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Scientists in the Field
Saving the Ghost of the Mountain: An Expedition Among Snow Leopards in Mongolia
People call it “The Ghost of the Mountain,” for those who live among snow leopards almost never see one. Beautiful spotted coats conceal these elusive cats in their rocky, high-altitude habitat—a place where temperatures are often cold enough to freeze human tears. A thick, long tail for balance helps snow leopards spring at their prey from great distances—prey that is often three times its own size. Slinking along the Mongolian mountain ridges, the snow leopards are invisible—and almost impossible to study.
But that doesn’t deter scientist Tom McCarthy, Conservation Director of the Seattle-based Snow Leopard Trust, or his many colleagues from dedicating their lives’ work to the study and protection of this seldom-seen creature. And it doesn’t stop Sy Montgomery and Nic Bishop from packing their bags in order to join Tom on a trek to Mongolia, where they hope to learn more about this magical cat, a cat who doesn’t give up its secrets easily.
It will take endurance and persistence to climb the dusty mountain trails, hope of a snow leopard sighting rising and falling with each new summit. It will take practice and experience to lay humane leghold snares, collect scat samples, and set up motion-triggered cameras. It will take patience, focus—and yes, love—to dedicate a lifetime learning more about this little-understood creature. But that’s the only way the Snow Leopard Trust can protect their charges, before the snow leopard truly becomes nothing but a ghost of the mountain.
With a dazzling, as-it-happens narrative and spectacular photographs, Sy Montgomery and Nic Bishop bring Mongolia up close for readers everywhere.
But that doesn’t deter scientist Tom McCarthy, Conservation Director of the Seattle-based Snow Leopard Trust, or his many colleagues from dedicating their lives’ work to the study and protection of this seldom-seen creature. And it doesn’t stop Sy Montgomery and Nic Bishop from packing their bags in order to join Tom on a trek to Mongolia, where they hope to learn more about this magical cat, a cat who doesn’t give up its secrets easily.
It will take endurance and persistence to climb the dusty mountain trails, hope of a snow leopard sighting rising and falling with each new summit. It will take practice and experience to lay humane leghold snares, collect scat samples, and set up motion-triggered cameras. It will take patience, focus—and yes, love—to dedicate a lifetime learning more about this little-understood creature. But that’s the only way the Snow Leopard Trust can protect their charges, before the snow leopard truly becomes nothing but a ghost of the mountain.
With a dazzling, as-it-happens narrative and spectacular photographs, Sy Montgomery and Nic Bishop bring Mongolia up close for readers everywhere.
80 pages, Hardcover
Published August 17, 2009
About the author
Sy Montgomery
58 books1,797 followersPart Indiana Jones, part Emily Dickinson, as the Boston Globe describes her, Sy Montgomery is an author, naturalist, documentary scriptwriter, and radio commentator who has traveled to some of the worlds most remote wildernesses for her work. She has worked in a pit crawling with 18,000 snakes in Manitoba, been hunted by a tiger in India, swum with pink dolphins in the Amazon, and been undressed by an orangutan in Borneo. She is the author of 13 award-winning books, including her national best-selling memoir, The Good Good Pig. Montgomery lives in Hancock, New Hampshire.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
August 10, 2020
Rare with a gorgeous spotted coat, weighing between 60 to 120 pounds, around 2½ feet in height, 6 - 7½ feet in length with tail, and roaming 11 to 365 square miles, the snow leopard lived in the snowy mountainous area of Central and South Asia. Tough, powerful, and elusive, these loners survived in altitudes with scant oxygen and icy temperatures and blended in with the rocky and desolate terrains being rarely seen. Unfortunately, their natural prey was quickly dwindling and their habitats were being encroached upon. Furthermore, these cats were killed for their fur and bones and poisoned for preying on domestic sheep and goats.
The author accompanied Tom “Danger Man” McCarthy to the Altai Mountains of Mongolia to track and study the snow leopard. Tom was the conservation director of the Seattle based Snow Leopard Trust. His job was dangerous and grueling with little success (nine years lapsed before Tom saw a snow leopard again) and little pay while visiting freezing, broiling, and treacherous environments with no telephone, water, or electricity. At the time, it was guessed that 3,500 to 7,000 snow leopards lived in the wild and 600 in zoos. These “ghosts” were extremely difficult to locate and study even if a radio signal was transmitting of a tagged snow leopard in front of you. Tom was in search of a snow leopard that a year earlier he had caught, tagged, and released back into the wild.
The book is targeted for young readers. An informative and short book packed with details and beautiful photographs on Mongolia, snow leopards, and the Snow Leopard Trust. A worthy read of this endangered feline.
The author accompanied Tom “Danger Man” McCarthy to the Altai Mountains of Mongolia to track and study the snow leopard. Tom was the conservation director of the Seattle based Snow Leopard Trust. His job was dangerous and grueling with little success (nine years lapsed before Tom saw a snow leopard again) and little pay while visiting freezing, broiling, and treacherous environments with no telephone, water, or electricity. At the time, it was guessed that 3,500 to 7,000 snow leopards lived in the wild and 600 in zoos. These “ghosts” were extremely difficult to locate and study even if a radio signal was transmitting of a tagged snow leopard in front of you. Tom was in search of a snow leopard that a year earlier he had caught, tagged, and released back into the wild.
The book is targeted for young readers. An informative and short book packed with details and beautiful photographs on Mongolia, snow leopards, and the Snow Leopard Trust. A worthy read of this endangered feline.
June 10, 2021
Oh I do wish that I could without reservations recommend Sy Montgomery’s 2009 Saving the Ghost of the Mountain: An Expedition Among Snow Leopards in Mongolia. For yes, the textual information presented by Montgomery is replete with education, is full full full of enlightenment (and Nic Bishop’s accompanying photographs certainly do provide a detailed and often stunning visual complement and mirror to an for the author’s, to and for Sy Montgomery’s factual printed words).
But in my humble opinion (and especially considering that this illustrated tome, that Saving the Ghost of the Mountain: An Expedition Among Snow Leopards in Mongolia is geared towards younger readers, is meant for older children from about the age of nine onwards), I do have to admit and point out that there unfortunately is (to and for me) actually and in fact often rather too much and also much too varied information shown and meticulously discussed within the pages of Saving the Ghost of the Mountain: An Expedition Among Snow Leopards in Mongolia, that Sy Montgomery’s featured text with its multiple threads and excursions regarding Mongolia in general (focussing on historical figures such as Genghis Khan, Mongolian culture and life, the Gobi Dessert and that there have been many fossilised dinosaur and dinosaur eggs discovered there and so on and so on), whilst of course interesting in and of itself does kind of tend to push the main topic of Saving the Ghost of the Mountain: An Expedition Among Snow Leopards in Mongolia (namely Tom McCarthy’s expedition to not only look for the telltale signs of snow leopard habitation, hunting and the like but to also change the often negative attitudes towards snow leopards from Mongolian herdsmen) a bit to the periphery so to speak and having to compete with oh so much other types of both scientific and cultural/historical information on Mongolia.
