‘Galápagos Islands’: A Book Review

‘Galápagos Islands’: A Book Review

Subtitled “The World’s Living Laboratory,” Galápagos Islands by Karen Romano Young is a picture reference book designed to help children explore the rich natural history of the world’s first UNESCO heritage site. This book delves into the islands’ unique geology and diverse flora and fauna, making it a fascinating read. It’s a place that would captivate any GeekDad reader, and this book will further fuel that interest. It serves as an excellent introduction to one of the world's most special places and encourages readers to think beyond the Galápagos to the entire planet.
 

Visit Galapagos with us aboard the Santa Cruz II


What Is Galápagos Islands?

 

Published by WhatonEarth Books, known for their high-quality publications, Galápagos Islands is aimed at readers aged 10 and above. The book is rich in text and less suited for quick dips, making it ideal for older readers. Amy Grimes beautifully illustrates the book.
 

Karen Romano Young narrates her visit to the islands, sharing her deep passion for the natural world. She starts with the marine environment, then moves on to land, exploring marine iguanas, Galápagos tortoises, and Darwin’s finches.
 

Galapagos Islands Book by Karen Romano Young


The book details the unique conditions that make the Galápagos special and the efforts to preserve them. It highlights the islands' importance in studying biodiversity and their role in the theory of natural selection by Darwin and modern biologists.
 

In the final section, the book addresses the impacts of climate change on the islands and the measures taken to mitigate these effects, including the impacts of tourism and the unique situation during COVID-19, where reduced tourism offered a chance to strengthen the archipelago.


Galápagos Islands is a 64-page A4-sized hardback with five chapters, a glossary, source notes, and an index.
 

Galapagos Islands Book by Karen Romano Young


Why Read Galápagos Islands?

 

Karen Romano Young successfully blends the scientific significance of the islands with the captivating nature of their biodiversity. She explains why the Galápagos are incredible to visit and why it is crucial to preserve them.
 

Currently, climate politics is a hot topic in the UK and across Europe, with green policies often used as political leverage. The book’s final third underscores the fragile state of the planet, though this message may be lost on climate change deniers. The up-to-date data and information highlight how the Galápagos represent the planet in microcosm.
 

The islands’ abundant life forms are all interdependent, and small changes can have devastating impacts. This truth applies globally, a lesson subtly conveyed in the book. Children reading this book will gain a deeper understanding of the planet’s fragile ecosystems and the importance of environmental stewardship.
 

The Galápagos Islands demonstrate scientific concepts like volcanoes, evolution, and marine biology in action. This book stands out among GeekDad-reviewed books by vividly bringing these subjects to life. The islands' uniqueness and their similarities to the rest of the Earth are explored brilliantly, inspiring readers to think about the planet as a whole.
 

Galapagos Islands Book by Karen Romano Young