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

by Pamela S. Turner

Overview

One of the biggest differences between humans and animals is the ability to understand the idea of “If I do X, Y might happen.” New Caledonian crows seem to possess the intelligence to understand this “causal” concept. Why do crows have this ability? What does the crow know and what does it tell us about brain size, the evolution of intelligence, and just who is the smartest creature on the planet? In the latest addition to the Scientists in the Field series, the creators of The Frog Scientist take us to a beautiful Pacific island, where a lively cast of both crows and scientists is waiting to amuse and enlighten us.
 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780544829336
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	08/02/2016
Series:	Scientists in the Field Series
Sold by:	HARPERCOLLINS
Format:	eBook
Pages:	80
Sales rank:	933,001
Lexile:	940L (what's this?)
File size:	214 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	10 - 12 Years

About the Author

Pamela S. Turner has a master’s degree in public health from the University of California, Berkeley, and a special interest in microbiology and epidemiology. Her articles for children and adults have appeared in numerous scientific publications. Her books include Hachiko: The True Story of a Loyal Dog, Gorilla Doctors, The Frog Scientist, Dolphins of Shark Bay, and Project Seahorse. She lives in California.
www.pamelasturner.com

Editorial Reviews

Horn Book Fanfare: Best Books of 2016 Nonfiction Detectives: Best of 2016 Nerdy Book Club Nerdies 2016 Longford Nonfiction * "Turner’s friendly, sometimes joking tone effortlessly moves from amusing accounts of crow antics to sophisticated explanations of crow and human evolution. Comins’s arresting photographs of the sleek black birds in the island landscapes of New Caledonia highlight their personalities and intelligence." —Horn Book, STARRED review * "Required reading for anyone who believes that we are the only, or even the most, sapient species on the planet. Highly recommended for STEM and animal collections." —School Library Journal, STARRED review "...[Crow Smarts] also pulls together a wide variety of research on crow behaviors and weaves it seamlessly into the narrative. Detailed sidebars and lively photographs of shiny, bright-eyed crows break up the text while adding interest, and illustrated explanations of crow behavior are illuminating." —Bulletin "With an approachable writing style and photos of crows festooning almost every page, this engaging volume with attract budding scientists, and the lively descriptions not only of the crows but of the scientists at work will give students plenty to ponder." —Booklist —

From the Publisher

★ 08/01/2016
Gr 4–7—This title takes readers to New Caledonia, where, as Turner puts it, "the forests are lush and the crows are geniuses." Comins's photos supply ample evidence of both. Under the guidance of crow researcher Gavin Hunt, expeditions to the island's wilds provide opportunities to watch the local species of crow display the astonishing ability not only to use found sticks to dig grubs from logs but also to make their own hooked tools from twigs or the jagged leaves of the pandanus—and to train a juvenile crow in the technique. Then later, under controlled conditions in a lab, captive crows (which are carefully returned to their home territories afterward) beat out groups of four- to seven-year-old children in performing feats of mental activity to get at an inaccessible treat. The author also surveys tool use by other wild animals, from chimps to crocodiles, and, with added art by de Filippo, compares the structures of crow and human brains. She closes with more anecdotes about corvid intelligence and leads to further information. VERDICT Required reading for anyone who believes that we are the only, or even the most, sapient species on the planet. Highly recommended for STEM and animal collections.—John Peters, Children's Literature Consultant, New York City

School Library Journal

2016-06-28
New Caledonian crows demonstrate that they both use and produce tools. In their second joint venture, author Turner and photographer Comins (The Frog Scientist, 2009) journey to New Caledonia to see these feathered “geniuses” in action. There, Dr. Gavin R. Hunt takes them into the forest for field observations and into aviaries and testing areas where captive crows demonstrate their capabilities with unfamiliar materials. Only five animal species are known to make multiple kinds of tools; only crows and humans make hooked tools. Do crows, like humans, improve tool technology and pass those improvements on to others? Well-reproduced photographs, sketches by researcher/illustrator de Filippo, and a clearly organized, engaging text introduce readers to specific crows like young Little Feather, who’s learning tool use from a parent. Turner and Comins also accompany an islander who’s returning some captives to the wild. There’s description, too, of the crows’ South Pacific island world and research done with this species in labs. The author’s affinity for the clever birds shines through, but she is less respectful to her human host. Readers only learn main character “Gavin’s” last name in the backmatter; his official position at the University of Auckland is never mentioned. This is discourteous and, for readers interested in the scientists as well as the science, a sad omission. An otherwise fine entry in the long-running Scientists in the Field Series. (Nonfiction. 10-14)

Kirkus Reviews