But no, I do of course not think that the details on the latter (on Mongolia in a general sense) are unimportant and should not be textually encountered in Saving the Ghost of the Mountain: An Expedition Among Snow Leopards in Mongolia. But yes, I do nevertheless rather think that Sy Montgomery at times kind of seems to narrationally bury her main topic (and considering that snow leopards being saved from likely extinction is so very important and essential, I do wish that this were not the case, as I certainly have found it rather distracting to be textually overwhelmed with such a multitude of different topics and information that I have to in fact specifically search for the details on snow leopards and saving them as a species). And well, combined with the fact that Sy Montgomery has only included a very substandard, a very lacking bibliography, I really cannot consider more than a low three stars maximum for Saving the Ghost of the Mountain: An Expedition Among Snow Leopards in Mongolia (and frankly, I actually think that my rating of three stars is pretty generous).
But in my humble opinion (and especially considering that this illustrated tome, that Saving the Ghost of the Mountain: An Expedition Among Snow Leopards in Mongolia is geared towards younger readers, is meant for older children from about the age of nine onwards), I do have to admit and point out that there unfortunately is (to and for me) actually and in fact often rather too much and also much too varied information shown and meticulously discussed within the pages of Saving the Ghost of the Mountain: An Expedition Among Snow Leopards in Mongolia, that Sy Montgomery’s featured text with its multiple threads and excursions regarding Mongolia in general (focussing on historical figures such as Genghis Khan, Mongolian culture and life, the Gobi Dessert and that there have been many fossilised dinosaur and dinosaur eggs discovered there and so on and so on), whilst of course interesting in and of itself does kind of tend to push the main topic of Saving the Ghost of the Mountain: An Expedition Among Snow Leopards in Mongolia (namely Tom McCarthy’s expedition to not only look for the telltale signs of snow leopard habitation, hunting and the like but to also change the often negative attitudes towards snow leopards from Mongolian herdsmen) a bit to the periphery so to speak and having to compete with oh so much other types of both scientific and cultural/historical information on Mongolia.
But no, I do of course not think that the details on the latter (on Mongolia in a general sense) are unimportant and should not be textually encountered in Saving the Ghost of the Mountain: An Expedition Among Snow Leopards in Mongolia. But yes, I do nevertheless rather think that Sy Montgomery at times kind of seems to narrationally bury her main topic (and considering that snow leopards being saved from likely extinction is so very important and essential, I do wish that this were not the case, as I certainly have found it rather distracting to be textually overwhelmed with such a multitude of different topics and information that I have to in fact specifically search for the details on snow leopards and saving them as a species). And well, combined with the fact that Sy Montgomery has only included a very substandard, a very lacking bibliography, I really cannot consider more than a low three stars maximum for Saving the Ghost of the Mountain: An Expedition Among Snow Leopards in Mongolia (and frankly, I actually think that my rating of three stars is pretty generous).
November 3, 2021
Excellent dose-of-reality counterpoint to Peter Mattheissen's more lyrical/philosophical The Snow Leopard. Montgomery's story follows Tom McCarthy - conservation director for the Seattle-based Snow Leopard Trust - during one of his periodic research trips to Mongolia's Altai Mountains in search of its native leopards. (To my surprise, Mongolia is home to fully a third of the world's remaining snow leopard populations. Another fun fact: while Nepal's - i.e., Mattheissen's - snow leopards generally roam over a home territory of 11-23 square miles, in Mongolian, a single leopard's range is more than 380 square miles!)
This is science at it's most boring but also most realistic. It's a constant schedule climbing, falling and freezing, all in the hopes of finding mere "signs" of snow leopard presence, (no leopards were spotted during this three week trip - in fact, McCarthy went one period of nine years without actually seeing a wild leopard; and indeed, all the beautiful leopard photos in this book were taken of animals in captivity/breeding programs). So what do they look for? Scratch marks, pee stains, paw prints...and poop - lots and lots of poop. Yet they come away with valuable data that will be analyzed later to help determine the size and range of the Altai/Gobi leopards. ('Nuther fun fact - the fastest way to determine whether their collected poop did in fact come from leopards and not bears, wolves or foxes, is to use specially-trained sniffer dogs back here in the States.)
Montgomery is a born adventurer and an excellent writer - the Boston Globe described her as "part Indiana Jones, part Emily Dickinson." She's written a number of books in this series, and does a great job mixing peripheral information into her main topic - in this case, sidebars on Genghis Khan, the daily life of Mongolian nomads (think "yaks and sheep"), the return from extinction of the takhi (better known in the west as Przewalski's Horse), etc. However, she's written a number of animal-focused books for adult readers as well, including several biographies of naturalists like Temple Grandin, Dian Fossey/Jane Goodall, etc.
You can support the Snow Leopard Trust through their website - www.snowleopardtrust.org - with donations, by "adopting" a snow leopard, or by purchasing their products. Both this book and the overall cause of "Saving the Snow Leopard" are highly recommended to nature lovers and conservationists everywhere.
This is science at it's most boring but also most realistic. It's a constant schedule climbing, falling and freezing, all in the hopes of finding mere "signs" of snow leopard presence, (no leopards were spotted during this three week trip - in fact, McCarthy went one period of nine years without actually seeing a wild leopard; and indeed, all the beautiful leopard photos in this book were taken of animals in captivity/breeding programs). So what do they look for? Scratch marks, pee stains, paw prints...and poop - lots and lots of poop. Yet they come away with valuable data that will be analyzed later to help determine the size and range of the Altai/Gobi leopards. ('Nuther fun fact - the fastest way to determine whether their collected poop did in fact come from leopards and not bears, wolves or foxes, is to use specially-trained sniffer dogs back here in the States.)
Montgomery is a born adventurer and an excellent writer - the Boston Globe described her as "part Indiana Jones, part Emily Dickinson." She's written a number of books in this series, and does a great job mixing peripheral information into her main topic - in this case, sidebars on Genghis Khan, the daily life of Mongolian nomads (think "yaks and sheep"), the return from extinction of the takhi (better known in the west as Przewalski's Horse), etc. However, she's written a number of animal-focused books for adult readers as well, including several biographies of naturalists like Temple Grandin, Dian Fossey/Jane Goodall, etc.
You can support the Snow Leopard Trust through their website - www.snowleopardtrust.org - with donations, by "adopting" a snow leopard, or by purchasing their products. Both this book and the overall cause of "Saving the Snow Leopard" are highly recommended to nature lovers and conservationists everywhere.
February 13, 2017
I just love the way Sy Montgomery writes--it's as if you're there with her. This time she's in Mongolia with a father and son team, studying the elusive snow leopard. Montgomery talks about both the rewards and the hardships of this expedition. In some places I had to laugh out loud, as when they set out noose-type traps to catch snow leopards for measurement, study, and release, only to find the next morning that the big cat had been there--and peed all over their traps!! That cat was no fool! Take that! Nic Bishop's photos are awesome, of course. The scenery is barren and rough but also beautiful. They never saw too many snow leopards, but they did come across a few other cute little critters, like that desert hedgehog. I was interested to see how a ger (similar to a yurt) is erected and taken down, and I enjoyed reading about Mongolian customs. Montgomery's comments about collecting animal poop made me chuckle. I can't wait for the next book she writes! I highly recommend this one, and, in fact, the entire Scientists in the Field series of which this book is a part. Fascinating!
