Me...Jane by Patrick McDonnell is a biography about the life and work of Dr. Jane Goodall, famed scientist and naturalist.
Summary
McDonnell writes about the early youth of Jane Goodall as she grew up in the country and was an immediate observer and recorder of nature. Through detailed sketches of graphs, diagrams, and records she may have kept as a girl, he shows how she became more and more interested in animals and plants and the nature all around.
At the end of the story, he beautifully transitions from the drawings of her as a little girl with her companion of a stuffed chimpanzee called Jubilee, to a real photograph of the grown up Dr. Goodall with a real live chimp, which emphasizes to young readers that this is a nonfiction story.
The last pages of the book include an epilogue about her life and work and a letter from Jane Goodall urging children to become involved in helping in their communities.
Impressions
I loved the beautiful drawings and pictures in this book. They are reminiscent of A.A. Milne in their shapes and colors. However, the animals are not overly humanized. This is an inspirational story about a girl who followed her passion. It can teach children the importance of being a careful observer and about seeing patterns in the world around them. The connection to Tarzan that Goodall made was an interesting bit of information and the obvious inspiration for the title.
Professional Reviews
Little Jane Goodall and Jubilee (her toy chimpanzee) ramble outside their English country home observing everyday animal miracles and dreaming of a life in Africa, "living with, / and helping, / all animals." Readers familiar with the groundbreaking primatologist will love seeing her as a conventional, buttoned-up child, wearing a plaid skirt, classic bob and hair clip as she squats in a coop to watch a chicken drop an egg. McDonnell's simple ink-and-watercolor illustrations appear as sunny, amorphous panels in ample white space. Purposeful black lines provide specificity with small suggestive strokes--a tiny apostrophic smile relays Jane's complete contentment sprawled in grass. Opposite pages offer groupings of faint, intricate stamps that correspond with young Jane's early outdoor experiences and engage readers with their fine details. The playful interplay among stamps, cartoonish drawings and real photographs of Jane reminds readers of a child's hodgepodge journal--one like Jane's, which appears as a double-page spread showing her animal studies, charts, games and doodles. Children will appreciate McDonnell's original format and take heart that interests logged in their own diaries might turn into lifelong passions. Backmatter includes a pithy biography, additional photographs and a letter and drawing from Jane herself--children will thrill at the connection.
Kirkus, 2011
In this tender homage to the famous primatologist, McDonnell gives readers a peek into Jane Goodall's formative years. Even as a young child she had an abiding love of the natural world and took every opportunity to study and enjoy the plants and animals around her. "It was a magical world full of joy and wonder, and Jane felt very much a part of it." Her constant companion, whether climbing her favorite tree or exploring her grandmother's chicken coop, was her stuffed chimpanzee, Jubilee. Her fascination with Africa was presaged by the drawings and puzzles she made as a child for her club, the "Alligator Society," as well as her fondness for Tarzan of the Apes. Her dream of going there to live with the animals and write about them took hold when she was 10 and the fact that she has devoted her life to that mission is a testament to her dedication and an inspiration for young dreamers everywhere. The artist's engaging, almost naive cartoons, done in India ink and watercolor, set the perfect tone. As the girl reads and learns more about Africa, the drawings become more fanciful with a giraffe and elephant appearing in the English countryside, and Jane and Jubilee swinging on vines through the trees. These charming images are complemented throughout with 19[supth] and early-20[supth]-century engravings and photos of Goodall with her beloved chimps. The package is an appealing and satisfying introduction to a well-known scientist and activist. Concluding notes give more information about her and her life's work.
Toth, 2011
Library Uses
I would use this as an introduction to STEM programming for younger students. Using the observations and diagrams in the book as an example, ask students to record their observations of a plant, tree, or animal around their own home.
References
McDonnell, P. (2011). Me...Jane. New York, NY: Little, Brown.
Me…Jane. (2011). Kirkus Reviews, 79(5), 418.
Toth, L. (2011). Me ... ]ane. School Library Journal, 57(4), 148.
No comments:
Post a Comment