"In his fifth (posthumous) gathering of lightly edited columns from Highlights magazine, Myers looks with a typical balance of precision and simplicity at a clever study of dolphin sonar, a successful effort to reintroduce a nearly extinct species of wild horse to its original Mongolian range, the efforts of scientists to find a logical niche in the taxonomic scheme for the decidedly peculiar platypus, and eight other revealing experiments, observations, and discoveries. Along with the occasional color photo, each entry is illustrated with one or more of Rice’s accurately detailed paintings (some of which are amusingly fanciful), and in service to readers who want all the facts, a list of resources from which Myers drew his information is appended. As with the previous collections, these miniessays are equally suited to reading alone or aloud and make stimulating introductions to the actual practice of science."
     —Booklist

"These stories or animal mysteries were originally published in the science column of Highlights for Children magazine. The subtle, comic illustrations are a nice addition. ...[T]hese may work as a good introductory read-aloud to science units or quick reads to entice students to explore later on their own."
     —Library Media Connection

"Written by the late zoologist Jack Myers, who for more than 40 years brought science to readers of Highlights for Children magazine. ...These 11 tales are short, punctuated by bright illustrations and reported in Myers' characteristically conversational style."
     —Science News


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"In his fifth (posthumous) gathering of lightly edited columns from Highlights magazine, Myers looks with a typical balance of precision and simplicity at a clever study of dolphin sonar, a successful effort to reintroduce a nearly extinct species of wild horse to its original Mongolian range, the efforts of scientists to find a logical niche in the taxonomic scheme for the decidedly peculiar platypus, and eight other revealing experiments, observations, and discoveries. Along with the occasional color photo, each entry is illustrated with one or more of Rice’s accurately detailed paintings (some of which are amusingly fanciful), and in service to readers who want all the facts, a list of resources from which Myers drew his information is appended. As with the previous collections, these miniessays are equally suited to reading alone or aloud and make stimulating introductions to the actual practice of science."
     —Booklist

"These stories or animal mysteries were originally published in the science column of Highlights for Children magazine. The subtle, comic illustrations are a nice addition. ...[T]hese may work as a good introductory read-aloud to science units or quick reads to entice students to explore later on their own."
     —Library Media Connection

"Written by the late zoologist Jack Myers, who for more than 40 years brought science to readers of Highlights for Children magazine. ...These 11 tales are short, punctuated by bright illustrations and reported in Myers' characteristically conversational style."
     —Science News

"This collection of 11 articles originally appeared in Highlights magazine during the 1990s and early 2000s. Each article tells how a scientist was able to unravel a mystery about some kind of animal. ... This is a good choice for children who can read chapter books, and who enjoy nonfiction."
     —School Library Journal

"As chief science editor at the beloved magazine Highlights for Children, Jack Myers - known by staffers as "Uncle Jack" - spent a half-century searching for the "best" stories to share with young readers. The Puzzle of the Platypus honors Myers's memory by collecting 11 of his articles on scientists who have unveiled intriguing mysteries of the animal world. ..Rice's clever watercolor illustrations, which interweave cartoons with more realistic representations, complement Myers's storytelling; together, they'll encourage youngsters to search for - and perhaps solve - more animal puzzles."
     —Audubon Magazine