My Life with the Chimpanzees (Paperback)

~ (Author) "It was very stuffy and hot where I crouched, and the straw tickled my legs..." (more)
Key Phrases: other chimps, Hugo van Lawick, David Greybeard, Louis Leakey (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Noted scientist and conservationist Goodall provides listeners with stories about her life and her experiences studying chimpanzees in Africa. She talks about her first exposure to animals at a farm near her home and how the book Dr. Doolittle helped crystallize her desire. Later Goodall comments on her first trip to the continent and how meeting Dr. Louis Leakey led to her life's work, living among the animals, learning their behaviors, and bringing that information to the rest of the world. Though this tape starts out as an autobiography, it focuses mostly on the work of the Goodall Institute and "Roots and Shoots," organizations created to encourage the protection of animals and their habitats. The author reads her own tale and seems sort of detached even when discussing her interest in saving the world's animals. The book also lacks depth, glossing over Goodall's life and telling her story simply, which could make this tedious listening for adults. For public and school libraries. Danna Bell-Russel, Library of Congress
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

Product Description

From the time she was a girl, Jane Goodall dreamed of a life spent working with animals. Finally she had her wish. When she was twenty-six years old, she ventured into the forests of Africa to observe chimpanzees in the wild. On her expeditions she braved the dangers with leopards and lions in the African bush. And she got to know an amazing group of wild chimpanzees -- intelligent animals whose lives, in work and play and family relationships, bear a surprising resemblance to our own.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Aladdin; Revised edition (April 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671562711
• ISBN-13: 978-0671562717
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #13,050 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #1 in	Books > Teens > Science & Technology > Ecology
  #2 in	Books > Children's Books > Animals > Apes & Monkeys > Nonfiction
  #2 in	Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Biographies > Science & Technology

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A terrific true-life adventure story, February 8, 1999

By A Customer

I liked the book because it was an adventure story. In one part, the plane crashed. Jane Goodall, Grub (her son), and Derreck (the pilot) didn't get hurt, but they had to cross a river full of crocodiles! I also like the book because it is about Africa, a continent I only know a little about. Besides the amazing animals, I learned that there are important fossil beds in Africa.

Chimps are a central part of the story. The author does a good job of describing the chimps' habits and behavior. The chimps challenge each other for the alpha position (highest ranked position in the group).

I found Jane Goodall likeable because she has interest in saving an endangered species. She reported that chimps can make tools and use them as well as we can. No one knew that before Jane discovered it. Dr. Goodall is also the leader of a special club dedicated to saving chimpanzess.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes the fascinating behavior of animals.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars never forgotten!, June 8, 2000

By A Customer

This is a beautiful book, grasping your atention and holding your hand thru a fantastic journey into Africa, and into the chimpanzes of the Gombe. You will get to meet all of them, and even see how they are like, observing the individual diferences of their behaviour. Parents: please purchase it for your kids! Kids: get your parents to buy it for you! Inspiring! I am now 22, but I must have been 10 when I first read this book (not this edition of course!). I still purchase Jane Goodall's books...and I'm following the dream she helped inspire: to go to a place no one can pronounce to study an animal few people care about...

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Captivating read for children, December 27, 1999

By A Customer

My daughter is 6 and we have read a lengthy excerpt every day since she received this book for Christmas. She is enthralled. Ms. Goodall is a wonderful, true-life role model for young girls.