Montgomery, Sy. (2010). Kakapo Rescue. Houghton Mifflin Books for Children: New York, NY.Junior Book Log: Sibert AwardThe Kakapo parrot is the largest parrot on earth, and it is nearly extinct. Weighing in at nine pounds on average, these birds don't fly. They're friendly and curious by nature. They're also nocturnal, and loudly crash through the forest to forage for food. In a habitat where few predators abound, the kakapo used to get along just fine with these quirky characteristics for a bird. Yet when Polynesians, and later Europeans, infiltrated their quiet, isolated land in New Zealand, everything changed. Their numbers were vastly disseminated by over hunting, and having new predators such as cats introduced to their area, as well as pestilence from rats and other creatures and bacteria from foreign lands. At one point, people were certain that the Kakapo were entirely wiped out. Now they know the exact number of kakapo and it's less than a hundred. They've been relocated to Codfish Island, off the coast of New Zealand, where outside visitation is restricted and they can maintain strict quarantine codes to ensure that nothing is introduced to the remaining kakapo. A team of scientists, researchers, conservationists and volunteers maintain a vigilant watch over the few remaining kakapo. They're also there to ensure that the kakapo reproduce. This means that they must monitor each bird, set up feed stations (to ensure that they are eating enough to be able to reproduce), and enlist "nest minders" to keep eggs and hatchlings warm while their mother is out. When they must, they will even keep the eggs in incubators and raise the babies until they can be released. So many people work diligently to fix the mistakes of people of the past. This is such a great book for students to really observe cause and effect relationships. They could literally keep a log on each page and document each cause and effect relationship that pops up. It's also a great way to get students to start thinking about their own carbon footprint and ways to get involved with social or environmental issues. Montgomery, Sy; Bishop, Nic; Kakapo Rescue: Saving the World's Strangest Parrot, Houghton Mifflin Books, 2010, Information book, 3rd - 8th, rate 5, lexile 950LThis book is about the adventure a team of researchers and volunteers go on to help rescue kakapo on Codfish Island. The books going into the histrory of kakapo and discusses their current existance and the danger they are in. In addition, they go into detail of their reseach while on Codfish Island, providing pictures and descriptions of the kakapo and the eggs/babies they encounter.I rate this 5. The kakapo, as the book describes, is a bird that is almost extinct, due to humans; without this book, I wouldn't know these birds exist. It's great how they include readers in their whole journey, from sanitizing themselves before their trip, the flight they take, the hours they stayed up waiting for the kakapo, the sadness they encountered when they found the dead baby kakapo, and the excitement when the babies they were incubating survived. The pictures are beautiful and I like how they include pictures of other species on the island and scenery. Lastly, I like how they broke it up into little chapters, which may help children want to read this book.
What do You think about Kakapo Rescue: Saving The World's Strangest Parrot (2010)?
I surprised I'm still alive after reading that book! WOW! It was SOOOO bad.
—dallasmcgee