August 27, 2018
Another edition to the series by Sy Montgomery. I really enjoy these books. I think this one is better then the other one (Great White Sharks) because the story feels more succinct. Here we follow a group of researchers as they go off to Mongolia in search of……..a ghost…..
I’m not kidding. Finding a snow leopard is extremely difficult. You probably have a better chance of winning the lottery. The lead researcher, Tom McCarthy, has only seen leopards nine years ago (from published date) and he’s determined to find them again. It’s a big challenge due to the enviroment and the dietary impact it has on a person. Luckily, the Mongolians are kind folk who are always ready to make you feel at home.
Review Continued Here
I’m not kidding. Finding a snow leopard is extremely difficult. You probably have a better chance of winning the lottery. The lead researcher, Tom McCarthy, has only seen leopards nine years ago (from published date) and he’s determined to find them again. It’s a big challenge due to the enviroment and the dietary impact it has on a person. Luckily, the Mongolians are kind folk who are always ready to make you feel at home.
Review Continued Here
March 1, 2010
My kids like to joke that I could never write the sorts of books Sy Montgomery writes … and they may be right. SNAKE SCIENTIST? Um, no thanks. TARANTULA SCIENTIST? I don’t exactly love hairy spiders. QUEST FOR THE TREE KANGAROO? I thought so for a moment or two, but then I noticed a blood-sucking cloud forest leech attached to a human arm, quite possibly the author's human arm, in the first chapter. I’m out.
I’m a different sort of adventurer, I guess.
But, oh how I love to imagine Sy and her intrepid partner-in-images, Nic Bishop, as they trek around the planet having crazy exciting and somewhat dangerous adventures, bringing back stories of science and conservation. In SAVING THE GHOST OF THE MOUNTAIN, author and photographer traveled to Mongolia to help track the elusive snow leopard. They climbed up, hiked over, and slid down mountains, searching all the while for leopards and, failing that, leopard scat. The book is irresistible and satisfying, despite the unpredictable nature of those ghostlike cats.
I admire Sy's moxie, but I also admire her sensibilities, as evidenced in these lines, my favorites in the entire book:
Protecting an animal is like loving someone. It’s not something you do and then finish. It’s a long-term promise, honored over and over, one step at a time.”
Amen to that.
I’m a different sort of adventurer, I guess.
But, oh how I love to imagine Sy and her intrepid partner-in-images, Nic Bishop, as they trek around the planet having crazy exciting and somewhat dangerous adventures, bringing back stories of science and conservation. In SAVING THE GHOST OF THE MOUNTAIN, author and photographer traveled to Mongolia to help track the elusive snow leopard. They climbed up, hiked over, and slid down mountains, searching all the while for leopards and, failing that, leopard scat. The book is irresistible and satisfying, despite the unpredictable nature of those ghostlike cats.
I admire Sy's moxie, but I also admire her sensibilities, as evidenced in these lines, my favorites in the entire book:
Protecting an animal is like loving someone. It’s not something you do and then finish. It’s a long-term promise, honored over and over, one step at a time.”
Amen to that.
October 8, 2010
This book took us a long time to read, as we'd only read a couple of pages each night. The chapters are very short, but there's a lot of information on each page. Maybe too much. The pictures are amazing, as is the story of this elusive animal. As expected, our girls had a big giggle at the bit about biologists being "professors of poop." The story ended a bit abruptly, though, with an unsatisfactory follow-up of the status of the research. It was as though the ending was a rushed afterthought.
As mentioned above, one of our favorite quotes from the book:
"If you want to study animals, you've got to become a professor of poop."
The book also offers a website that elaborates on the scientific research being done to learn and help save the snow leopards, with (of course) oppotunities to contribute to the cause:
www.snowleopardtrust.org
As mentioned above, one of our favorite quotes from the book:
"If you want to study animals, you've got to become a professor of poop."
The book also offers a website that elaborates on the scientific research being done to learn and help save the snow leopards, with (of course) oppotunities to contribute to the cause:
www.snowleopardtrust.org
March 19, 2021
We don't get a chance very often to review a book like Saving the Ghost of the Mountain: An Expedition Among Snow Leopards in Mongolia written with younger audiences in mind. This one is a treat and is great even to read with younger readers with a strong vocabulary, but is probably aimed at junior high school/middle school students. The book is more about the journey of understanding snow leopards, than about the animal itself. Yet it’s also a great introduction to the exotic country of Mongolia with lots of interesting facts about its wildlife and people. That makes it a great read for the adventurous and curious!
Reader will enjoy lots of great pictures on each page to go along with what they're reading. It's not all pictures of snow leopards, either. There are also many photos about the culture and people of Mongolia as well as what life is like when doing research in the field. Photographs of nomadic life will give readers a an introduction to the people and their lifestyle: nomadic herders in their traditional outfits; the round, single-room home called a ger; the beautifully colorful doors common across Mongolia; and many more photos about the journey of sighting the elusive snow leopard.
Chapters are short enough for younger readers, but interesting enough for readers of all ages. The only thing that might be confusing is that, like modern magazines, a small article is sometimes in the middle of a chapter. Readers need to turn the page past the article to continue reading, then remember to come back for some interesting facts about camels, horses, dinosaur fossils, or how to make a ger in six simple steps.
Saving the Ghost of the Mountain does a wonderful job of describing what field science is and how it's done. That is: identifying questions, making observations, and discovering answers (analyzing data). And when you do all that in a place as unique as the Altai Mountains and Gobi Desert of Mongolia that can be pretty exciting! Most importantly, the book keeps it fun and exciting while also being realistic about working in wildlife conservation -- it's a lot of work!
We're always pleased to see books name the organizations supporting these efforts. Of course, that's because the book follows the field adventures of Tom McCarthy, conservation director at Snow Leopard Trust! Snow Leopard Trust and Wildlife Conservation Society are important parts of snow leopard research and conservation. They're also important parts of helping rural communities find jobs that will support them and help them avoid human-wildlife conflict with snow leopards.
Overall Saving the Ghost of the Mountain was very enjoyable and readers are sure to have a fun adventure. The photos and facts about Mongolian people and wildlife are sure to capture the attention of anyone who gets their hand on this book. We would love to see more books of this quality and insight in the hands of readers of all ages.
Reader will enjoy lots of great pictures on each page to go along with what they're reading. It's not all pictures of snow leopards, either. There are also many photos about the culture and people of Mongolia as well as what life is like when doing research in the field. Photographs of nomadic life will give readers a an introduction to the people and their lifestyle: nomadic herders in their traditional outfits; the round, single-room home called a ger; the beautifully colorful doors common across Mongolia; and many more photos about the journey of sighting the elusive snow leopard.
