A Life in the Wild: George Schaller's Struggle to Save the Last Great Beasts
Grade 4–8—This inspiring biography chronicles the conservationist's studies of wildlife around the world. Schaller has spent his life counting, observing, and photographing wild animals, from mountain gorillas in Central Africa to snow leopards in Tibet, and providing data to encourage governments to protect their habitats. The book is arranged chronologically in chapters that intertwine vignettes of his contacts with individual animals with information about his research techniques. The writing is both clear and lively. The book ends with brief reports on progress in each of the areas where he worked. Schaller's own sharp color photos show readers the specific animals mentioned in the text. Helpful features include maps at the beginning of each chapter, suggestions for how to get involved, a list of Internet and multimedia resources, and an extensive bibliography. Fans of Jane Goodall and Diane Fossey will enjoy getting to know Schaller, who preceded these women in establishing observation as a way to study animals in the wild.—Ellen Heath, Easton Area Public Library, Easton, PACopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.