Dr. Kimberly Stewart lives and works on the island of St. Kitts in the Caribbean to study and protect leatherback sea turtles. The leatherback is a “critically endangered species” — its population has dropped over 80 percent in roughly the last one hundred years. Threats worldwide come from habitat loss, fishing, and marine debris. On St. Kitts, Stewart’s research monitoring and protecting sea turtle nests has included establishing the St. Kitts Sea Turtle Monitoring Network. Her work includes a sea turtle camp for local children and educating others in the community about the importance of sea turtles to the larger ocean ecosystem. She’s also involved in efforts to help the local community develop economic opportunities beyond those related to turtle harvesting. One local man, a former turtle fisherman, has become one of her most important partners because of the influence of “the turtle lady.” Information about the leatherbacks is integrated into sidebars and stand-alone chapters in a volume that stands out for both its engaging narrative and fine design, which includes ample color photographs. (Ages 9–13)

Dr. Kimberly Stewart, also known as the Turtle Lady of St. Kitts, is already waiting at midnight when an 800-pound leatherback sea turtle crawls out of the Caribbean surf and onto the sandy beach. The mother turtle has a vital job to do: dig a nest in which she will lay eggs that will hatch into part of the next generation of leatherbacks. With only one in a thousand of the eggs for this critically endangered species resulting in an adult sea turtle, the odds are stacked against her and her offspring. Join the renowned author and photographer Steve Swinburne on a journey through history to learn how sea turtles came to be endangered, and what scientists like Kimberly are doing to save them. For the complete selection of books in this critically acclaimed, award-winning series, visit www.sciencemeetsadventure.com.