The Inquisitive Mind of Charles Henry Turner
August 26, 2019
Full-color digital illustrations and Harrington’s conversational, sometimes lyrical prose tell the story of “indefatigable” African-American entomologist and zoologist Charles Henry Turner (1867–1923), who “toppled woodpiles, lingered over logs, and peeked into dusty corners” in his quest to learn all he could about insects. Through the turn of the 20th century, Turner pursued his passion for entomology and experimentation, attending college and publishing more than 50 scientific papers while facing prejudice in the American South. In cartoon scenes, Taylor shows Turner observing specimens (among them spiders, crustaceans, and cockroaches) and conducting experiments to learn how ants find their way home and that “even bees sense time.” Repetition (“Questions that itched like mosquito bites,/ questions that tickled like spider webs”) and fascinating anecdotes may well inspire more “indefatigable” observers and questioners. An author’s note precedes a timeline, an extensive source list, and a selected list of Turner’s papers. Ages 7–10.
Starred review from November 1, 2019
Gr 2-5-A relatively unknown entomologist comes out of oblivion in this engaging picture book biography. Born in 1867, Charles Henry Turner was a groundbreaking African American scientist and teacher. He was raised in a loving household surrounded by books. After attending college, he continued his study of insects. He discovered, for example, what he called "intelligent action," where a spider would spin a web just right for its particular home. Harrington's text is inviting, and Turner's enthusiasm comes through clearly: "Questions that itched like mosquito bites, questions that tickled like spider webs." The word indefatigable is used throughout. Taylor's bright, cheerful, expertly rendered cartoon illustrations complement the text. Close-ups depict Turner studying ants or butterflies intensely. While there is some discussion of the prejudice Turner endured, the overall tone is upbeat. VERDICT Harrington and Taylor have rescued a worthy scientist from obscurity. Recommended for all libraries serving this grade range.-Anne Chapman Callaghan, Racine Public Library, WI
Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
September 1, 2019
A thorough biography of early African American scientist Charles Henry Turner. From a young age, "questions hopped through...Turner's mind like grasshoppers." His teacher encouraged him to "go and find out," and that is what he spent his life doing. He attended college when most colleges didn't accept African Americans, and he kept asking questions as he studied biology. The "indefatigable scientist" studied spiders: Two spreads explain how he learned that "each spider wove a web just right for its home." He studied crustaceans and ants, bees and moths. His significant findings are explained both in the illustrations and in the lucid paragraphs of text that describe the experiments and his conclusions. The importance of his findings in the field is made clear, and the curiosity and hard work that led to them are the focus. One spread mentions the racial prejudice he lived through and his service to the community. His work is cast in the light of uplifting humanity: "He wrote that biology could help people see the connections among all living things." The digital illustrations depict people, creatures, and experiments in thick black lines and swaths of color that help readers understand the science being discussed. This extensively researched, jam-packed text intrigues and inspires with Turner's example of discovery and hard-won, meaningful contributions to knowledge about life. A well-written tribute to a deserving champion of science. (author's note, timeline, sources, notes) (Picture book/biography. 7-10)
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July 1, 2019
This picture-book biography of renowned the African American entomologist (1867-1923) highlights his lifelong scientific curiosity and powers of observation. His "indefatigable" grit shines through as he searches to discover, for example, if bees can identify color. Turner's belief that "biology could help people see the connections among all living things" gave him hope as he experienced racial prejudice in the early-twentieth-century South. Harrington's text uses powerful cadences and well-chosen repetition. Taylor's clean-lined digital illustrations spotlight the scientist at work in the lab and outdoors. Timeline. Bib.
(Copyright 2019 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)
November 1, 2019
This picture-book biography of renowned African American entomologist Turner (1867-1923) begins with a signature quote: "The study of biology trains the powers of observation." And it is that very power of observation that led the young Turner to ask questions: "questions that itched like mosquito bites, questions that tickled like spider webs, questions you couldn't just shoo away!" Harrington aptly incorporates the scientific method as she highlights Turner's lifelong scientific curiosity and his major entomological discoveries. What shines through is his "indefatigable" (a word used several times, and beautifully defined in context) grit as he searches to find out, for example, if bees can identify color and if spiders make intelligent choices when weaving webs. According to Turner, "biology could help people see the connections among all living things"-a belief that gave him hope as he experienced racial prejudice and violence in the early-twentieth-century South. Read this aloud to capture Harrington's strong voice, with her powerful cadences and well-chosen repetitions. Taylor's accompanying clean-lined digital illustrations spotlight the scientist at work, from time spent in the lab "peering through microscopes" to his experiments in nature and exploring the outdoors. Appended with an author's note, a timeline, source notes, and a bibliography. Betty Carter
(Copyright 2019 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)