Bibliography
Montgomery, Sy. Quest for the Tree
Kangaroo: An Expedition to the Cloud Forest of New Guinea. Photography by
Nic Bishop. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2006.ISBN 9780618496419
Plot Summary
Sy Montgomery and Nic Bishop have
collaborated on an informational photo essay book entitled Quest for the Tree Kangaroo: An Expedition to the Cloud Forest of New
Guinea. Montgomery writes text about
the quest of Lisa Dabek to capture and tag a Matschie’s tree kangaroo in order
to eventually use the knowledge she gains to protect it from extinction. Her background in animal conservation and research
is discussed in the course of a narrative about her expedition to the Cloud
Forest. Montgomery details the
experiences of the rainforest, the hometown of Dabek’s daughter’s pen-pal, the
Papua people, the expedition’s ups and downs, and the scientific knowledge
Dabek accumulates from the tree kangaroos she is fortunate to encounter. They are shy creatures for sure. Nic Bishop uses his considerable photographic
talent to supplement the text. The
photgraphs are visually stunning and make the expedition come alive. Come join the expedition and become one of
the group that was the first ever to radio-collar a Matschie tree kangaroo. Meet your Matschie in the cloud!
Critical
Analysis
If only one word were allowed to
describe Quest for the Tree Kangaroo: An
expedition to the Cloud Forest by Sy Montgomery and Nic Bishop (photography),
it would be inspiring.
The
text and the photographs combine in this photo essay to inform and to visually
delight the reader. Written in
chronological order, Montgomery traces Lisa Dabek’s expedition from preparation
to its successful conclusion to study the Matschie’s tree kangaroo with a view
to recording its characteristics, living patterns, and habitat. Montgomery quotes Lisa and uses his own voice
to impart information. “We’ve come to
try to learn the secrets of these rare creatures,” writes Montgomery (8). The “we” is all the scientists and volunteers
and, of course, the author.
The
language is simple but chock-full of information. A holding cage for the Matschie is described
as “a fourteen-by-eight foot enclosure made of sapling-size sticks tied with vines”
(39). In one sentence Montgomery has
size, just difficult-enough vocabulary words, and visual imagery. The amount of information makes reading book
more for older ages and adults. Smaller
children will love the photographs and listening to the text. The sentence structures are mostly
subject-verb and in present tense. For
example, during a leg of the expedition, Montgomery writes, “We pause after
three hours at the top of a ridge. We’ve
made it through the hardest part” (34). Because
of the chronological nature of the text and the lack of subheadings, it is
somewhat difficult to dip into the text to read some and dip again somewhere
else. The pictures are the best guide to
finding details and information in the text.
This
is one book a reader would be inspired to read cover-to-cover. The writing style begs the reader to follow
and see what happens next on an expedition, particularly on this one, since the
Matschie’s tree kangaroo is presented as endangered, so the reader wants to be
there to find out if Lisa is successful.
“We’ve come to try to learn the secrets of these rare creatures . . . –
before it’s too late” (8).
The
photographs are placed within a page of corresponding text. Some are half page; some are full page. All are absolutely breathtaking in detail,
composition, and clarity. The close-up
of a Matschie enjoying a meal of ferns (11) shows such detail that the reader
can almost feel “His fur is as soft as a cloud” (43). The other pictures range from flowers and
jungle scenes to portraits of natives and their environment. All of the photos inspire the reader to want
to see their subjects themselves, to touch the leaves, to feel the rain, and to
glimpse the hiding Matschies.
Since
The Quest is an informational book,
it should contain readily verifiable, factual information. There are facts and figures to absorb. Referring to a female Matschie, who wants to
avoid human contact, Montgomery notes for the reader that “she climbs another
30 feet to get away. If she jumps, it’s
a 110-foot drop” (56). The book has a
world map and a New Guinea map before the text begins. Thus, the reader is given a real environment
for the text. Montgomery takes the
reader to Lisa’s real working environment at the end of the book: The Woodland
Park Zoo in Seattle, Washington. Text
and photographs reveal a real-world zoo.
Since Quest is a recording of
an actual expedition as it occurs, fact-checking is at best difficult. There are no sources cited or bibliographic
data. There is simply an Acknowledgement
page. The information is gathered and
reported. Matschies are so rare that
this book may be considered research material for other naturalists and
scientists.
Quest inspires
readers to join in an exploration with a mission to save the Matschie. In Montgomery’s words, “Lisa is working to help
– by making people care (75).
Review
Excerpt(s)
A Sibert Honor Book
An ALA Notable Book
A School Library Journal Best Book of
the Year
A Booklist Editors’ Choice
Winner of Orbis Pictus Award for
Outstanding Nonfiction for Children
“Montgomery gives an unusually strong,
visceral sense of the work and cooperation fieldwork entails. . . . Bishop’s color photographs are exemplary and
extend the excitement in close-ups of creatures and of the team at work.” –
BOOKLIST, starred review
“Another commendable title from an
experienced team.” – KIRKUS REVIEWS, starred review
Connections
·
Guest
speakers and/or field trips: Nature Centers, Wildlife Refuge, Local Animal
Zoos, Local Animal Hospitals, Animal Entrepreneurs, Animal Shelters, Local
Aquariums, Pet Stores, Animal Artists, Biologists.
·
Choice
of an endangered species to research and make an oral report to the class. If appropriate, create a class power point
slide show.
No comments:
Post a Comment