  | Full Text Reviews: School Library Journal - 04/01/2015 Gr 4–8—Featuring gorgeous, full-color photographs; primary sources; and fun nature facts, this biography of Jane Goodall will easily entice children. Goodall is presented as inspiring and intelligent as well as down-to-earth in her personality and methods. Silvey focuses on the scientist's relationship to the chimpanzees she studied, and also discusses the anthropologist's trajectory from curious young girl to respected scientist (black-and-white childhood photos and anecdotes add to the appeal). Sidebars provide additional material, such as brief profiles of her mentor, Louis Leakey, and her mother. The photographs of Goodall and her primate friends are beautiful, and the book is well designed and laid out with care. The writing is clear and concise, and learning about the subject's work in such an accessible manner will boost children's self-confidence, especially girls with an interest in science. VERDICT An ideal purchase for science or biography collections.—Shalini Miskelly, St. Benedict Catholic School, Seattle, WA - Copyright 2015 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Booklist - 06/01/2015 Growing up in England, Jane Goodall dreamed of living in Africa and observing animals. In her twenties, she moved there and worked with Louis Leakey, who enabled her to observe wild chimpanzees in what is now Tanzania’s Gombe National Park. Silvey describes the day-to-day challenges of the work, as well as its personal rewards, and the impact of Goodall’s groundbreaking research on scientists’ perception of chimps. The narrative traces her career as an academic, a conservationist, and a voice for the humane treatment of chimps held in captivity. Well organized and clearly written, the text is illustrated with many excellent color photos, several family photos from Goodall’s childhood, and a few useful maps. Besides bringing out this biography, National Geographic is cited several times as the publisher of Goodall’s first articles and a financial supporter of her work. The book concludes with an engaging “Gombe Family Scrapbook,” featuring photos and paragraphs introducing a number of individual gorillas at Gombe. An inviting introduction to the life and work of Jane Goodall. - Copyright 2015 Booklist. Bulletin for the Center... - 09/01/2015 Middle graders who were introduced to scientist Jane Goodall way back in their primary years through picture books by Jeannette Winter (The Watcher, BCCB 4/11) or Patrick McDonnell (Me . . . Jane, BCCB 4/11) may now be ready for a more in-depth look at the woman whose observations radically changed the way humans view their chimpanzee kin. Silvey offers an enthusiastic overview, exploring Goodall’s animal-crazy childhood; the lucky break that brought her to Africa and the attention of Louis Leakey; her groundbreaking approach to observing chimpanzee behavior; her career shift into advocacy for the welfare of animals in the wild and in science labs; and changes in methodology since Goodall’s career began. Although rich in details of Goodall’s experiences in her early years and their translation into her professional work, this title is thinner on the particulars of her personal adult life, with friends and family given brief mentions throughout the text and end matter. An abundance of color illustrations does much to redress this shortcoming, though, and kids who are more interested in the chimps than in their observer will revel in the intimate, informal snapshots and the “Gombe Family Scrapbook” of many of Goodall’s subjects. A closing chapter on Goodall’s legacy (possibly a bit premature since she’s still working at eighty) highlights the organizations she founded; back matter comprises maps, source notes, reading lists, an index, and chimpanzee facts. EB - Copyright 2015 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. Loading...
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