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Scientists in the Field
Chasing Cheetahs: The Race to Save Africa's Fastest Cat
Since the year 1900, cheetah footprints quickly dwindled in African dirt as the species plummeted from more than 100,000 to fewer than 10,000. At the Cheetah Conservation Fund's (CCF) African headquarters in Namibia, Laurie Marker and her team save these stunning, swift, and slender creatures from extinction. Since the organization's start in 1990, they've rescued more than 900 cheetahs, most of whom have been returned to the wild.
But this arduous challenge continues. For most African livestock farmers, cheetahs are the last thing they want to see on their properties. In the 1980s, as many as 19 cheetahs per farmer died each year. Cheetahs were considered vermin--but, in learning more about this magnificent species, we know this is far from true.
Today, CCF acts as a liaison between the farmers and the cheetahs, in order to promote cohabitation in an ecosystem that cannot thrive without the existence of the precious and predatory cheetah. On a wild ride through the African wilderness--sometimes sniffing out scents left in the dirt--Sy Montgomery and Nic Bishop join CCF in studying the cheetah's ecological, genetic, and behavioral patterns in order to chase down the fastest animal on land and save the species--before it is too late.
But this arduous challenge continues. For most African livestock farmers, cheetahs are the last thing they want to see on their properties. In the 1980s, as many as 19 cheetahs per farmer died each year. Cheetahs were considered vermin--but, in learning more about this magnificent species, we know this is far from true.
Today, CCF acts as a liaison between the farmers and the cheetahs, in order to promote cohabitation in an ecosystem that cannot thrive without the existence of the precious and predatory cheetah. On a wild ride through the African wilderness--sometimes sniffing out scents left in the dirt--Sy Montgomery and Nic Bishop join CCF in studying the cheetah's ecological, genetic, and behavioral patterns in order to chase down the fastest animal on land and save the species--before it is too late.
80 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2014
7 people are currently reading
520 people want to read
About the author
Sy Montgomery
63 books2,041 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 87 reviews
December 11, 2017
I've loved all the books I've read in the Scientists in the Field series, and this one is no exception. I especially like anything Sy Montgomery writes, because she makes you feel like you're there with her, in this case in the African country of Namibia investigating the conservation of cheetahs. The book focuses on the work of Laurie Marker of the Cheetah Conservation Fund.
I learned a lot about these big cats. They all look alike to me, but Laurie and her team can tell them apart by their spots. Montgomery describes how rescued cheetahs are cared for until they can be released back into the wild, and how they are monitored after that. She describes how local farmers and landowners are involved in the conservation efforts so that everyone, both human and animal, wins. It's very inspiring.
My only wish with this book is that it had included some kind of sound recording with it. Not all big cats purr like domestic kitties, but cheetahs do. They also make sounds that my kitties don't make, and I would have loved to have heard all that. Nevertheless, I have to recommend this book, especially if you like any size of cat.
I learned a lot about these big cats. They all look alike to me, but Laurie and her team can tell them apart by their spots. Montgomery describes how rescued cheetahs are cared for until they can be released back into the wild, and how they are monitored after that. She describes how local farmers and landowners are involved in the conservation efforts so that everyone, both human and animal, wins. It's very inspiring.
My only wish with this book is that it had included some kind of sound recording with it. Not all big cats purr like domestic kitties, but cheetahs do. They also make sounds that my kitties don't make, and I would have loved to have heard all that. Nevertheless, I have to recommend this book, especially if you like any size of cat.
