Book Vignettes 301

color, and in other cases in black and white. Sample tables are includedfor summarizing data but the student is admonished to "Make a Table LikeThis in Your Notebook."There are a number of features under the heading Focus that extend the

experiences and Skullduggery consistent essentially of openended questions.

DEATON, JOHN G., M.D., New Parts for Old: The Age of Organ Transplants.Palisade, New Jersey: Franklin Publishing Company, Inc., 1974. Pp. 160.The idea of transplantation has its roots in mythology such as the Sphinx

with human heads and animal bodies and legends and folklore of the MiddleAges about successful transplants of noses and even whole limbs. Aftera brief discussion of this historical background the developments in varioustypes of organ transplants through the present are described.The narrative deals not only with medical and surgical techniques used

by the professionals but also with the work of scientists in laboratories whodevelop and test drugs to combat the rejection reaction and the reactionsof patients. Among the transplants dealt with are the cornea, heart, skin,bones and kidney. The black and white illustrations are well done and helpclarify the text. An excellent introduction to the subject.

RICCIUTI, EDWARD R., To the Brink of Extinction. Harper Junior Books, NewYork: Harper & Row, Publishers, 1974. Pp. x + 177.For readers 12 years and older who are interested in endangered species

and the basis of the problems leading to their extinction. The narrative dealsin separate chapters with seven species of wildlife that have nearly becomeextinct. These are the Puerto Rican parrot, the Pere David’s deer, the Europeanbison, the bog turtle, the osprey, the Pine Barrens tree frog, and the graywhale.

Since about 1600, about 200 species of wild animals have become extinctand these seven have almost become extinct and have been saved or arestill on the brink. The problems facing the seven are dealt with more orless as case studies since much of what is said can be applied to speciesthat may soon be facing extinction because of disruption of their naturalhabitats.

It is well written and interesting.

SOLVING "LIFE PROBLEMS" WITH MATH

"Kids don’t know enough arithmetic to balance their checkbooks or figureout their income tax on the short form," one New York mathematics professorsaid. A physics professor in St. Louis called it "an unintentional fraud thatis completely irrelevant for students."

While more and more scholars take pot shots at the "new math," a coreof mathematicians and math educators are working to change the thrust ofthe highly abstract method of teaching the Third "R."George Springer, professor of mathematics at Indiana University, has

received a $213,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to improvechildren’s ability to solve problems in elementary school mathematics. Itis part of a major project to teach children in Grades 4, 5, and 6 how tosolve "life problems" with math.The I.U. educators are not trying to foment another revolution in math

such as took place in the early 1960’s when the "new math," with it emphasison the "why" instead of the "how," was developed. "We will try to producemodules�problem solving strategies�that can be fit into any existing elemen-tary math program," Dr. LeBlanc explained. "We will try to influence futuretextbooks."