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| Image retrieved from www.amazon.com |
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Montgomery, Sy. Quest For The Tree Kangaroo: An Expedition To The Cloud Forest Of New Guinea. Photographs by Nic Bishop. Boston, Houghton Mifflin: 2006. ISBN: 0618496416
2. PLOT SUMMARY
Lisa Dabek has loved animals since she was a child in spite of her severe allergies to them. When she met her first tree kangaroo, “she knew they were special” - so special that she became a tree kangaroo scientist. The Matschie’s tree kangaroo is one of the rarest creatures on earth. It makes its home in Papa New Guinea’s cloud forest, a land that is so unknown that “Ancient forests remain unexplored. New species are still being found.” Come along on a journey into this fairy tale land with Lisa and her team as they hope to discover more about this little known animal.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Sy Montgomery’s “Quest For The Tree Kangaroo” begins by introducing the reader to the “lost world” of Papa New Guinea. Before embarking on a journey into the cloud forest of Papa New Guinea in search of tree kangaroos, the reader discovers where exactly this journey will take him. The first two pages of the book include a world map highlighting New Guinea, and a close-up map highlighting the Huon Peninsula in New Guinea, the home of the cloud forest and tree kangaroos. Papa New Guinea is described in beautiful detail and Montgomery explains why it remained mostly unexplored until the mid-twentieth century. “The place is full of tangled jungles, steep mountains, erupting volcanoes, dangerous mudslides, aggressive crocodiles … Headhunting cannibal tribes sometimes ate people clothes and all.” The presence of these things aided in the preservation of this forgotten land that tree kangaroos call home.
Following the introduction to Papa New Guinea, Lisa Dabek and her diverse team of scientists are introduced. Lisa Dabek was possibly the least likely person to become a tree kangaroo scientist, battling severe allergies and asthma, as well as teachers who discouraged her love for animals. However, she learned that when she was outdoors, animal fur didn’t trigger her allergies. When she met her first tree kangaroo, “she knew that she would be willing to do anything to help these endangered animals,” and she began her journeys to the Huon Peninsula. For this particular journey, she has gathered a group of scientists, including an artist, a veterinarian, a zookeeper, and the author of this book, Sy Montgomery.
Before the team takes off, Montgomery provides the reader with a brief introduction to each team member, along with the list of supplies and kinds of preparation it takes to set off on an expedition such as this. At this point in the book Montgomery includes two more pages full of history about New Guinea and marsupials. She then takes time to talk about the village of Yawan, where the team begins their hike into the cloud forest, and efforts to teach conservation there. Conservation - preserving, protecting, and restoring the natural environment - is a major theme throughout the book. The people of Yawan began learning about conservation a few years ago, but it “made so much sense to the local people that landowners decided to donate some of their land to protect the tree kangaroos.” Children are even learning about conservation in school because they understand that conservation begins with the children.
The journey into the cloud forest takes three grueling days of hiking through mud, over holes, and into a tangled forest, with black leeches and nettles all around. Montgomery makes it clear what a difficult journey this is, and Nic Bishop’s photographs show us. His pictures of the forest give the reader an unforgettable view of this fairy tale land. There is vegetation everywhere, and moss covers everything. Once the team begins finding tree kangaroos, he allows the reader to see both the excitement of coming upon one as well as the beauty and endearing features of this rare creature. His pictures could tell this story on their own.
At the conclusion of the book, Montgomery revisits the subject of conservation and encourages readers to be conservationists at home and around the world. She says that each animal matters. “Each deserves a chance to be happy, healthy, and comfortable.” Montgomery also includes a list of resources where readers can learn more about tree kangaroos, as well as learn more “Tok Pisin” the language of the people of Yawan. Lisa Dabek also provides a list of five suggestions for kids who have a passion for wild animals and wild places. It seems as though she takes this opportunity to encourage children who are passionate about animals since she was discouraged from her own passion as a child. This would be an excellent book to use in a lesson about conservation, or as a resource for children who have an obvious love for animals. It would encourage them to pursue their dreams.
4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
From SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - “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.”
From BOOKLIST - “As usual, Bishop's color photographs are exemplary and extend the excitement in stunning close-ups of creatures and of the team at work.”
5. CONNECTIONS
Gather other books by Sy Montgomery and Nic Bishop to read such as:
- Kakapo Rescue: Saving The World’s Strangest Parrot ISBN 0618494170
- Saving the Ghost of the Mountain: An Expedition Among Snow Leopards in Mongolia. ISBN 0547727348
- The Tapir Scientist: Saving South America’s Largest Mammal. ISBN 0547815484
- The Tarantula Scientist. ISBN 0618147993
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