STONEHOUSE, Bernard 1926-

PERSONAL: Born May 1, 1926, in Hull, England; married Sally Clacey, September 17, 1954; children: Caroline, Ann Felicity, Paul. Education: Attended University College (Hull, England), 1943-44; University College (London, England), B.Sc., 1953; Merton College, Oxford, D.Phil., 1957, M.A., 1959.

ADDRESSES: Home—Old Thatch, 43 Commercial End, Swaffham Bulbeck, Cambridge CB5 0ND, England. Office—Scott Polar Research Institute, Cambridge University, Lensfield Rd., Cambridge CB2 1ER, England. E-mail—bs111@cam.

CAREER: University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand, senior lecturer, 1960-64, reader in zoology, 1964-69; University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, Commonwealth research fellow in zoology, 1969-70; teacher and freelance writer, 1970-72; University of Bradford, Bradford, Yorkshire, England, senior lecturer in ecology and chair of Postgraduate School of Environmental Science, 1972-82; Cambridge University, Scott Polar Research Institute, Cambridge, England, editor of Polar Record, 1982-92, and senior associate. Yale University, visiting associate professor of biology, 1969. Military service: Royal Navy, 1944-45; Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 1950-53.

MEMBER: Society of Authors, Challenger Society, Antarctic Club, Antarctic Society of New Zealand, British Ornithologists' Union.

AWARDS, HONORS: Polar Medal for services in Antarctica, 1953; Union Medal, British Ornithologists Union, 1971; New Zealand Antarctic Society Conservation Trophy, 1979.

WRITINGS:

ADULT NONFICTION

The Emperor Penguin: Aptenodytes forsteri Gray, Her Majesty's Stationery Office (London, England), 1953.

Het Brown Skua: Catharacta skua loennbergi (Mathews), of South Georgia (illustrated), Her Majesty's Stationery Office (London, England), 1956.

Het Bevroren Continent (title means "The Frozen Continent"), C. de Boer, Jr., 1958.

The King Penguin: Aptenodytes patagonica, of South Georgia, Her Majesty's Stationery Office (London, England), 1960.

Wideawake Island: The Story of the B.O.U. Centenary Expedition to Ascension, Hutchinson (London, England), 1960.

Birds of the New Zealand Shore, A. H. & A. W. Reed (Wellington, New Zealand), 1968.

Mountain Life, Danbury Press (Danbury, CT), 1975, reprinted in Frontiers of Life: Animals of Mountains and Poles, Aldus (London, England), Doubleday (Garden City, NY), 1976.

(Editor) The Biology of Penguins, Macmillan, (London, England), 1975, University Park Press (Baltimore, MD), 1977.

(Editor, with Desmond P. Gilmore) The Biology of Marsupials, Macmillan, (London, England), University Park Press (Baltimore, MD), 1977.

(Editor, with Christopher M. Perrins) Evolutionary Ecology, Macmillan, (London, England), University Park Press (Baltimore, MD), 1977.

(Editor) Animal Marking, Macmillan, (London, England), University Park Press (Baltimore, MD), 1978.

Living World of the Sea, Hamlyn (London, England), 1979.

(With Monica Borner) Orang Utan: Orphans of the Forest, W. H. Allen (London, England), 1979.

(Editor) Philips' Illustrated Atlas of the World, Philips (London, England), 1980, published as Prentice-Hall Illustrated Atlas of the World, Prentice-Hall (Englewood Cliffs, NJ), 1982.

Charles Darwin and Evolution, Wayland (Hove, England), 1981.

Saving the Animals: The World Wildlife Fund Book of Conservation, Weidenfeld and Nicolson (London, England), Macmillan (New York, NY), 1981.

(Editor) Biological Husbandry: A Scientific Approach to Organic Farming, Butterworths (London, England), 1981.

(Editor, with Louis Rey) The Arctic Ocean: The Hydrographic Environment and the Fate of Pollutants, Macmillan (London, England), Wiley (New York, NY), 1982.

The Aerofilms Book of Britain from the Air, Weidenfeld and Nicolson (London, England), published as Britain from the Air, Crown (New York, NY), 1982.

(Editor) Philips' Pocket Guide to the World, Philips (London, England), 1985, published as Facts on File Pocket Guide to the World, Facts on File (New York, NY), 1985.