Chapters are short enough for younger readers, but interesting enough for readers of all ages. The only thing that might be confusing is that, like modern magazines, a small article is sometimes in the middle of a chapter. Readers need to turn the page past the article to continue reading, then remember to come back for some interesting facts about camels, horses, dinosaur fossils, or how to make a ger in six simple steps.
Saving the Ghost of the Mountain does a wonderful job of describing what field science is and how it's done. That is: identifying questions, making observations, and discovering answers (analyzing data). And when you do all that in a place as unique as the Altai Mountains and Gobi Desert of Mongolia that can be pretty exciting! Most importantly, the book keeps it fun and exciting while also being realistic about working in wildlife conservation -- it's a lot of work!
We're always pleased to see books name the organizations supporting these efforts. Of course, that's because the book follows the field adventures of Tom McCarthy, conservation director at Snow Leopard Trust! Snow Leopard Trust and Wildlife Conservation Society are important parts of snow leopard research and conservation. They're also important parts of helping rural communities find jobs that will support them and help them avoid human-wildlife conflict with snow leopards.
Overall Saving the Ghost of the Mountain was very enjoyable and readers are sure to have a fun adventure. The photos and facts about Mongolian people and wildlife are sure to capture the attention of anyone who gets their hand on this book. We would love to see more books of this quality and insight in the hands of readers of all ages.
September 8, 2009
Tom McCarthy has spent fifteen years studying endangered snow leopards, nearly invisible in their desert habitat and so elusive that although this expedition found plenty of scat in the high rocky scree in the mountains of Mongolia, where they searched, they never did see a leopard. Montgomery and Bishop, experienced science travelers, document their trek with terrific photographs and great descriptions of their companions, their challenging climbs, and their generous welcome by Mongolian hosts. Interspersed with stories of their travels are stories of Tom's previous encounters with the cat called the ghost of the mountain. The back matter includes advice to young conservationists, something about the language and about the Snow Leopard Trust and notes from both the author and the photographer as well as an index but no bibliography. Instead readers are directed to a website which does include a bibliography but doesn't mention the chapter in Pamela Turner's A Life in the Wild which describes the work of George Schaller, who introduced McCarthy to this work.
July 13, 2016
One of the summer reading challenges at our local library is to read a book about your favorite animal. For whatever reason, my 4-year-old has recently decided that snow leopards are his favorite animal (well, that and cows and bunny rabbits, but that's not as interesting). So we asked our children's librarian for a book on snow leopards, and this is what she gave us.
We had a lot of fun reading this together at bedtime over the course of a couple of nights. We didn't read every bit of it because while my son does have a good attention span for his age, he's still only 4, and this book is definitely geared toward upper elementary school. It's handy to read to a younger child, though, because you can read the captions for the pictures and the one or two snow leopard facts on each page that are set aside in text boxes. That still provided a lot of interesting facts to both of us. I actually learned a ton from reading this with him. I knew absolutely nothing about snow leopards. I didn't even know they were native to Mongolia!
We had a lot of fun reading this together at bedtime over the course of a couple of nights. We didn't read every bit of it because while my son does have a good attention span for his age, he's still only 4, and this book is definitely geared toward upper elementary school. It's handy to read to a younger child, though, because you can read the captions for the pictures and the one or two snow leopard facts on each page that are set aside in text boxes. That still provided a lot of interesting facts to both of us. I actually learned a ton from reading this with him. I knew absolutely nothing about snow leopards. I didn't even know they were native to Mongolia!
June 7, 2017
Every book that I have read so far in the Scientists in the Field series is amazing and this book is no exception. It is so important to show students the variety of jobs that scientists have and the wealth of skills they need to do these jobs. So many students still think of "scientists" as white men who work in chemistry labs. By showing them the variety of good work that scientists do in our world, it opens up more models for them to follow. In this book in particular it is also great for our science unit on environments to show how unusual and harsh some environments are and there are still animals and plants that survive in those environments.
December 11, 2018
This one is definitely made more mysterious by the fact that many of the scientists that study the snow leopards of Mongolia literally go decades without having seen one (and in the case of assistants NEVER see one) but their passion and drive to understand these ghosts maintain their curiosity in the natural habitat. The book was almost more about Mongolian people and way of life than the leopard themselves but with the inclusion of images from tagging them and being in captivity, we know some or enough to continue the quest in their natural habitat- plus is makes me want some milk tea and to sleep in a ger.
May 10, 2010
A fascinating book about the Snow Leopards of Mongolia and the scientist who attempts to track them. The Snow Leopard is a very elusive creature with the scientist who studies them only encountering a few in his lifetime.
Sy Montgomery and Nic Bishop are on an expedition with the scientist and you learn about the people of Mongolia and the rugged terrain in which they live. The photographs are amazing, as we've all come to expect from Nic Bishop.
Definitely for kids who love real life adventure stories.
Sy Montgomery and Nic Bishop are on an expedition with the scientist and you learn about the people of Mongolia and the rugged terrain in which they live. The photographs are amazing, as we've all come to expect from Nic Bishop.
Definitely for kids who love real life adventure stories.
February 20, 2017
Maddeningly, I could not get my Fire to cooperate and let me write some kind of review yesterday.
Scientists in the Field Series
I've read two now, and on behalf of the parents of inquisitive children, let me say "Thank You!" HMH Books for Young Readers, "thank you so much for producing non-fiction books for children that have actual content. Mere words cannot express my gratitude. Here, take all my money and produce more of these fine volumes." I can't be the only adult to rend my garments and gnash my teeth and having to read aloud the one hundredth book on say, pandas, that the child has managed to find, and that contains several lovely pictures and not enough facts or even theories to fill a photo caption. Three year olds may lack context, but they aren't stupid. Nor are they afraid of big words. Everyone has met the equivalent of the child who knows the correct names and pronunciations (I always had a hard time with these, the stress is never where I expect it to be) of every dinosaur ever cataloged. All that brainspace, and nothing to fill it up.
But not this series. These books, bless 'em,these books tell the reader so much. This one gives a bit of personal history of the lead researcher on the project, what he studied in college, what kinds of jobs and graduate school lead to him being in expert on the snow leopards of Mongolia and how to count them, despite being one of the most difficult animals to locate in the wild. There's a bit of background on the political and cultural history of Mongolia, a bit of the climate and ecology of the Gobi. there's a bit on language, on the practicality of gers (Mongolian yurts), and the popularity of the color orange in the painting of doors, which with the frames can be popped into the ger as it is set up. there's information on the physical demands of this particular field work, on the challenges of feeding a vegetarian writer in a region whose diet is almost entirely meat and dairy.
And then, of course, there is the science. In order to save an endangered species you have to be able to estimate the population and gauge the trend in population after an intervention. Tracking animals with radio collars is helpful, but first you have to safely capture the animals, and these big kitties are so perfectly camouflaged it is possible to be within two feet of one with a tracking collar and still not see it.
