This book explores how teachers can engage children in reading, writing, and talking to help them learn science, and how science can be used to develop students' language skills.

The intended audience is teachers; six of the seven chapters are written primarily for elementary teachers and chapter six is written for secondary teachers. The purpose of the book is to help teachers "understand how language supports science and how [teachers] can use science to develop children's language" (p. x).

The focus of Science and Language Links includes: "the roles that language plays in science learning, the ways that science can be used to develop children's language, and how increased knowledge of language goes hand in hand with the development of scientific ideas" (p. ix).

The seven chapters are organized around three major themes: science and talking, science and writing, and science and reading, classroom anecdotes are offered as supporting the techniques presented. The editor provides a brief introduction to each theme, and articles are written by different authors, including teachers and university faculty. Some chapters are particularly effective; for example, chapters 3-6 provide good concrete suggestions while also providing general guidelines. Chapter 2, "Second Language Science" by Lyn Turner, addresses the needs of English as a Second Language (ESL) students.

Science and Language Links could serve as an introduction to the merits of combining language arts and science in the elementary classroom. In addition, Chapter 6 could be used in professional development for secondary teachers who are required to teach with textbooks but would like to do so in a more critical manner.

The book might also be useful to introduce school administrators to integrating language arts and science, although it does not specifically address administrative issues or concerns.

The book is based upon experiences of Australian educators; it is possible that some of the examples are not entirely applicable to American classrooms.