An ecologist records a typical “research night” in Florida’s Everglades, using her own experiences to paint a picture of this unique geological/biological habitat. Larsen’s informative text records the efforts of scientists “Laurel” and “Dan” to evaluate water quality and flow, measure peat layers and sediment rates, photograph “floc” and zooplankton, and collect water samples from a tiny research platform in the heart of the ‘Glades. Slathered in mosquito repellent, they spend a night under the stars, working on their projects and enjoying the wildlife in this wide ecosystem (except for said mosquitoes). Larsen defines unfamiliar terms in the margin and includes snips of data. All is illuminated by Turley’s colorful, full-page illustrations of such sights as airboats, birds, alligators, and a sunrise, and some smaller details of bladderworts, crayfish, and the like. Team this title with Jeff Corwin’s photo-full Jeff Corwin: The Extraordinary Everglades (Grossett & Dunlap, 2010) and Wayne Lynch’s anecdote-graced The Everglades (NorthWorld, 2007) for a clear look at the endangered “River of Grass."

– Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY, Library Journal

This nonfiction picture book follows two scientists who spend the night collecting information about the flora and fauna of Florida’s Everglades. Though the scientists are fictional, they are part of the real-life Florida Coastal Everglades Long Term Ecological Research project, a research team working to restore the Everglades to its natural state. As the duo works, background information is supplied as to why the existence of the Everglades is threatened. Also included are facts about some of the 68 endangered species and other unique creatures that inhabit the area, as well as details about the equipment used by the scientists to collect the data. Each double-page spread features a full-page painting opposite a page of text. The block of main text is balanced by a smaller block of caption-like text with definitions of some of the words used in the main text. This is an adequate supplemental introduction to the Everglades and the restoration project, though of limited research utility due to the format.

– Booklist