Stinky Moose and the Scientific Process

Lynn: What does a moose carcass and a picture book about Thomas Jefferson have to do with the scientific process? Beth Anderson’s new book, Thomas Jefferson’s Battle for Science: Bias, Truth and a Mighty Moose (Candlewick, 2024) explains!
Amateur scientist Thomas Jefferson had a lot on his plate what with the Revolution, Declaration of Independence, a Constitution for a new country and all but he still found time to read scientific books such Comte de Buffon’s treatise on animals. Until, that is, he read the section on American wildlife! Comte de Buffon dismissed the New World as being cold and inferior with the bears smaller and wolves puny! Jefferson knew this wasn’t true and when he looked more carefully he discovered that de Buffon’s facts were inaccurate. In fact, the French scientist had never even been to America!

Jefferson was determined to set the record straight and to do so, he relied on the Scientific Process, being especially careful not to fall in the trap of confirmation bias. Over the years, he gathered statistics, specimens and information, sending these on to de Buffon who never responded. Jefferson wrote his own book based on scientific inquiry and finally got de Buffon to change his mind by sending him a huge and smelly carcass of an enormous moose.

The tone is full of humor which the illustrations, done in sepia tones, echo but the subject is an extremely important one and Anderson does an outstanding job of emphasizing this in a very entertaining way. Kids will thoroughly enjoy the tale AND take away this timely lesson about the importance of process and verification of information both then and now.

Jeremy Holmes’ illustrations are charming, funny and full of intricate details that are a delight to linger over.

Interesting back matter includes additional information on Jefferson and the scientific process, a Timeline, and bibliography. Don’t miss this one!!