I'll stop now. I think I've made it clear how enjoyable and informative the books in this series are. I haven't managed to talk anyone in the family into starting either of these yet, but my ceaseless yammering will wear down their resistance. Perhaps you are not a fan of books for younger readers, or you're not interested in the science of [insert fascinating topic here]. Even so, I ask you to keep them in mind. Make sure the youngest people of your acquaintance have a copy that suits their particular interests. Keep them in mind as an introduction to a topic that is more entertaining and encompassing than the average Wiki, but short enough to read in a couple of hours. Or just check one out of the library to look at the pretty pictures (the photography meets the same high standards as the text, and the back matter) and read the captions, that'll teach you enough to sound well informed at the next cocktail party [I've never actually attended a cocktail party, possibly they do not exist outside of fiction. Feel free to substitute the making-conversation-with-strangers-or-nearly scenario that works best for you.]
If you aren't in the habit of reading nonfiction for children, but you've read this gushing review anyway, I thank you. If you didn't read the review, but somehow found this bit at the end, I'll put it in this perspective: if I graded books on a scale, all the others would have to be marked down from five stars to one.
Library copy
Scientists in the Field Series
I've read two now, and on behalf of the parents of inquisitive children, let me say "Thank You!" HMH Books for Young Readers, "thank you so much for producing non-fiction books for children that have actual content. Mere words cannot express my gratitude. Here, take all my money and produce more of these fine volumes." I can't be the only adult to rend my garments and gnash my teeth and having to read aloud the one hundredth book on say, pandas, that the child has managed to find, and that contains several lovely pictures and not enough facts or even theories to fill a photo caption. Three year olds may lack context, but they aren't stupid. Nor are they afraid of big words. Everyone has met the equivalent of the child who knows the correct names and pronunciations (I always had a hard time with these, the stress is never where I expect it to be) of every dinosaur ever cataloged. All that brainspace, and nothing to fill it up.
But not this series. These books, bless 'em,these books tell the reader so much. This one gives a bit of personal history of the lead researcher on the project, what he studied in college, what kinds of jobs and graduate school lead to him being in expert on the snow leopards of Mongolia and how to count them, despite being one of the most difficult animals to locate in the wild. There's a bit of background on the political and cultural history of Mongolia, a bit of the climate and ecology of the Gobi. there's a bit on language, on the practicality of gers (Mongolian yurts), and the popularity of the color orange in the painting of doors, which with the frames can be popped into the ger as it is set up. there's information on the physical demands of this particular field work, on the challenges of feeding a vegetarian writer in a region whose diet is almost entirely meat and dairy.
And then, of course, there is the science. In order to save an endangered species you have to be able to estimate the population and gauge the trend in population after an intervention. Tracking animals with radio collars is helpful, but first you have to safely capture the animals, and these big kitties are so perfectly camouflaged it is possible to be within two feet of one with a tracking collar and still not see it.
I'll stop now. I think I've made it clear how enjoyable and informative the books in this series are. I haven't managed to talk anyone in the family into starting either of these yet, but my ceaseless yammering will wear down their resistance. Perhaps you are not a fan of books for younger readers, or you're not interested in the science of [insert fascinating topic here]. Even so, I ask you to keep them in mind. Make sure the youngest people of your acquaintance have a copy that suits their particular interests. Keep them in mind as an introduction to a topic that is more entertaining and encompassing than the average Wiki, but short enough to read in a couple of hours. Or just check one out of the library to look at the pretty pictures (the photography meets the same high standards as the text, and the back matter) and read the captions, that'll teach you enough to sound well informed at the next cocktail party [I've never actually attended a cocktail party, possibly they do not exist outside of fiction. Feel free to substitute the making-conversation-with-strangers-or-nearly scenario that works best for you.]
If you aren't in the habit of reading nonfiction for children, but you've read this gushing review anyway, I thank you. If you didn't read the review, but somehow found this bit at the end, I'll put it in this perspective: if I graded books on a scale, all the others would have to be marked down from five stars to one.
Library copy
December 4, 2012
Citation: Scientists in the Field: Saving the Ghost of the Mountain, by Sy Montgomery, illustrated by Nic Bishop. (Houghton Mifflin, 2009) 73p. Nonfiction.
Summary: Tom McCarthy is a wildlife biologist who heads the Snow Leopard Project and is leading an expedition to the Gobi Desert in Mongolia to attempt to track and find an accurate way to count the elusive snow leopard population in this region. In addition, he attempts to encourage the local livestock owners to help with the conservation effort. This book also includes several profiles of the history, geography and culture of the little-known country of Mongolia.
Critique: a) Because of its complete profiles of the peoples of Mongolia, the vastness of the desert, and the heartbreak of a conservation effort focused on an endangered animal, it is the content of this piece that sets it apart.
b) In addition to documenting the multiple steps of a wildlife expedition, Montgomery is able to paint a picture of the entire country of Mongolia that gives the reader a sense of really being there, and a true understanding of the science behind tracking a rare animal. First, by describing the trip step-by-step, from the plane trip, to packing the van, to sifting through various animal droppings, Montgomery creates a first-hand account, giving the reader an accurate sense of the expedition itself. Next, with the inclusion of several sidebars and photographs about the lifestyle in Mongolia, she provides authentic background information that helps the reader truly visualize the setting and region in which this scientist works.
c) Montgomery’s descriptions of the expedition include several paragraphs on the science of “poop” (p.33) as well as a harrowing tale of the group’s trip up (and down) the side of a steep ridge (p.42) while searching for signs of snow leopards. She fills in with tales of McCarthy’s past expeditions in which he did successfully tag a snow leopard (p.22)
as a way to help the reader visualize what that part of the job might be like. Finally, she includes several snapshots into the culture and history of Mongolia, most notably, a profile of Genghis Khan (p.7), the construction of a ger (p.29) and the use of camels in their society (p.45). Each of these methods serves to share strong, accurate content information with the reader, and creates a full profile of this little-known country.
Curriculum Connection: This book would be useful in a 5th -8th grade classroom, for literature study of non-fiction, or as a companion piece for a science class study on conservation. A class might do a cross-curricular project with persuasive writing, convincing businesses or patrons to support the Snow Leopard Trust Foundation, while investigating ways they could participate in conservation efforts locally.
Summary: Tom McCarthy is a wildlife biologist who heads the Snow Leopard Project and is leading an expedition to the Gobi Desert in Mongolia to attempt to track and find an accurate way to count the elusive snow leopard population in this region. In addition, he attempts to encourage the local livestock owners to help with the conservation effort. This book also includes several profiles of the history, geography and culture of the little-known country of Mongolia.