June 21, 2014
Every child is inspired by the sight of animals. Cats, the large, wild cats, are often one of their favorite animals. The nine chapters in this wonderfully illustrated book talks about the challenges and struggles to save one of these big cats, Cheetahs. Dr. Laurie Baker is an American living in Namibia working to save the Cheetahs from extinction. The narrative is engaging and interspersed with the sights in the field—“…A tall, smiling woman dressed in black, her curly salt-and pepper hair flowing like a mane, is striding towards us- with a ninety-pound black and gold spotted cat at her side..(Pg. 9)”
Although Laurie has been honored as a “Hero of the planet,” by Time Magazine, her work to save the Cheetahs is still ongoing. Laurie, who always wanted to be a vet, however bought a grape farm and worked in a winery. It was here that she came in close contact with a cheetah cub for the first time. It seemed that human way of life was slowly squeezing the wild animals out of their homes. Laurie started CCF to save the cheetahs and invite everyone to work with them. One of their unique programs is the ‘Dog for cats program.’ Guard dogs provide the warning to the cattle or sheep when Cheetahs are in vicinity. This has helped many farmers not kill Cheetahs and help participate in conservation efforts. Classrooms can raise money to buy a guard dog or families can volunteer in Namibia. Find more information about CCF here http://cheetah.org/. The excellent book will inspire many budding writers to take look at creatures that are almost going and seek out stories to tell about it.
Although Laurie has been honored as a “Hero of the planet,” by Time Magazine, her work to save the Cheetahs is still ongoing. Laurie, who always wanted to be a vet, however bought a grape farm and worked in a winery. It was here that she came in close contact with a cheetah cub for the first time. It seemed that human way of life was slowly squeezing the wild animals out of their homes. Laurie started CCF to save the cheetahs and invite everyone to work with them. One of their unique programs is the ‘Dog for cats program.’ Guard dogs provide the warning to the cattle or sheep when Cheetahs are in vicinity. This has helped many farmers not kill Cheetahs and help participate in conservation efforts. Classrooms can raise money to buy a guard dog or families can volunteer in Namibia. Find more information about CCF here http://cheetah.org/. The excellent book will inspire many budding writers to take look at creatures that are almost going and seek out stories to tell about it.
June 29, 2015
I think this is my favorite nonfiction series! Not one book has been less than 4 stars and most are 5 stars. This one is a 5 star. I fell in love with cheetahs when an aunt gave me a book called Pippa the Cheetah and Her Cubs by Joy Adamson. I was thrilled to find this the first book listed in the bibliography! The photos in this book are stunning. Not that that is a surprise when Nic Bishop is the photographer. The text is fascinating too. I loved the account of the scientist's childhood. But what was best was seeing what this place does, day to day, to help cheetahs. It was also fascinating to discover that Namibia has a deliberate way of preserving their wildlife. It sounds like something that can and should be done elsewhere in Africa and the entire world! They encourage neighbors to join together to put land into use for conservation and lets them benefit directly from the land and creatures that is being conserved. It is a simple win-win solution that is absolutely brilliant. They are already increasing the numbers of cheetahs in the world after the numbers crashed almost completely. I highly recommend any remaining fan of Joy Adamson should read this book! She is not mentioned once in the text but if you liked Joy Adamson's work, you'll love this one!
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June 27, 2015Questions from Bloom's Taxonomy:
1. Name the woman who founded the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF).
2. Paraphrase how all people can help cheetahs from becoming extinct.
3. Demonstrate one way wildlife conservations can stop farmers and herders from killing cheetahs that threaten their livestock.
4. Explain how the wildlife ecosystem is reliant on predators such as cheetahs.
5. Justify how cheetah scat can be used to locate that particular cheetah's location.
6. Create an action plan to educate other students on this issue of cheetah extinction.
A possible content area crossover I could use for this book would be science. If I was lucky, I could order (if this is legal/possible) cheetah scat and have students dissect it for an experiment. This would teach students about DNA, what cheetahs eat, and what part of the world the cheetah is from based on their food intake. I think students would enjoy reading this book and than putting what they have learned into action with a science dissection activity.
1. Name the woman who founded the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF).
2. Paraphrase how all people can help cheetahs from becoming extinct.
3. Demonstrate one way wildlife conservations can stop farmers and herders from killing cheetahs that threaten their livestock.
