In Search of Lemurs
Grade 4-7-Lemurs have been the subject of several recent books. What makes this one different is the author's dual expertise as researcher in primate behavior and as a wildlife artist. In a format resembling a sketch diary, Powzyk relates her experiences studying the inhabitants of the Madagascan rain forest detailing in subdued yet rich watercolors the wide-eyed night creatures she meets. Through her eyes, readers see that though these animals share many characteristics, each type of lemur is unique in appearance and behavior. The author also describes village life and the damage to subsistence rice culture resulting from the destruction of the rain forest and stresses the importance of a healthy ecosystem. An introduction and map orient readers. Kathy Darling's Lemurs (Lothrop, 1998) studies the same animal in a photo-essay, as does Kathryn Lasky's Shadows in the Dawn (Harcourt, 1997), which follows researcher Allison Jolley in her work. It is Powzyk's art that sets her book apart.Ruth S. Vose, San Francisco Public LibraryCopyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.