Sea Mammals of the World, Penguin (Harmondsworth, England, and New York, NY), 1985.

(Editor) Arctic Air Pollution, Cambridge University Press (Cambridge, England, and New York, NY), 1986.

(With M. P. Casarini) Unternehmen Polarstern (title means "Operation Polarstern"), Econ Verlag, 1988.

Polar Ecology, Blackie (Glasgow, Scotland), 1988, Chapman & Hall (New York, NY), 1989.

North Pole, South Pole: A Guide to the Ecology and Resources of the Arctic and Antarctic, Multimedia (London, England), McGraw-Hill (New York, NY), 1990.

(Editor, with Colin M. Harris) Antarctica and Global Climate Change, Bellhaven (London, England), Lewis Publishers (Boca Raton, FL), 1991.

(With Rosemary Burton and Richard Cavendish) Journeys of the Great Explorers, Automobile Association (Basingstoke, England), Facts on File (New York, NY), 1992.

(Editor) Encyclopedia of Antarctica and the Southern Regions, Wiley (Chichester, England, and Hoboken, NJ), 2002.

FOR CHILDREN; NONFICTION

Whales, A. H. & A. W. Reed (Wellington, New Zealand), 1964.

Gulls and Terns, A. H. & A. W. Reed (Wellington, New Zealand), 1965.

Penguins, Barker (London, England), Golden Press (New York, NY), 1968.

Animals of the Arctic: The Ecology of the Far North, Ward Lock (London, England), Holt (New York, NY), 1971.

Animals of the Antarctic: The Ecology of the Far South, Peter Lowe (London, England), Holt (New York, NY), 1972.

Young Animals: Invertebrates, Fish and Amphibia, Reptiles, Birds, Mammals, and Man, Peter Lowe (London, England), 1973, published as Young Animals: The Search for Independent Life, Viking, 1974.

A Closer Look at Whales and Dolphins, Hamish Hamilton (London, England), 1976, Gloucester Press (New York, NY), 1978.

A Closer Look at Plant Life, Hamish Hamilton (London, England), 1977, Gloucester Press (New York, NY), 1978.

A Closer Look at Reptiles, Hamish Hamilton (London, England), 1978, Gloucester Press (New York, NY), 1979.

Penguins, illustrated by Trevor Boyer, Bodley Head (London, England), 1978, McGraw-Hill (New York, NY), 1979.

Sharks, illustrated by Norman Weaver, Scimitar (London, England), 1978, Glouscester Press (New York, NY), 1979.

Life in the Sea ("Just Look At" series), Macdonald (London, England), Rourke Enterprises (Vero Beach, FL), 1984.

Living at the Poles ("Just Look At" series), Macdonald (London, England), 1986, Rourke Enterprises (Vero Beach, FL), 1987.

Snow, Ice, and Cold, New Discovery Books (New York, NY), 1992.

Camouflage, Tangerine Press (Lake Mary, FL), 1999.

Predators, Tangerine Press (Lake Mary, FL), 1999.

Growing Up: Strange Beginnings, illustrated by John Francis, Tangerine Press (Lake Mary, FL), 2000.

Partners, illustrated by John Francis, Tangerine Press (Lake Mary, FL), 2000.

Show-offs, illustrated by John Francis, Tangerine Press (Lake Mary, FL), 2000.

Against the Odds, illustrated by John Francis, Tangerine Press (New York, NY), 2000.

Defenders, illustrated by John Francis, Tangerine Press (New York, NY), 2000.

Fighters, illustrated by John Francis, Tangerine Press (New York, NY), 2000.

Alone, illustrated by John Francis, Tangerine Press (New York, NY), 2001.

Growing Up: Protected, illustrated by John Francis, Tangerine Press (New York, NY), 2001.

The Poles, illustrated by Michael Orr, Crabtree (New York, NY), 2001.

(With Esther Bertram) The Truth about Animal Intelligence, illustrated by John Francis, Tangerine Press (New York, NY), 2002.

(With Esther Bertram) How Animals Live, illustrated by John Francis, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2004.

"ANIMALS OF THE WORLD" SERIES

Kangaroos, Wayland (Hove, England), Raintree (Milwaukee, WI), 1977.

Bears, Wayland (Hove, England), Raintree (Milwaukee, WI), 1980.

