Genre 4 - Non-Fiction
"Read one nonfiction book by Steve Jenkins or Sy Montgomery or Seymour Simon"
Plot Summary
Quest for the Tree Kangaroo follows a team of field scientists through their preparations and into the cloud forest of Papua New Guinea to track, capture, tag, and release the Matschie's tree kangaroo. Descriptions and photos are given of the entire crew and equipment before and during the expedition.Critical Analysis
The photographs are gorgeous and relevant. However, the photos of area wildlife appear far from their textual descriptions which makes it difficult to associate the two during reading, and there are descriptions of things that would be enhanced by a photo where there is none. It's as though the photos and the text are related, but not complementary.The text is well written and laid out chronologically through the expedition. Equal time is given to the wildlife and environment and the people on and around the expedition. The focus of everyone is on the Matschie's tree kangaroo, and the text expands to focus on the people in search of the tree kangaroo.
Connections
- Explore biodiversity in various regions.
Biodiversity
by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent
Tree of Life: The Incredible Biodiversity of Life on Earth (CitizenKid)by Rochelle Strauss
- Explore conservation efforts around the world.
The Wildlife Detectives: How Forensic Scientists Fight Crimes Against Nature
by Donna M. Jackson
National Geographic Investigates: Animals on the Edge: Science Races to Save Species Threatened With Extinction (National Geographic Investigates Science)by Sandra Pobst
- Explore other fascinating geographic locations.
- Find out more about marsupials.
Pocket Babies And Other Amazing Marsupials (Junior Library Guild Selection)
by Sneed B. Collard
Nic Bishop Marsupialsby Nic Bishop
Awards/Reviews
Winner of NCTE Orbis Pictus Award 2007American Library Association Notable Books for Children 2007
Nominated for Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award 2007
Nominated for Maine Student Book Award 2007
Nominated for Beehive Children's Informational Book Award 2009
Nominated for Young Hoosier Book Award 2009
From School Library Journal:
Montgomery and Bishop continue their outstanding collaboration to introduce readers to scientists at work. . . Bishop's photographs capture the expedition in detail. Stunning close-ups of plants, insects, and birds vie for attention with panoramas of moss-draped trees in the eerie, ancient forest. Montgomery describes both the hardships and exhilaration of the enterprise. She also introduces readers to some of the local people dedicated to conservation efforts. Dabek's pursuit of her interest in animals despite problems with asthma and her suggestions about exploring the natural world should encourage young scientists. The book's fascinating glimpses into a little-explored region will hold the attention of anyone interested in unusual creatures and the efforts to study them.-Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University, MankatoFrom The Horn Book:
Montgomery and Bishop team up again (The Tarantula Scientist, rev. 7/04) on a Scientists in the Field nature adventure, this time traveling with scientist Lisa Dabek to the remote mountains of New Guinea in search of the rare Matschie's tree kangaroo. . . Montgomery describes the trip in detail, including arriving at the field site on a tiny missionary plane, visiting a local school to observe a conservation lesson, hiking deep into the cloud forest, and eventually examining and tagging several tree kangaroos. Montgomery's friendliness and curiosity set the tone: she enthusiastically engages with the people, plants, and animals she encounters on the trip. The realities of field work, with long periods of not much happening scientifically, give her time to include descriptions of camp life in a remote location, such as campfire cooking and bathing in streams. Bishop's photography is, as always, outstanding, and seamlessly integrated into the narrative. The brilliant colors and sharp focus capture a host of rainforest plants and animals up close, including the adorably fuzzy tree kangaroos. Equally absorbing are his photos of the local residents and the research team as they visit and camp together. Dabek's advice to young naturalists, websites for further information, a list of words and phrases in the local language, and an index are useful additions.From Booklist:
Montgomery and Bishop follow award-wining titles such as The Tarantula Scientist (2004) with another beautifully illustrated entry in the Scientists in the Field series. This time, they join researchers on a grueling expedition in Papua New Guinea to track the rare Matschie's tree kangaroo. Montgomery gives a chronological, sometimes moment-by-moment account of the challenging climb into the remote cloud forest, the conditions in camp (rice-and-fern dinners, icy waterfall showers), and the awe-inspiring encounters with barely studied animals. The text occasionally veers into a casual tone (a leech dropped into Lisa's eye. Yuck! ) that seems aimed at a young audience, while the small font, exacting detail, and meandering narrative may demand older readers. Still, Montgomery gives an unusually strong, visceral sense of the work and cooperation fieldwork entails and the scope and uniqueness of this particular mission. She also communicates the thrill of studying animals in the wild, making observations, and discovering new information. As usual, Bishop's color photographs are exemplary and extend the excitement in stunning close-ups of creatures and of the team at work. Web resources, notes about conservation, and a glossary of Tok Pisin (the language spoken by the team's Papuan members) are appended. --Gillian Engberg
No comments:
Post a Comment