Critique: a) Because of its complete profiles of the peoples of Mongolia, the vastness of the desert, and the heartbreak of a conservation effort focused on an endangered animal, it is the content of this piece that sets it apart.
b) In addition to documenting the multiple steps of a wildlife expedition, Montgomery is able to paint a picture of the entire country of Mongolia that gives the reader a sense of really being there, and a true understanding of the science behind tracking a rare animal. First, by describing the trip step-by-step, from the plane trip, to packing the van, to sifting through various animal droppings, Montgomery creates a first-hand account, giving the reader an accurate sense of the expedition itself. Next, with the inclusion of several sidebars and photographs about the lifestyle in Mongolia, she provides authentic background information that helps the reader truly visualize the setting and region in which this scientist works.
c) Montgomery’s descriptions of the expedition include several paragraphs on the science of “poop” (p.33) as well as a harrowing tale of the group’s trip up (and down) the side of a steep ridge (p.42) while searching for signs of snow leopards. She fills in with tales of McCarthy’s past expeditions in which he did successfully tag a snow leopard (p.22)
as a way to help the reader visualize what that part of the job might be like. Finally, she includes several snapshots into the culture and history of Mongolia, most notably, a profile of Genghis Khan (p.7), the construction of a ger (p.29) and the use of camels in their society (p.45). Each of these methods serves to share strong, accurate content information with the reader, and creates a full profile of this little-known country.
Curriculum Connection: This book would be useful in a 5th -8th grade classroom, for literature study of non-fiction, or as a companion piece for a science class study on conservation. A class might do a cross-curricular project with persuasive writing, convincing businesses or patrons to support the Snow Leopard Trust Foundation, while investigating ways they could participate in conservation efforts locally.
December 8, 2012
Genre: Informational
Summary: Scientist Tom McCarthy travels to the Gobi Desert in Mongolia in search of the Snow Leopard, with the goal collecting data to gain greater statistical information regarding the leopards left in this location.
Area for comment: Design and Illustrations
B. The design and illustrations included in this text are magnificent and allow the content to be much more interesting for the reader. Each page is filled with images and sketches that provide more in-depth knowledge that goes beyond the story itself and further enlightens the reader with information about the Snow Leopard and the Mongolian culture.
C. The two maps in the beginning of the text give the reader a global perspective of the location of the Snow Leopard in Mongolia; this reference helps the reader understand the text better and provides the necessary information without requiring one to search elsewhere. While the text focuses on Tom’s journey of collecting Snow Leopard data throughout the Mongolian countryside, additional information is given through various text boxes within the text as well, such as the text box on page 20 titled Desert Dino that discusses the historical information about the Gobi and the dinosaurs that were preserved in this amazing desert. The text also uses images to explain how the Ger, which is the nomadic home that Mongolians live in that Tom and his crew use throughout their studies, is set up (pg. 29), thus providing the reader with cultural information regarding the Mongolian people. This wide-range of information through strategic design, text and illustrative decoration makes the text an informative asset for any classroom library.
Curriculum connection: The text is filled heavily with information regarding Snow Leopards and the Mongolian culture that I feel is more suitable for students in grades 4th and older. The curriculum connections within this text are endless; it can be used within social studies activities to teach children about map skills, the Mongolian people and culture, as well as the Gobi desert. The text could also be used to teach scientific concepts such as data collection, the role of scientist in the field, as well the biological aspects of the Snow Leopard species. It could also be used to teach mathematics such as calculating data and analyzing statistics. Most importantly the text brings awareness to the importance of scientific studies and preserving animals that are at risk of being extinct.
Summary: Scientist Tom McCarthy travels to the Gobi Desert in Mongolia in search of the Snow Leopard, with the goal collecting data to gain greater statistical information regarding the leopards left in this location.
Area for comment: Design and Illustrations
B. The design and illustrations included in this text are magnificent and allow the content to be much more interesting for the reader. Each page is filled with images and sketches that provide more in-depth knowledge that goes beyond the story itself and further enlightens the reader with information about the Snow Leopard and the Mongolian culture.
C. The two maps in the beginning of the text give the reader a global perspective of the location of the Snow Leopard in Mongolia; this reference helps the reader understand the text better and provides the necessary information without requiring one to search elsewhere. While the text focuses on Tom’s journey of collecting Snow Leopard data throughout the Mongolian countryside, additional information is given through various text boxes within the text as well, such as the text box on page 20 titled Desert Dino that discusses the historical information about the Gobi and the dinosaurs that were preserved in this amazing desert. The text also uses images to explain how the Ger, which is the nomadic home that Mongolians live in that Tom and his crew use throughout their studies, is set up (pg. 29), thus providing the reader with cultural information regarding the Mongolian people. This wide-range of information through strategic design, text and illustrative decoration makes the text an informative asset for any classroom library.
Curriculum connection: The text is filled heavily with information regarding Snow Leopards and the Mongolian culture that I feel is more suitable for students in grades 4th and older. The curriculum connections within this text are endless; it can be used within social studies activities to teach children about map skills, the Mongolian people and culture, as well as the Gobi desert. The text could also be used to teach scientific concepts such as data collection, the role of scientist in the field, as well the biological aspects of the Snow Leopard species. It could also be used to teach mathematics such as calculating data and analyzing statistics. Most importantly the text brings awareness to the importance of scientific studies and preserving animals that are at risk of being extinct.
November 20, 2018
Summary:
This book was about a man named Tom McCarthy who was asked to study snow leopards in Mongolia. Snow leopards are sometimes called, “the ghost of the mountain.” This is because it is extremely difficult to find one. Tom was up for the challenge to find the mysterious snow leopards. The way that Sy Montgomery writes this book draws the audience in by his impeccable details about Tom’s journey. Sy describes things such as dangers, collecting data, and finding the “ghost”. Nic Bishop was the photographer. The way the photographs are displayed in the book helps the reader understand the journey too. The way they portrayed the book truly makes you feel as if you were experiencing the journey and feeling the same emotions Tom was.
Evaluation:
I like this book. I think it is a tad long, but overall knowing what scientists do in the field is extremely important. I think this would be a great book to use in the classroom because students enjoy reading about animals. I think they would find it fascinating to learn about an animal that is almost impossible to find.
Teaching Idea:
When looking up some ideas on this book, Sy Montgomery had some resources that would be beneficial for teachers to use. He suggested that the students become the scientist and write about how their journey traveling to Mongolia in search of the snow leopard would look like. He then suggests that the students learn more about Mongolia and locate some of the places that were traveled to on the scientist's journey. Montgomery also suggested that students work on finding other places on a world map. The students would find those places and write down 5 facts about that place. This would help students learn about different countries as well as help them with their map skills.
http://www.symontgomery.com/wp-conten...
http://www.symontgomery.com/wp-conten...
This book was about a man named Tom McCarthy who was asked to study snow leopards in Mongolia. Snow leopards are sometimes called, “the ghost of the mountain.” This is because it is extremely difficult to find one. Tom was up for the challenge to find the mysterious snow leopards. The way that Sy Montgomery writes this book draws the audience in by his impeccable details about Tom’s journey. Sy describes things such as dangers, collecting data, and finding the “ghost”. Nic Bishop was the photographer. The way the photographs are displayed in the book helps the reader understand the journey too. The way they portrayed the book truly makes you feel as if you were experiencing the journey and feeling the same emotions Tom was.
