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SCIENCESCAPE: THE NATURE OF CANADA.

Suzuki, David T.; Hans Blohm; and Marjorie Harris.

Toronto, Oxford University Press, c1986. unpaged, cloth, $24.95, ISBN 0-19-540528-5. CIP

Grades 10 and up
Reviewed by Graham A. Draper

Volume 15 Number 1
1987 January


David Suzuki has challenged people to look at the environment from two perspectives, from that of a scientist and from that of an artist. These views have typically been thought of as distinct, sometimes even at cross-purposes, yet when combined, Suzuki claims the new perceptions give additional dimension to our understanding of nature. This book brings together the art of the photographer with the words of a scientist. The photographs of the natural environment by Hans Blohm convey tremendous quantities of scientific information, while the extended captions/brief essays by Suzuki help us to recognize the beauty of the natural elements.

Technically, this is a lovely book. The illustrations are sharp and clear and the type readable. The attractive layout will draw students and invite them to use the book.

From a pedagogic perspective, however, Sciencescape is a disappointment. There is no table of contents and it is only after you look that you realize the photos are organized by regions. Within each region there is no apparent flow or cohesiveness to the material. For example, the central Canada section begins with a photo of gannets on Bonaventure Island, shifts to a discussion of glaciation in the Canadian Shield (sparked by a photo taken in La Verendrye Park), then moves to yellow lady's slippers in Quebec, and so on. This means, of course, that students will only find information by searching until they see something useful. The absence of page numbers only confounds the situation, and without page numbers there is no index. While Science-scape has the potential to excite students, its value in a school library is limited.


Graham A. Draper, Langstaff S.S., Richmond Hill, Ont.
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