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Under The Microscope

OLD BLUE, THE RAREST BIRD IN THE WORLD, by Mary Taylor; Ashton Scholastic 1993; $19.95

I'm a sucker for well-illustrated children's books and I'm an admirer of Mary Taylor's etchings, so I was delighted to see this book. This is the story of Old Blue, the Chatham Island Black Robin who, in the space of four years, managed to bring her species back from the brink of extinction.

This remarkable feat is related simply and accurately without being patronising to young readers or too cutely anthropomorphic for older ones. Mary Taylor's framing artwork is delightful. It's not often you find a painting of a New Zealand scientist outside ivory towers, so it's good to see a depiction of DoC birdman Don Merton smiling through the foliage. This book is a tribute to his work and the work of all the others -- humans and birds alike -- who were able to ensure that the Black Robin would not "simply be another name on the long list of birds and animals lost forever".

In a world where much of the environmental news is doom and gloom, Old Blue's story stands out as a marvellous victory. It gives us a chance to realise that what we do can make a difference, and that's a valuable thing for both children and adults to know.

Vicki Hyde, NZSM

Vicki Hyde is the editor of New Zealand Science Monthly.