Featured books by Sy Montgomery
Sy Montgomery's books — for adults and young readers — take readers with her as she journeys across the world. Meet endangered animals and some of the scientists who study them on these trips, chronicled by Ms. Montgomery's crisp, engaging writing and full color photographs often by her frequent collaborator, award-winning photographer Nic Bishop. Pick up a book by naturalist Sy Montgomery and prepare for an adventure of a lifetime!
Becoming a Good Creature
The author started learning about animals by observing her dog as a child. Her respect and affinity for animals grew as she did, turning into a career as a writer and chronicler of animals and their behavior. Gently illustrated, the author shares thoughtful tidbits which is sure to lead readers to her other books.
Condor Comeback
Scientists are working to save the endangered California Condor. In rich narrative, the author provides information on the condor as well as the history and efforts of scientists to bring them back from the brink. Accompanying photographs add drama and personality for both feathered and human subjects.
Encantado: Pink Dolphin of the Amazon
The author joins several field scientists to find the mysterious encantado, the pink dolphins of the Amazon said to seduce people to an enchanted city underwater. An informal narration draws readers into the rainforest travelogue to introduce amazing animals, environmental issues, and more. Full color photographs add rich detail. Montgomery's experiences are also detailed for adults in Journey of the Pink Dolphins: An Amazon Quest.
Kakapo Rescue: Saving the World's Strangest Parrot
After five years, the call came allowing the author/photographer team to travel to an island off the coast of New Zealand to study highly endangered, rare, flightless parrots. There they meet volunteers who stay to help the animals and describe an accidental encounter with a kakapo in the wild in a breathtaking telling and arresting photographs.
Saving the Ghost of the Mountain: An Expedition Among Snow Leopards in Mongolia
Join the conservation director of the Snow Leopard Trust, Tom McCarthy, on a journey high to a hostile (at least for humans) place in Central Asia — so cold that tears freeze. The elusive cat is camouflaged well, but is revealed in this riveting chronicle through luminous photographs and an informative, evocative, and surprisingly taut text.
Temple Grandin: How the Girl Who Loved Cows Embraced Autism and Changed the World
When Temple Grandin was born, her parents knew that she was different. Years later she was diagnosed with autism. Her mother believed in her abilitie and supported her education, and Temple eventually went on to graduate school. Today, Dr. Temple Grandin is a scientist and professor of animal science at Colorado State University. Through her work she revolutionized the livestock industry. As an advocate for autism, Temple uses her experience as an example of the unique contributions that autistic people can make. This biography, complete with personal photos, takes us inside Temple's extraordinary mind and opens the door to a broader understanding of autism.
The Hyena Scientist
Readers may have to change their opinion of spotted hyenas after meeting them as they are studied in the wild. Fluid prose and stunning photographs combine insight into the field scientists and information about the animals they study. While they remain formidable carnivores, hyenas are surprisingly brave and social animals and appealing in appearance. Thoroughly resourced and documented, this is narrative nonfiction at its best.
The Magnificent Migration: On Safari with Africa’s Last Great Herds
There is great drama to be found on the Serengeti witnessed by scientists. Meet some of those who study the migration of wildebeest in Tanzania. Observe the animals that share the land with the wildebeest. The author’s insightful, illuminating, and highly readable narration in a handsome format with stunning photographs is also a plea for humankind to respect other mammals.
The Man-Eating Tigers of Sundarbans
Why tigers that live on the Sundarbans Tiger Reserve (on the Bay of Bengal) feast regularly on men (preferred over females) is a mystery studied by scientists and the subject of much local lore. And it makes riveting reading as it unfolds in the capable hands of this author. The region and its unusual treasures are further explored in a book for adults (and young adults), Spell of the Tiger: The Man-Eaters of Sundarbans.
The Quest for the Tree Kangaroo: An Expedition to the Cloud Forest of New Guinea
The author/photographer team joins biologist Lisa Dabek and other scientists and volunteers including people from Papua New Guinea as they endure an inhospitable environment to study the reclusive Matschie's tree kangaroo. The wonder of this 10,000 foot high forest and its inhabitants is presented in enthralling text and amazing photos.
The Snake Scientist
Dr. Robert Mason studies an annual spring phenomenon on a wildlife area in Manitoba, Canada. There after wintering underground, harmless red-sided garter snakes emerge by the thousands — more snakes to be seen at one time than any place else in the world — captured in remarkable photographs and an effusive, informative text.
The Tarantula Scientist
Warning to all readers who suffer from arachnophobia: this riveting book is filled with close-up, full color, remarkable photographs of hairy, large, and fascinating tarantulas found by scientist Sam Marshall. An informal text combines spider fact and fiction as it records the science field trip to the rainforest of French Guiana, providing a memorable journey for readers.
Proceeds from the sale of books purchased at Bookshop.org and Amazon.com help support the Reading Rockets project. Thank you!
