WILD PLACES: THE LIFE OF NATURALIST DAVID ATTENBOROUGH, by Hayley Rocco and John Rocco, G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, Feb. 27, 2024, Hardcover, $19.99 (ages 4-8)
Wild Places: The Life of Naturalist David Attenborough, by Hayley Rocco and John Rocco, tells the story of our planet and a man who has dedicated his life to saving it.
As a boy, David loved exploring the wild places near his home in England, collecting fossils, rocks, and newts. When he grew older, he got a job in television, where he had an idea for a new kind of show: He would travel to wild places all over the world to film animals in their natural habitats. Over the span of seven decades, David’s innovative documentaries have been treasured by millions of people.
But as time went on, he noticed the wild places he loved were shrinking. What could David do to help? What could we all do?
This is the story of David Attenborough. It’s also the story of our planet, which has changed rapidly over the course of one person’s lifetime, and a clarion call for us to do our part to bring back the wild places and protect the creatures who call Earth home. —Synopsis provided by G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers
Sir David Attenborough is a naturalist, broadcaster and documentarian. As a young person, he fell in love with wild places and the things that lived there. That love has evolved from sharing it with others to teaching them how to protect the Earth’s wild areas.
In Wild Places, author Haley Rocco not only tells David’s story but that of the planet. The two are so intertwined, it would be hard not to. Her text mirrors the story she sets out to tell, celebrating David’s work and inviting others to look beyond it. An excellent author’s note with more detailed information and a fairly comprehensive look at rewilding our planet are included at the end.
Artist John Rocco’s pencil, watercolor and digital paint illustrations immediately draw you in. Vibrant colors and detailed looks at David and the places he’s visited transport readers all around the globe.
With topics ranging from biography and history to nature and animals, Wild Places offers wide appeal. This is a good option for at home or in the classroom.
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