Evaluation:
I like this book. I think it is a tad long, but overall knowing what scientists do in the field is extremely important. I think this would be a great book to use in the classroom because students enjoy reading about animals. I think they would find it fascinating to learn about an animal that is almost impossible to find.
Teaching Idea:
When looking up some ideas on this book, Sy Montgomery had some resources that would be beneficial for teachers to use. He suggested that the students become the scientist and write about how their journey traveling to Mongolia in search of the snow leopard would look like. He then suggests that the students learn more about Mongolia and locate some of the places that were traveled to on the scientist's journey. Montgomery also suggested that students work on finding other places on a world map. The students would find those places and write down 5 facts about that place. This would help students learn about different countries as well as help them with their map skills.
http://www.symontgomery.com/wp-conten...
http://www.symontgomery.com/wp-conten...
January 30, 2015
Sy Montgomery recounts her travel into Mongolia with Tom McCarthy and other scientists of the Snow Leopard Trust in hopes of estimating the population of snow leopards in the area. In tales of their travels, Sy also gives a peak into life in Mongolia, what it is like to be a wildlife biologist, and how Tom McCarthy got started on his project, and how scientists study endangered species. Of course, information on snow leopards is included throughout as well. The tale is accompanied by fantastic photographs Nic Bishop took on the trip (and at some zoos, because snow leopards are extremely elusive).
A great resource for middle or upper grades. Sy's writing flows like a story and keeps you invested in the expedition. It makes for high interest non-fiction reading, a good peek into modern Mongolian culture, an honest look at how hard scientists' jobs can be, and great information about an interesting animal. There are even notes in the back about the challenges the author and photographer faced in doing their jobs that provide good insight for those interested in either of those professions. All that combined makes it a good pick for a broad range of reasons, and there should be something in here for just about anyone.
Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. No violence, except if you can animals preying on each other (nothing graphic). Much of the expedition is spent using animal scat as clues, but this is handled tactfully and the usage of scientific terminology should diminish the giggle-inducing factor.
A great resource for middle or upper grades. Sy's writing flows like a story and keeps you invested in the expedition. It makes for high interest non-fiction reading, a good peek into modern Mongolian culture, an honest look at how hard scientists' jobs can be, and great information about an interesting animal. There are even notes in the back about the challenges the author and photographer faced in doing their jobs that provide good insight for those interested in either of those professions. All that combined makes it a good pick for a broad range of reasons, and there should be something in here for just about anyone.
Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. No violence, except if you can animals preying on each other (nothing graphic). Much of the expedition is spent using animal scat as clues, but this is handled tactfully and the usage of scientific terminology should diminish the giggle-inducing factor.
December 10, 2012
Genre- Informational (Scientists in the field)
Summary- In this book, Tom McCarthy studies snow leopards in Mongolia’s Altai Mountains. This book is full of interesting facts about snow leopards, Mongolia, Tom’s background leading up to his career of studying snow leopards, and information about Tom’s team members.
Critique-
a. Illustrations
b. The photographs are an essential part of understanding what Tom and his team went through to capture live pictures of snow leopards, as well as, the beautiful habitat in which they live. Many of the photos are explained in great detail through the use of captions.
c. The snow leopard is so rare that even those people who live most of their life among them never have seen one so to see a close-up photo of one on page 12 of this book was quite fascinating. The photo of the snow leopard reveals the soft texture of fur and unique arrangement of black spots; it looks like I am using binoculars to view it.
Curriculum Connection- This book would be very useful when teaching students about endangered species and why it’s important to protect them. I believe that students will be drawn to the photos and engaged when reading about all the interesting facts about snow leopards.
Summary- In this book, Tom McCarthy studies snow leopards in Mongolia’s Altai Mountains. This book is full of interesting facts about snow leopards, Mongolia, Tom’s background leading up to his career of studying snow leopards, and information about Tom’s team members.
Critique-
a. Illustrations
b. The photographs are an essential part of understanding what Tom and his team went through to capture live pictures of snow leopards, as well as, the beautiful habitat in which they live. Many of the photos are explained in great detail through the use of captions.
c. The snow leopard is so rare that even those people who live most of their life among them never have seen one so to see a close-up photo of one on page 12 of this book was quite fascinating. The photo of the snow leopard reveals the soft texture of fur and unique arrangement of black spots; it looks like I am using binoculars to view it.
Curriculum Connection- This book would be very useful when teaching students about endangered species and why it’s important to protect them. I believe that students will be drawn to the photos and engaged when reading about all the interesting facts about snow leopards.
April 26, 2014
Genre: Information Science
Age Range: 5th-9th Grade
Summary: Tom McCarthy dedicated his life to studying a snow leopard by the name of Blue. Follow Tom on his never ending journey following the life of Blue and learn fascinating information regarding snow leopards in Mongolia.
Curriculum Connection: I would have the students research an animal of their choice. The students well research topics such as the where the animal resides, the habitat, food source, adaptations, etc. The students will then create either a Tellagami, iMovie or Powerpoint report on their animal.
Opinion: I love learning about nature in general. I have watched a documentary before regarding snow leopards. However, I have not read this book before. The information contained within the book will broadened the average readers knowledge about snow leopards. The book itself was put together well, and the information flowed smoothly and it transitioned well from section to section.
Visual Appeal: The book did a great job providing the readers with amazing pictures of the elusive snow leopard. Additionally, the text did a great job providing the readers with maps which gave the reader a sort of global perspective.
Age Range: 5th-9th Grade
Summary: Tom McCarthy dedicated his life to studying a snow leopard by the name of Blue. Follow Tom on his never ending journey following the life of Blue and learn fascinating information regarding snow leopards in Mongolia.
Curriculum Connection: I would have the students research an animal of their choice. The students well research topics such as the where the animal resides, the habitat, food source, adaptations, etc. The students will then create either a Tellagami, iMovie or Powerpoint report on their animal.
Opinion: I love learning about nature in general. I have watched a documentary before regarding snow leopards. However, I have not read this book before. The information contained within the book will broadened the average readers knowledge about snow leopards. The book itself was put together well, and the information flowed smoothly and it transitioned well from section to section.
Visual Appeal: The book did a great job providing the readers with amazing pictures of the elusive snow leopard. Additionally, the text did a great job providing the readers with maps which gave the reader a sort of global perspective.
May 26, 2010
The Scientists in the Field series profiles scientists working in areas from astronomy to wildlife forensics. This volume in the series features Tom McCarthy, “the blue-eyed, bearded conservation director of the Seattle-based Snow Leopard Trust.” The writer and photographer for the book take readers on a trip with McCarthy to the Altai Mountains in Mongolia, where he studies the native snow leopards. The book is full of full-color photographs and illustrations, with sidebars on various aspects of Mongolia and scientific research. McCarthy’s entourage members are each described. In addition to the cultural, scientific, and narrative information, attention is paid to the way that McCarthy came to the field, describing his journey through education and previous jobs. This real-world perspective is beneficial for kids who may be interested in the field as their career. Although occasionally the text overwhelms the photography, overall, this is a well-rounded book about a little-known topic and region of the world.