Venomous Snakes, Wayland, (Hove, England), 1981.

Buffaloes, Wayland (Hove, England), 1981.

Parrots, Wayland (Hove, England), 1981.

"ANIMAL WATCH" SERIES

A Visual Introduction to Sharks, Skates, and Rays, illustrated by Martin Camm, Cherrytree (Bath, England), Checkmark Books (New York, NY), 1998.

A Visual Introduction to Whales, Dolphins, Porpoises, illustrated by Martin Camm, Cherrytree (Bath, England), Checkmark Books (New York, NY), 1998.

A Visual Introduction to Big Cats, illustrated by Richard Orr, Cherrytree (Bath, England), published as A Visual Introduction to Wild Cats, Checkmark Books (New York, NY), 1999.

A Visual Introduction to Bears, illustrated by Martin Camm, Cherrytree (Bath, England), Checkmark Books (New York, NY), 1999.

A Visual Introduction to Monkeys and Apes, Cherrytree (Slough, England), Checkmark Books (New York, NY), 2000.

A Visual Introduction to Penguins, Cherrytree (Slough, England), Checkmark Books (New York, NY), 2000.

Contributor to The Way Your Body Works, Mitchell Beazley (London, England), Crown (New York, NY), 1974.

SIDELIGHTS: Bernard Stonehouse has been writing informational books for children and adults since the mid-1960s, focusing largely on the areas of natural history and animals. His 1971 book for young adults Animals of the Arctic exemplifies the type of reference text he often writes. About the ecology of the Arctic region, the work features photographs, charts, and maps. Stonehouse discusses plant, animal, and marine life, and also covers some conservation issues. A reviewer for Horn Book called the writing "sensitive," while a Library Journal critic felt that this book was "the best title available in a popular vein" on the topic.

Many of Stonehouse's books are detailed examinations of animals and their habitats. Bears, a volume in his "Animals of the World Series," was described as "an unusually attractive and well-written book" by Joan C. and Robert F. Heidelberg of Science Books and Films. In this study of North America bears, including black, brown, and polar bears, Stonehouse discusses the early settlers' experiences with bears and adds many facts about their habits, relationships with other animals, and appearance. Sharks is a similar book, offering details about the shark's diet, anatomy, behavior, and instincts. Susanne S. Sullivan of Appraisal felt that one of this book's strong points was the fact that "the text retains a maximum of thrill with a minimum of sensationalism." According to Sullivan, the author manages to warn readers about the dangers of sharks while still treating them as normal creatures of nature.

Stonehouse wrote two books in the "Just Look At" series, Life in the Sea and Living at the Poles. Intended to be comprehensive books explaining all aspects of these environments, Life in the Sea describes the many life forms which thrive according to the water's depth and temperature, and Living at the Poles explains how people and animals survive the extreme weather on the Earth's northern and southernmost points. Reviewing Life in the Sea, a Junior Bookshelf critic called the volume "useful and informative," while another Junior Bookshelf critic called Living at the Poles "a very realistic account" of life in the Arctic and Antarctic.

Stonehouse has also written books on the animal world, exploring larger scientific concepts such as evolution. In Young Animals: Invertebrates, Fish and Amphibia, Reptiles, Birds, Mammals, and Man, for example, Stonehouse examines the evolutionary changes that take place in animals to ensure survival. Focusing on young animals, the author describes the phase in each species' life when they learn to fend for themselves. A Publishers Weekly critic applauded the author's "fascinating and enlightening narrative" in a review of the U.S. edition Young Animals: The Search for Independent Life.

In 1985, Stonehouse explored geography, editing Philips' Pocket Guide to the World, a comprehensive volume with information about every country in the world. For each location there is a substantial amount of information, including facts on political organizations, history and development, resources and economics, and population information. Describing the writing in Philips' Pocket Guide to the World, Christopher Green of British Book News said it "is almost always well-balanced and dispassionate," good qualities, according to the reviewer, to have in a reference work. In a review of the U.S. edition, Facts on File Guide to the World, Jonathan Kirsch of the Los Angeles Times Book Review noted that he had "not seen a more effective or serviceable world almanac."

