Review by Booklist Review
Wandering a zoo, young Anne becomes enamored by an enormous giraffe. Afterward, she searches the library, determined to learn everything she can about unusual animals. When not one book can be found, Anne promises herself that she'll write her own giraffe publication in the future. The animal adoration leads her to university zoology studies, but a dearth of giraffe knowledge results in a thrilling decision: she'll simply head to Africa and study them herself, becoming the first Western researcher to do so. Facing gender discrimination in the academic world upon her return, an unflagging Anne (eventually Dr. Anne Innis Dagg) authors dozens of scientific papers and books on her vast expertise--including the giraffe text she had vowed to write as a child. It's a wonderfully appealing and approachable introduction to an adventurous life, and the charming colored-pencil illustrations bring great energy to the proceedings. Back matter adds a few more fascinating details, an interview with Dagg, and plenty of extra resources for curious readers. A delightful exploration of passion and perseverance.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Although readers young and old will likely recognize the name Jane Goodall from her work with chimps, giraffologist Anne Innis Dagg has been less well known--until now. Born in 1933, Anne was introduced to giraffes on a trip to the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago. Readers learn that the experience sparked a lifetime of love for the tallest herbivore and propelled Anne to seek out everything she could about giraffes when she was back home in Toronto. Sadly, the public library had no materials on giraffes, and the animals weren't covered in her school lessons. That was just the beginning of many educational hurdles, as giraffes were not part of many college zoology areas of study, either. So in 1956, Anne traveled to South Africa to study giraffes at Fleur de Lys Ranch. Although her studies were fruitful, educational disappointments continued as universities at that time were reluctant to hire women professors. Undeterred, Anne forged her own path as an author of numerous books. The story is compelling, and detailed backmatter--including an interview with Dagg, a thorough bibliography, and an author's note with information on apartheid that contextualizes the scientist's time in South Africa--makes this book a strong choice for those doing reports or curious to learn more. Upbeat artwork rendered in colored pencil and Photoshop uses earth tones to depict the giraffes in their natural setting. Anne presents as White; background characters are racially diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally.) An excellent introduction to a lesser-known trailblazer. (Picture-book biography. 6-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
