Crow Smarts: Inside the Brain of the World's Brightest Bird

Reviewed by: Bernie Alie - York County Community College, Wells, ME, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: November 1, 2016

Review

This latest installment in the Scientists in the Field series introduces the crows of New Caledonia, an island near Australia and New Zealand. Readers are pulled into the story from the opening pages, which discuss a puzzle posed to crows by scientists. We are also introduced to the tactics employed by a young crow fledgling learning from its parent.

Species evolution and brain evolution are discussed. The trial and error of tool use is speculated. In 1992, Gavin discovered that not only did the crows USE tools, they actually MADE tools to aid them in gathering food. Now, Gavin is gathering crow tools to see if crows improve upon what previous generations learned.

The story is made accessible by returning to the tactics employed by the young crow fledgling as it learns from its parent. At times, Turner directly addresses the reader in a joking spirit, which limits the book's appeal to older, more mature readers.

As always with this series, the color photos are crystal clear, and include close-ups of the birds manipulating tools and grubs as well as landscape scenes that enable students to get a sense of the local environment.

At no point in the text, is the scientist's last name given, an inexplicable omission. First and last names of student assistants and colleagues are given, but it is only on the cover flap that we learn the featured scientist's full name. Yet he is listed in the index under his last name.

Despite its shortcomings, this addition will assist children in recognizing that science is a living, evolving subject, and inspire them to play a role in future discoveries.

Overall Book Score: good