9, 2003

By 

Kolbi (Florida, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: What's Smaller Than a Pygmy Shrew? (Robert E. Wells Science) (Paperback)

I have had a very hard time finding high-quality children's books in the area of the sciences. (You know... books that are interesting and beautiful in addition to being educational). Thus, when I found this book I was so excited! My 8 yr old and 5 yr old boys were mesmerized by the story line... the author introduces a pygmy shrew that thinks he's small (at three inches long) and then progressively introduces smaller and smaller things (you're not so small, pygmy shrew!) until he delves into the world of one-celled animals and then molecules, atoms, and finally protons, neutrons, electrons and quarks!

Needless to say, this is an amazing introduction into one-celled animals, elements, molecules, protons/neutrons/electrons/quarks (and even the use of microscopes, both optical and electron)... and all delivered at the level of 5 yr old and 8 yr old boys (with very interesting and beautiful illustrations!) and above. I usually try to raid our library for books, but this book is very much worth owning, so as to be able to refresh your child's recollection of the material. I wish I could give it more than five stars!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must for the elementary school bookshelf, March 20, 2003

By 

R. Brevett "RABB" (Bear, DE United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: What's Smaller Than a Pygmy Shrew? (Robert E. Wells Science) (Paperback)

I found this book when looking for supplemental materials for elementary school science units. This book is a good introduction to the concept of atoms. My sons (7 & 9) enjoyed it immensely; and it provided a good basis for a further discussion of what atoms and elements are.