Finch Discoveries: an inspiring tale of adaptation to a changing environment

In Finch Discoveries Ginger Wallis demonstrates how compelling science can be! She brings to life for young readers adaptation by rapid natural selection, one of the most important discoveries arising from Peter and Rosemary Grant and their colleagues’ decades-long research with finches. Wallis takes us from hatching to breeding, through extremes of drought and rainfall, and from individuals to populations to help us understand the importance of slight variations in beak size, and of novel behaviors, for reproduction and survival. It’s a must-read for anyone interested in nature and the rules that govern all creatures. We need far more books like this to help young readers internalize the excitement and importance of science. Based on true events, the story takes the reader on two interconnected journeys, one of Adelita, a ground finch trying to survive in an ever-changing landscape, and the second, the scientific research of Peter and Rosemary Grant and their colleagues. The book is for kids, parents, grandparents, and teachers.