4. Explain how the wildlife ecosystem is reliant on predators such as cheetahs.
5. Justify how cheetah scat can be used to locate that particular cheetah's location.
6. Create an action plan to educate other students on this issue of cheetah extinction.
A possible content area crossover I could use for this book would be science. If I was lucky, I could order (if this is legal/possible) cheetah scat and have students dissect it for an experiment. This would teach students about DNA, what cheetahs eat, and what part of the world the cheetah is from based on their food intake. I think students would enjoy reading this book and than putting what they have learned into action with a science dissection activity.
August 31, 2015
Another book in the outstanding Scientists in the Field series. Montgomery and Bishop combine their creative energy to give a well researched description of the efforts that are going into saving the cheetahs. This is a comprehensive study detailing the environmental, ecological, and political issues involved. The narrative is focused on the inspiring work done by Laurie Marker and her colleagues at the Cheetah Conservation Fund in Namibia who have dedicated their careers to making a difference. Individual cats are used to showcase the research including the heartbreaking failures as well as the modest successes. The book is filled with fascinating insights and corrects common misconceptions. I was especially fascinated by the huge part that dogs are playing in these efforts. More than an everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know-about-the-cheetah, this is an important book in understanding the complex issues involved in respecting the biodiversity around the globe.
December 8, 2018
Well on my way to continuing to read Montgomery's work, this one was in our library and is a "Scientist in the Field" series book that focuses on the work of one woman trying to save the cheetahs by talking to farmers in specific countries in Africa who are killing the cheetahs, not because they're particularly threatening their livestock but because they're considered nuisances (and what I learned to that until Namibia overthrew their government, animals were government property, therefore people were killing them left and right, once they became valuable to the land owners- and the landowners with cheetah problems were given dogs to protect their herds- everything changed).
Plus, cheetahs are cool. They can run 70 miles per hour with two points in their stride without any feet on the ground and one point where only one foot is. Their spine moves so that they can build power. And on and on.
Plus, cheetahs are cool. They can run 70 miles per hour with two points in their stride without any feet on the ground and one point where only one foot is. Their spine moves so that they can build power. And on and on.
May 5, 2014
As I read this book about the Cheetah Conservation Fund's (CCF) work to save cheetah's from extinction, I realized what a great read-aloud it would make. I became caught up in the first pages learning about the mission of the CCF, their "Ambassadors", and the excellent writing/reporting by Sy Montgomery. Though it is a lengthy picture book, Nic Bishop's photographs brings these animals to life, giving the reader the sense of their speed and the eyes that enable these big cats to see a great distance (2 miles) away. Laurie Marker (from the CCF) and her team work with the farmers in Africa to try to create a way for the cheetah to live and keep the predator/prey balance so needed for all animals.
June 27, 2015
Content Area Crossover: Science as an intro to learning about endangered species and different ways living things can become endangered.
1. Remembering
Define endangered.
2. Understanding
Summarize how and why Laurie decided to start working with and protecting cheetahs?
3. Applying
What would result if Laurie's organization did not help the cheetahs?
4. Analyzing
Explain how giving the farmers low cost watch dogs would help the cheetah population.
5. Evaluating
Assess how our world would be affected if a species is endangered or extinct.
6. Creating
Design your own conservation center for a currently endangered species or a species that has gone extinct already.
1. Remembering
Define endangered.
2. Understanding
Summarize how and why Laurie decided to start working with and protecting cheetahs?
3. Applying
What would result if Laurie's organization did not help the cheetahs?
4. Analyzing
Explain how giving the farmers low cost watch dogs would help the cheetah population.
5. Evaluating
Assess how our world would be affected if a species is endangered or extinct.
6. Creating
Design your own conservation center for a currently endangered species or a species that has gone extinct already.
