Quest for the Tree Kangaroo

Quest for the Tree Kangaroo, by Sy Montgomery, 2006

Montgomery, Sy, and Nic Bishop. Quest for the Tree Kangaroo: An Expedition to the Cloud Forest of New Guinea. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2006. ISBN13: 978-0618-49641-9

Cover photography by Nic Bishop,
image from goodreads.com

Ages 10 and up

They look like big stuffed animals, or something Dr. Seuss may have dreamed up. With rounded faces, button eyes, a pink nose, fuzzy upright ears, and a long, thick tail, the Matschie's (pronounced “MATCH-eez”) tree kangaroo is a charmer. Author Sy Montgomery takes readers along on one of her many adventures – this time to help wildlife conservationist Lisa Dabek learn more about these elusive marsupials, which live in the cloud forests of Papua New Guinea.

Montgomery is an award-winning writer of non-fiction, science-based books for children, so readers can rely on the authenticity of her research and writing. Her story details the frustrations (long, exhausting hikes, lots of rain and mud) and victories (the team eventually captures and tags four tree kangaroos – a record!) of the two-week expedition to research the endangered species. Nic Bishop’s breathtaking photography is a wonderful companion to the fascinating text. He shows readers rainforest creatures with great detail, and fascinating shots of the expedition team at work. The stars of the book, the enchanting tree kangaroos, hop around and carry babies in pouches like regular kangaroos, and climb trees like monkeys with their sharp claws. Montgomery’s story and Bishop’s photos give readers an appreciation for an endangered animal they may never have heard of before. The book has a reader-friendly design, and Montgomery concludes her story with a “where are they now” update about the tree kangaroos they met and tagged during the expedition, as well as a helpful list of web resources to explore, a short guide to Tok Pisin, the native language of Papua New Guinea, and a thorough index. For children (and even adults) who want to know more about tree kangaroos, wildlife conservation, or the island country of Papua New Guinea, this book is a “tree-mendous” resource.

Reading/writing/science connections:

• In a sidebar article in the book, wildlife conservationist Lisa Dabek gives kids advice about how to follow their passion for wild animals. As Lisa suggests, have students research and write about their favorite animal. Extend their learning by encouraging them to take photos of the animal at a local zoo or in the wild (or in their own backyards) to accompany their research.
• Have students apply Lisa’s practice of taking field notes by having students watch the natural world outside and take notes about their observations. During a period of days or weeks, what were their prevalent observations? Did they notice any changes or patterns?
• Have students research and write about wildlife conservation. They could select to write about an endangered species, a wildlife conservationist and his or her work, or the work of a wildlife conservation organization such as the Rainforest Conservation Fund.
•  Encourage students to create a school garden (with a sponsor and permission, of course) that would attract birds, butterflies, and other animals searching for food and homes. There would be numerous learning extensions associated with such a project, in many different subject areas.

Awards:

Booklist Editor’s Choice (2006)

Best Book of the Year, School Library Journal (2006)

ASPCA Henry Bergh Children’s Book Award (2006)

Outstanding Science Trade Book for Students K-12 Selection, National Science Teachers Association Council on Children’s Books (2006)

Orbis Pictus Award from the National Council of Teachers of English (2007)

Robert F. Sibert Honor Book (2007)

Reviews:

“Montgomery’s friendliness and curiosity set the tone: she enthusiastically engages with the people, plants, and animals she encounters on the trip.” – The Horn Book Review

“Montgomery and photographer Nic Bishop tagged along with scientist Lisa Dabek as she journeyed to where these cuddly-looking creatures make their homes, an area of Papua New Guinea’s cloud forest so isolated that it can be reached only by an arduous three-day trek.” – The Washington Post

“Her detailed account highlights scientific work habits, including extensive planning, necessary patience, careful observations and recording and the continual questions that arise.… Bishop’s photographs, shots of the expedition members, striking close-ups of flora and fauna including the sought-for kangaroo and lush, green cloud forest scenes, are beautifully reproduced.”—Kirkus, starred review

"Personal focus and as-it-happens eventfulness will absorb young animal lovers.”—The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

Montgomery gives an unusually strong, visceral sense of the work and cooperation fieldwork entails and the scope and uniqueness of this particular mission. – Booklist, starred review

“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.” – School Library Journal, starred review

If you want to learn more about author Sy Montgomery, here is a link to her website. It’s got some great resources for teachers to accompany the reading of her books:

http://symontgomery.com

If you’d like to learn more about tree kangaroos, here’s one of the web links from the book:

http://www.zoo.org/treekangaroo

Here’s a great video on tree kangaroos from National Geographic:

http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/news/animals-news/crittercam-tree-kangaroo-vin/