Bibliography
Montgomery, S. (2009). The quest for the tree kangaroo. HMH Books.
Plot Summary
Come along on an extraordinary expedition to a place few have been. Researcher Lisa Dabek is devoted to observing and learning as much as possible about a very rare, endangered animal, the tree kangaroo. Journey with her and her team of scientists through the primitive territory on their expedition through the mountainous region of Papua New Guinea. Along the way, you will meet local villagers, view the picturesque flora and fauna of the region, and you may just spy that elusive tree kangaroo too!
Critical Analysis
Author Sy Montgomery and photographer Nic Bishop's collaboration is a superbly crafted piece of nonfiction work. Montgomery engages the reader through a descriptive account of the expedition to the mountainous region of New Guinea in search of the tree kangaroo. She eloquently describes the exotic journey, balancing her account between scientific work, interactions with local villagers, and the flora and fauna of the fascinating location. The photographer, Nic Bishop, captures the expedition through magnificent photography. The addition of these breathtaking photos adds to the awe-inspiring journey this team embarks upon. Readers will become engrossed in the journey they take along with these scientists. Complete with maps of the expedition area, advice for young animal lovers, and information about the language of the locals in New Guinea, this book is one that will provide an experience for the reader like no other.
Review Excerpt(s)
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 close-ups of creatures and of the team at work.”—Booklist
“Bishop’s photography is stunning portraiture… the tree kangaroo is marketably adorable…
… There’s plenty of evocative description of their habitat, thoughtful exploration of the role the locals play in conserving the animals and revealing information about the rigors of this kind of scientific project… Personal focus and as-it-happens eventfulness will absorb young animal lovers.”—The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
A 2007 Sibert Honor Book
Connections
For additional activities related to the book:
Discuss & Write: What would YOU pack on an expedition to New Guinea? Make a list of the stuff you use daily, starting with when you get up in the morning. Which of these items would you want to bring to PNG? What would you leave behind? What would you substitute? And what would you need for an expedition that you don’t normally use? Compare with your classmates. (Now, can you carry that uphill for three days?)
Group Activity - How would you go about studying that animal? Break your class up into teams. Each team will be studying one animal. Then work out among yourselves: who would be the artist? Who would be the photographer? Who would be the translator? Who would be the field coordinator? Who would be the writer? The veterinarian? Make a list of the responsibilities for each job, what each person would find out, and what his or her daily duties might be.
Questions for the Scientist - Do you have questions for Kuna, James, Joel, or Margit? Write up those questions interview style. Then have the class weed out the duplicates. We’ll try to forward those questions to them for answers via email. Send them to authorwire.com and we’ll send them on.
**Activities listed above were found on the Sy Montgomery Class Activities Website
http://symontgomery.com/class-activities/?_ga=2.203209681.1918489986.1657479157-754849900.1657479156
Other recommended books if you liked this one:
- The Tarantula Scientist by Sy Montgomery
- The Hive Detectives: Chronicle of a Honey Bee Catastrophe by Loree Griffin Burns
- The Frog Scientist by Pamela S. Turner
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