QUEST FOR THE TREE KANGAROO

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Montgomery, Sy.  2006.  Quest for the Tree Kangaroo.  New York: Houghton Mifflin.  ISBN: 0618496416.

PLOT SUMMARY
Montgomery teams up with Bishop and a team of scientists along with some locals from New Guinea and go in search of the amazing Matschie's tree kangaroo.  She describes the trip in great detail as she shares with the reader the exact items packed for the trip.  She goes on to tell about the plane ride, the language, and the school visit, and the hike into the cloud forest.  Once they arrive to New Guinea she describes the search of the tree kangaroo and how they insert a microchip and put a radio collar on it to track it.  Her team documents everything from the camp sites to the people and plants they encounter. 

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Bishop included beautiful photographs to help the reader better understand the tree kangaroo.  The information is very detailed and well organized making it easy to follow their trip.  This is a great book loaded with information that can be enjoyed by both young and old.  The author included advice for kids on following their passion with wildlife conservation. 

AWARDS AND REVIEW EXERPTS
Awards
2006 American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Henry Bergh Children's Book Award
John Burroughs Young Reader Award
A Green Earth Honor Book from the Newton Marasco Foundation
A 2006 SIBERT HONOR BOOK
Orbis Pictus Award for nonfiction from the National Council of Teachers of English!
2007 Julia Ward Howe Finalist Award from the Boston Authors Club
Henry Bergh Children's Book Award
Named one of the TOP TEN books of the year for children by The Washington Post
A Booklist Editor's Choice for 2006
A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year 2006
A National Science Teachers Association Council on Children's Books Outstanding Science Trade Book for Students K-12 Selection
A NSTA/CBC Selector's Choice
A Junior Library Guild Selection

Reviews
“Bishop’s photography is stunning portraiture… the tree kangaroo is marketably adorable…
… There’s plenty of evocative description of their habitat, thoughtful exploration of the role the locals play in conserving the animals, and revealing information about the rigors of this kind of scientific project… 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. She also communicates the thrill of studying animals in the wild, making observations, and discovering new information. As usual, Bishop’s color photographs are exemplary and extend the excitement in close-ups of creatures and of the team at work.”                        --Booklist

CONNECTIONS
1) Come up with a presentation to present to Bank of America to persuade them to  fund your animal conservation project.  Set up  your own team of researchers, scientists, and photographers to study an endangered species of your choice.  Include the materials you need and explain your day to day plan for your trip and the funds needed.  Get creative and get funded!!!
2) In your group of 4-5 kids research the Kangaroo Family: red kangaroos, grey kangaroos, tree kangaroo, and the Wallaroo.  Your team will explain the differences and similarities in the kangaroo family.  Include habitats, diet, characteristics, and important facts.
3) Write a children's book about any type of kangaroo in the kangaroo family to share with a Kindergarten student during buddy time.   Include 4-5 important facts and illustrations/photographs in your book.