June 11, 2011
I have to agree with another reviewer, Loree, about my favorite quote from the book: "Protecting an animal is like loving someone. It’s not something you do and then finish. It’s a long-term promise, honored over and over, one step at a time.” I don't know how Montgomery and Bishop manage all these trips and turn out such gorgeous books, over and over again. When you think of all the background work involved, some of which was mentioned here, it is just amazing. Both Montgomery and Bishop worked out for long periods of time to be physically fit for this trip, and likely all their trips. What isn't mentioned here is probably even more difficult, if unromantic: all the paperwork involved (passports etc) and the contacts among the different scientists that they make to do these trips. This partnership must be one of the most creative and hardworking pair I'm aware of in children's literature.
March 14, 2012
This book tells how a wildlife biologist and crew does research about snow leopards in Mongolia. The photos and illustrations make this similar to National Geographic articles, only much easier to read for tweens. I would recommend this book to readers who love magazines like Ranger Rick, or doing anything in the great outdoors. Also, I've heard so many tweens say they want to be an animal biologist when they grow up - this is the book for them!
Also, the information about Mongolia is very interesting and told through a unique perspective. I would recommend this to tweens doing geography projects about Mongolia.
The photos and diagrams of the Mongolian houses called Ger are remarkable, and would also be interesting for tweens who like building things.
This book about snow leopards contains much more information than I was expecting! This is a very versatile book for tween readers who want to learn about a variety of areas, maybe all the future researchers at your library.
Also, the information about Mongolia is very interesting and told through a unique perspective. I would recommend this to tweens doing geography projects about Mongolia.
The photos and diagrams of the Mongolian houses called Ger are remarkable, and would also be interesting for tweens who like building things.
This book about snow leopards contains much more information than I was expecting! This is a very versatile book for tween readers who want to learn about a variety of areas, maybe all the future researchers at your library.
July 23, 2017
What a delightful book. Beautiful photographs enhanced Montgomery's account of an expedition to track the snow leopard. Interestingly, the only photograph which included her was at the very back of the book. She and photographer Nic Bishop accompanied a scientific team to learn what they could about this extremely elusive animal. The conditions under which they lived while on the expedition were challenging, but that seems to suit Montgomery well. Definitely written for younger readers, I, too (a "senior" reader), enjoyed it and learned a great deal about an animal I barely knew existed. The most successful method for learning about the snow leopard is to collect their scat and have it analyzed. Visual sightings are rare. The thought that this beautiful animal is so near extinction is distressing. Hopefully, efforts described by Montgomery in this book will help save the snow leopard.
November 9, 2018
Summary: This book follows Tom McCarthy on his journey following the life of a snow leopard named Blue. The never ending journey entails fascinating information regarding snow leopards in Mongolia.
Evaluation: The book did a great job of incorporating a lot of information about snow leopards. The book itself was put together well and had amazing pictures of the snow leopard. The book also had maps for the readers, which made it more interactive.
Teaching Idea: This book could be used as a mentor text on research of an animal. The teacher could read the whole book or parts of the book to students, showing them how to organize the information about an animal. Students could choose an animal to research including specific facts about the animal, like the author did. The students would then create their own text about their animal and present it to the class.
Evaluation: The book did a great job of incorporating a lot of information about snow leopards. The book itself was put together well and had amazing pictures of the snow leopard. The book also had maps for the readers, which made it more interactive.
Teaching Idea: This book could be used as a mentor text on research of an animal. The teacher could read the whole book or parts of the book to students, showing them how to organize the information about an animal. Students could choose an animal to research including specific facts about the animal, like the author did. The students would then create their own text about their animal and present it to the class.
October 17, 2009
I loved this book. It had gorgeous photos, an engaging story about the expedition to count snow leopards, fascinating cultural details about Mongolia, and it portrayed Tom McCarthy's life-changing passion for snow leopards. Nobody on this expedition saw a wild snow leopard the whole trip, which was incredible given how hard they worked and how much they endured! I like Nic Bishop's comment: "I love that some things in nature will always remain mysterious and unseen. Just knowing that they are out there is pleasure enough." It was encouraging to learn how much Tom's work has changed the local people's attitudes toward snow leopards, and to learn about the partnership between the local herders and the scientists.
December 18, 2017
Overall I did not really like this book. Although this book did give me some cool facts, the book did not interest me. This book did not interest me because when I read the book it felt like it was just back and forth, not really repetitive, but just plan, like it was missing something. I do know that when you are a scientist you need to repeat things over and over to find the right facts or to get it right, but to me, the book was kind of boring to me. Even though I did not really like it, I know other people might so, I recommend this book to kids (people) who like scientific books, or kids who re interested in non-fiction, and to kids who like to learn about animals and/or books about traveling and seeing cool/ dangerous things.
September 13, 2009
Another great entry in the Scientists in the Field series, Saving the Ghost of the Mountain takes the reader along on an expedition to study snow leopards in the deserts of Mongolia. Information about Mongolian people and culture are interspersed with information about the rare, endangered snow leopards and efforts to protect the species.
Recommended for fans of the series and for kids interested in adventure and animals. Pair this title with Horse Song: The Naadam of Mongolia by Ted & Betsy Lewin for a further glimpse into Mongolian life.
Read my full review on my blog:
http://abbylibrarian.blogspot.com/200...
Recommended for fans of the series and for kids interested in adventure and animals. Pair this title with Horse Song: The Naadam of Mongolia by Ted & Betsy Lewin for a further glimpse into Mongolian life.
Read my full review on my blog:
http://abbylibrarian.blogspot.com/200...
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October 23, 2017(Scientists in the Field)
Summary: This book is about the snow leopards in Mongolia. It is a non-fiction text that includes a multitude of pictures that adds detail to the story and history of the snow leopard.
Evaluation: This book had a lot of valuable information about snow leopards and the history in Mongolia and nearby areas. I felt the pictures made the information even more engaging and important. The information and pictures were very detailed and informational.
Teaching Idea: It could be used as a research resource if a student chose to do a research paper on snow leopards. This also could be used as a way to teach about non-fiction books/texts and their features.
Summary: This book is about the snow leopards in Mongolia. It is a non-fiction text that includes a multitude of pictures that adds detail to the story and history of the snow leopard.
Evaluation: This book had a lot of valuable information about snow leopards and the history in Mongolia and nearby areas. I felt the pictures made the information even more engaging and important. The information and pictures were very detailed and informational.
Teaching Idea: It could be used as a research resource if a student chose to do a research paper on snow leopards. This also could be used as a way to teach about non-fiction books/texts and their features.
September 4, 2010
I really enjoyed this look into yet another of Earth's rapidly disappearing animal species--the beautiful and elusive snow leopard. I loved how this book was constructed--chapters and side boxes describing preparation for the Mogolian journey, people met along the way, members of the team, various snow leopards, and aspects of Mongolian customs, history, and life. The photos were great and reading this book made me feel as if I was right there along with the other reseachers on their trip to the Gobi desert in Mongolia, stalking the rarely seen snow leopard.
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