Untamed: The Wild Life of Jane Goodall

Silvey (The Plant Hunters) adeptly chronicles the life of Goodall from her childhood fascination with animal behavior to her groundbreaking field research of chimpanzees in Africa and her work to preserve endangered animals’ habitats. Goodall’s brief foreword offers a persuasive call-to-action for readers to do their part to save the natural world, and Silvey’s clear, engaging narrative moves briskly through Goodall’s career. The book’s photographs, many provided by National Geographic and the Jane Goodall Institute, include shots of Goodall’s face-to-face interactions with chimps, underscoring the animals’ intelligence and compassion, as well as the beauty of their homeland. Encouraged by paleontologist Louis Leakey, Goodall made scientific breakthroughs regarding the similarities between chimpanzees and humans. Text and photos also highlight Goodall’s extreme patience while observing and working with animals, and her tangible bond with and advocacy for them: “Chimp by chimp, Jane became involved in rescue missions around the world, always maintaining that ‘every individual matters.’ ” Incorporating sidebars, bursts, maps, illustrations, and other images, the book’s handsome design makes for easy, enjoyable navigation. Ages 8–12. (June)