The Crocodile Hunter: The Incredible Life and Adventures of Steve and Terri Irwin (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Terri Irwin (Author) "By staring at and mimicking my dad, my own instinctive ability with snakes and virtually all wildlife began to develop..." (more)
Key Phrases: reptile park, fierce snake, trap entrance, Australia Zoo, Egg Head, Cape York Peninsula (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

While many U.S. readers will be familiar with Australian Steve Irwin's good-mate/wild-man persona from his smash hit cable show Crocodile Hunter, they may be surprised by the passion and thought with which Steve and his wife, Terri, undertake wildlife conservation work. Neither will fans be bored: this entertaining, exciting autobiography/adventure tale/environmental tract is packed, as advertised, with incredible feats. Steve is son to the man "recognized as the greatest herpetologist in Australia and revered throughout the world as a legend for catching highly venomous snakes" bare-handed. The first section recounts Steve's childhood with his conservation-minded father and mother ("She was the Mother Teresa of wildlife rehabilitation"), who built the Queensland Reptile and Fauna Park, soon enlarged and renamed the Australian Zoo, one of the best zoological facilities in the world. As the park expanded, Steve learned to leap from boats onto the backs of crocodiles of all sizes, capturing them for relocation. The second section is told by Terri, an impressive Oregonian nature lover who was running a wildlife rehabilitation facility when she met Steve on a trip to Australia. While Steve punctuates his writing with phrases like "Holy snappin' duck poo!" Terri offers a calmer perspective on their commitment to wildlife conservation. The final section discusses the Irwins' current efforts at the Australian Zoo: "Our passion for wildlife is our elixir of life and we'll die defending animals that others deem dangerous and threatening." What could have been an easy rip-off of a popular show is a fun, educational read for adults and children alike.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Adult/High School-This is a chatty, entertaining romp through some wild adventures, with a touch of romance and some conservation thrown in for good measure. Steve Irwin's parents opened Beerwah Reptile Park in Queensland. Over the years, with the motto "we'll have to learn as we go," the park expanded into Australia Zoo, with the mission statement of "conservation through exciting education." The Irwins are passionate about wildlife. Steve's chapters, the first five, are energetic, enthusiastic, colloquial, and packed with animal encounters. Terri's chapters, the next five, are more restrained but no less interesting. The book is generously illustrated with lots of excellent black-and-white and color photos of flora, fauna, and family. The design is appealing; combined with the topic, it should attract reluctant readers. This book skips over a lot of the dry facts-no birth dates here-and teens will read it for the exciting stories and the insight into the husband and wife in front of the camera.

Susan Salpini, Fairfax County Public Schools, VA

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Adult (October 25, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525946357
• ISBN-13: 978-0525946359
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #899,579 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A rip-roaring adventure story, March 20, 2002

By	Dkbonnell "Denise" (Mission Viejo, CA USA) - See all my reviews

I am already a big fan of "The Crocodile Hunter" TV show, so I was thrilled to learn that Steve and Terri Irwin had written a book about their true-life adventures. Actually, I am a "huge" fan of the show. I wondered, however, if the book would contain anything that I didn't already know from watching the "Crocodile Hunter" series. Sure enough, I learned even more about this incredible couple who spend just about every waking hour advancing wildlife conservation. Steve's childhood was a joy to read about, as well as the many crocodile adventures he actually lived through to see the light of another day. Terri's description of how they met and married was a delight. In true "Crocodile Hunter" style, Steve's stories jump off the pages to grab you. For an instant, I was right along side Steve wrestling the biggest crocodiles you ever saw! Steve and Terri's love of wildlife is contagious and their continuous promotion of wildlife causes around the world is truly a genuine endeavor. Reading this book brought to mind the time I personally met Terri Irwin. She was as feminine and genuine as they come, but when I shook her hand, it was obvious that she really does physically work at the Australia Zoo. I was impressed! Steve and Terri live their lives the way they say they do, and the reader of this book will get a look into their private world as well. This adventure book is a true delight!

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Crocodile Rock, February 27, 2002

By	Jonah Cohen (Connecticut) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Steve Irwin, Animal Planet's "Crocodile Hunter", and his wife/co-star Terri, bring their wildlife adventures to book form, and it works pretty well.

The hardback book has excellent production value - glossy pages and loads of color photos. Very niuce, and informative if you don't know what a perentie looks like.

Steve's persona on tv - that of the highly excitable wildman who picks up venomous snakes and wrestles gigantic crocodiles - is no act. He describes it as merely having an enthusiasm for wildlife, and that enthusiasm is contagious. The book tells of how he developed this love of animals (basically, he was raised with it). Terri tells of how they met and fell head over heels in love at first sight. On their first date, Steve told her "You're not at all ladylike!" (which he meant as a compliment, it's sweet, in a weird way).

Neither of the Irwins are particularly stylish writers. The phrase "passion for wildlife" is repeated often, making the text occasionally sound repetetive, though not insincere. Still, both are gifted storytellers. Just like their tv show, the book draws you in to their world. You feel like you're right there with them trying to save a giant reptile that's trying to rip you apart.

If the book has a shortcoming (aside from the minor fact that some of the tales will be familiar to regular viewers of the tv show) it's that it is too short. Steve does impart a good deal of knowledge about his beloved wildlife, but could have explained more. For example, he tells that apex predators like crocodiles are key to the health of an ecosystem - true, but he doesn't elaborate on why. Terri tells informative and fascinating anecdotes about caring for a wide variety of creatures at the Australia Zoo. I wanted more of those.

Overall, the book does a good job in its primary mission: making you interested in animals, so that you'll care enough to try to fight for their survival.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Crocs Rule and So Does This Book!, May 31, 2005

By	H. A. Brown "haking17" (Vanceboro, NC United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Crocodile Hunter: The Incredible Life and Adventures of Steve and Terri Irwin (Paperback)

If you're an avid viewer of "The Crocodile Hunter", as I am, than this book is a must have. True, much of the information in can be picked up from the show. However, I actually enjoyed reading about Steve and Terri's adventures a bit more than watching them. You learn more about their families and what motivates them. After reading the book, I've developed a desire to learn more about wildlife conservation and what part I can play in it. I would highly recommend this book for any animal lover or Crocodile Hunter fan.