How Life Begins, by Jules Power (Michael Joseph, 15s.), is
rather more detailed (ten to thirteen). No flowers or bees, but there is an interesting account of the courtship and mating habits of birds and fish before he gets down (perhaps it should be up) to humans. Sensible and reasonably detailed, with many photographs and diagrams and an outline of Mendelism.
It can be humbling to realise that birds were on this earth millions of years before humans. They have sensibly concentrated on perfecting communications without developing mass de- struction en route. James Fisher, in The Migration of Birds (Godley Head. 13s. 6d.). de- scribes not only 'who and where,' but also 'w hy, how and when.' He also goes into the methods by which scientists (and amateurs) obtain the facts. A fascinating book for nine- to twelve- year-olds, and also adults. His son's paintings and diagrams are most attractive.
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