Stonehouse once told CA: "I am not a countryman, but plants and animals have always intrigued me and I am lucky to have spent most of my life working among them. Finding out how they live in all kinds of situations has taken me several times round the world, from Australia to the Yukon, from India and the Himalayas to California, from tropical oceans to Antarctica. Living creatures have never let me down; I have neither the wit nor the imagination to invent things half so interesting as the facts which plants and animals have revealed about themselves.

"Part of my job is writing about my research for scientists and students, and teaching students at university level. But I enjoy writing and talking about my work to others as well—to anyone who shares my interests, or who would share them if they had the chance. People who, as taxpayers, have subsidized my research and travels have a right to know what I have been up to if they want to know, and I am glad to tell them in my nonacademic books. And I am happy to tell young people about the plants and animals that fill their world, and for which they will be responsible once my generation has moved over. Many enter biology classes with a live interest in plants and animals, and are told all about cells and biochemistry or whatever is the scientific fad of the moment. I think they are being short-changed, and I am glad of any opportunity to foster their natural interests in whole animals, whole plants, and the whole living world that they can feel, touch, and respond to. People who start by liking plants and animals, and are encouraged to do so, usually end up liking other people—and I'm all for that.

"Writing for non-scientists is never a chore, and it imposes a useful discipline. For these readers I cannot wrap my ideas in jargon and complexity or they'd stop buying my books. I have to be very clear, and that means that my ideas must be clear in my own mind before I start—which is where the discipline comes in. Answering the simple questions which young people and non-scientists tend to ask often shows me what I don't know about a problem; sometimes they show me more of this than my scientific colleagues, because they care about the answers more and want them to make sense. So, I get very valuable feedback from my non-academic books—and they are fun to write."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

American Reference Books Annual, 1980, p. 67; 1986, p. 32; 1987, p. 598.

Appraisal, spring, 1980, Susanne S. Sullivan, review of Sharks, p. 80; spring, 1981, p. 44.

Booklist, June 15, 1972, p. 876; February 15, 1986, p. 839; December 1, 1998, p. 682.

Books for Keeps, March, 1987, p. 7.

British Book News, January, 1982, pp. 9-13; September, 1985, Christopher Green, review of Philips' Pocket Guide to the World, p. 564.

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, November, 1978, p. 54; February, 1978, p. 1668.

Choice, February, 1975, p. 1800; April, 1975, p. 245; January, 1988, p. 788.

Horn Book, April, 1972, review of Animals of the Arctic, p. 165; June, 1973, p. 287.

Junior Bookshelf, April, 1978, p. 93; September, 1978, p. 304; June, 1979, p. 162; August, 1981, p. 153; December, 1984, review of Life in the Sea, p. 258; June, 1986, review of Living at the Poles, p. 111.

Library Journal, April 15, 1972, A. C. Haman, review of Animals of the Arctic, pp. 1619-1620; December 15, 1974, pp. 3205-3206; March 1, 1975, p. 448; September 1, 1975, p. 1560; November 15, 1981, pp. 2249-2250; January 1, 1983, p. 51.

Listener, January 20, 1983, p. 25.

Los Angeles Times Book Review, November 21, 1982, p. 9; January 9, 1983, p. 6; September 22, 1985, Jonathan Kirsch, review of Facts on File Pocket Guide to the World, p. 10.

Publishers Weekly, August 12, 1974, review of Young Animals: Search for Independent Life, p. 58; September 9, 1974, p. 57.

Resource Links, October, 2001, p. 32.

School Librarian, September, 1984, p. 252.

School Library Journal, October, 1978, p. 132; October, 1980, Frances Eaton Millhouser, review of Sharks, p. 151; February, 1981, p. 63; April, 1981, p. 110; April, 1985, p. 90; May, 1988, p. 32; July, 1993, pp. 95-96; February, 2002, p. 140.

Science Books and Films, May, 1979, p. 41; December, 1979, p. 167; May, 1980, p. 279; January, 1981, Johnes K. Moore, review of Sharks, p. 158; November, 1981, Joan C. and Robert F. Heidelberg, review of Bears, p. 96; June, 1993, p. 151.

Times Literary Supplement, January 14, 1972, p. 45; June 8, 1973, p. 649.

Voice of Youth Advocates, February, 1986.

Washington Post, December 6, 1981, p. 18; November 28, 1982, p. 8.

Wilson Library Bulletin, November, 1985, p. 62.*