As a child, Jane Goodall dreamed of living with the wild animals of Africa. As a young woman, she amazed the world with her groundbreaking discoveries about chimpanzees, which she documented in her acclaimed National Geographic television specials. Ever since, Dr. Goodall has campaigned unceasingly for the protection of the chimpanzee now an endangered species. This moving, personal account will inspire readers of all ages to join in her vital work.
Gr 4-9-An intense, personal narrative by a world-renowned pioneer in scientific field observation. In a clearly written, absorbing text, Goodall presents her long involvement with the chimpanzees of Gombe, describing the amazing discoveries she has made over 40 years. In her quiet tenor, she portrays interpersonal relationships, clan affiliations, and behaviors and lifestyles, and invites readers to share her long intimacy with these now-threatened primates. The whole is reinforced by excellent color photos of chimps in the wilds of Tanzania and, sadly, in zoos and labs. A section on Roots & Shoots, an educational program of the Goodall Institute; a primate evolutionary "tree"; a continental range map; and a list of books and videos by the author are included. The lack of an index will make data retrieval difficult, and there is much here that researchers will find invaluable, but it was not Goodall's aim simply to provide grist for the science-report mill. Rather it is to inspire, to open windows for observation and doors for action, and to spread a message of hope and compassion.
Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
Striking an admirable balance between scientific reporting and deep affection, Goodall's (My Life with the Chimpanzees) impassioned introduction to the creatures to whom she's dedicated her life's work may well ignite in readers a similar appreciation. "Chimpanzees are more like humans than any other creature living today," argues Goodall. She supports her claims with firsthand observations of chimp communication, relationships and behavior culled from 41 years of experience, primarily in what is now Gombe National Park in Tanzania. She describes with humor how the knuckle-walking chimps "don't like putting their hands on the ground when it is cold or wet," and records familiar sibling dynamics as Frodo follows his older brother Freud's examples. Dramatic close-up color photographs illustrate Goodall's unique relationship with her subjects; in one, she grooms alpha male David Greybeard; in another stunning scene, Jou-Jou, newly freed from captivity in a Congolese zoo, reaches out to touch Goodall's forehead. She documents the chimps' recognizable emotions of sadness, affection and fear, as well as their ability to create tools, learn American Sign Language and operate computers. An especially poignant story tells of eight-year-old Flint, who was with his mother, Flo, when she died: "He died six weeks after losing Flo. I think he died of grief." In closing, Goodall catalogues the many threats to the animals in the wild and in captivity, yet she ends this remarkable volume with a note of hope and invites readers to join her efforts in protecting chimps worldwide. Ages 8-up. (Oct.)be donated to Roots & Shoots, an education program at the Jane Goodall Institute.
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
Gr. 5-8. Goodall smoothly blends fact and memoir in this photo-filled picture book for older readers. In introductory chapters, Goodall describes how her early fascination with animals led to her first trip to Kenya. Subsequent chapters look at daily life in Gombe and how Goodall's research has evolved over time, concluding with an impassioned, hopeful section on protecting the chimps. Throughout, facts about the forest habitat mix with detailed, lively passages about chimpanzee behavior, which, like those in Goodall's previous title
With Love (1998), reinforce the notion that "chimpanzees are more like us than any other living beings." Extensive back matter comprises more facts, maps, and contact information for Goodall's Roots and Shoots organization. Attractive, inspiring, and filled with facts for middle-grade animal lovers.
Gillian EngbergCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
