Children - Nature, Children - Social Studies, Children - Animals

In Search of Lemurs

Name: In Search of Lemurs
Author: Joyce A. Powzyk
ISBN: 9780792270720

by Joyce A. Powzyk

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Overview

This is an unusual account of a woman scientist's field expedition in the Ranomafana National Park of Madagascar. Of the 32 types of lemurs known to live on the island, 11 live in the park. On this trip, with guide Talata, the author encounters eight lemurs. The pair also observe an array of exotic birds, a hedgehog, insect-eating bats, city and forest rats. an orb-weaver spider, ring-tailed and broad-striped mongooses, a civet, tree frogs, freshwater crabs, a fossa, giant earthworms, leeches, millipedes, and an aye-aye. The key encounters are handsomely and faithfully illustrated, and the first-person descriptions bring the story to life.

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Editorials

Children's Literature - Gisela Jernigan

The author, a biologist/artist, uses a conversational, factual text and many lovely watercolor illustrations to share some of her knowledge and experiences with the lemurs of Madagascar's Ranomafana National Park.. The 17 short chapters enable us to accompany Powzyk as she travels through the rain forest, accompanied by a Malagasy guide, trying to find, observe and sketch as many of the reserve's 11 species as possible. She actually found eight of them, including the Milne-Edwards Sifaka, the Rufous Mouse Lemur and the Golden Bamboo Lemur. The author also writes about and draws a sampling of some of Madagascar's other rare plants and animals, and touches on conservation issues. Maps and an introduction are included.

School Library Journal

Gr 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 Library

Kirkus Reviews

An amazing true-life adventure from Powzyk, on the on the trail of 11 species of lemurs and other exotic animals in Madagascar. Journal-like entries document her four-month stay in the rain forest, and provide detailed observations of plants and animals, as well as a glimpse into the daily routine of a working scientist. Every page is embellished with striking watercolors; the forest and fauna have been carefully observed and have been hauntingly beautiful. While lemurs are the focus, she also observes the sucker-footed bat, cat-like fanaloka, ringtailed mongoose, the aye-aye, the greater hedgehog tenrec, and more. It is a world of eat and be eatenþthe red-fronted lemur crunches away on a enormous millipede, the local people roast large white grubs (said to taste like butter)þwhere the naturalist has to peel leeches from her socks at the end of a long hike. An intriguing look, rich in detail, at an exotic environment. (map) (Nonfiction. 8-11)