May 6, 2015
Excellent, readable, non-fiction. Love, the "Fast Facts.." and "Cheetahs by the Numbers." "The Crucial Role of Predators" is terrifying. I love the inclusion of science in "Cooking With Poop and Toasting Hair" and "Secrets of DNA." The interconnections of the environment are stressed and I am highly impressed with Namibia's Conservancies. Maybe if non-fiction like this had existed when I was a child, I wouldn't have been turned off from it.
November 24, 2024
My 5 year old daughter loves cheetahs and she picked this book out at the public library. I thought she just wanted to look at the pictures, but she was totally invested in this book and loved every moment. We learned so much about ecology and at the end she said, “I can change the world!”
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October 7, 2018Summary:
Chasing Cheetahs: The Race to Save Africa's Fastest Cat describe the author, Sy Montgomery, journey to Namibia. There, she visits the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) and the scientists who are working to save the cheetah from extinction. Since the creation of CCF in 1990, 900 cheetahs have been rescued, and most returned to the wild. This text outlines CCF research of the cheetah’s ecological, genetic, behavioral patterns, and observe a medical check-up. The text is illustrated with primary documents including maps and photographs. The interesting facts, dialogue, and photographs ensure readers stay engaged throughout the text.
Evaluation:
The writing in this text is completely factual, direct and straightforward. The text is long, but is organized in a chapter format with descriptive titles. Since it is long, this text is best read in stages, only specific chapters, or reading excerpts. The concepts in the text are presented in understandable and well-defined terms. The language of the text is high-quality and academic. Most terms are followed with an example in an illustration or in text, but some terms may need further explanation. All the illustrations are primary photographs, so readers are given the opportunity to see nature up-close. Likewise, students will enjoy seeing the beautiful pictures of a wild animal that is relatively unfamiliar. The pictures make the text much more interesting. Captions are included for some photographs that give readers more insight. The illustrations both add and clarify the information. I didn’t enjoy this book because I felt overwhelmed with information. It was a hard book for me to finish because I kept losing focus. Unless the reader has a strong interest in cheetahs, I do not think a student would stay interested while reading book.
Teaching Idea:
Because the text is so long and about one animal, I do not think this book should be read aloud in class. However, I think it could be a book students can choose from to complete a presentation. This text could be incorporated when third-grade students learn about habitats. The teacher could provide students this nonfiction text and other about animals in different habitats. Students could work in partners or small groups to create a presentation about one animal. The teacher could assign students to specific animals, have groups draw names out of a hat, or allow students to choose. The teacher could provide a checklist for information that should be included in their presentation. The checklist could include topics such as: diet, life span, predators, habitat, physical characteristics, or interesting facts. The teacher should also allow students to choose to mode of their presentation. Some possible presentation types could include a podcast, blog, skit, power point, movie, or poster. The activity allows students to research one animal and habitat, learn about multiple other animals and habitats, collaborate with other students, and present in front of the class, which is a Speaking and Listening Standard.
Chasing Cheetahs: The Race to Save Africa's Fastest Cat describe the author, Sy Montgomery, journey to Namibia. There, she visits the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) and the scientists who are working to save the cheetah from extinction. Since the creation of CCF in 1990, 900 cheetahs have been rescued, and most returned to the wild. This text outlines CCF research of the cheetah’s ecological, genetic, behavioral patterns, and observe a medical check-up. The text is illustrated with primary documents including maps and photographs. The interesting facts, dialogue, and photographs ensure readers stay engaged throughout the text.
Evaluation:
The writing in this text is completely factual, direct and straightforward. The text is long, but is organized in a chapter format with descriptive titles. Since it is long, this text is best read in stages, only specific chapters, or reading excerpts. The concepts in the text are presented in understandable and well-defined terms. The language of the text is high-quality and academic. Most terms are followed with an example in an illustration or in text, but some terms may need further explanation. All the illustrations are primary photographs, so readers are given the opportunity to see nature up-close. Likewise, students will enjoy seeing the beautiful pictures of a wild animal that is relatively unfamiliar. The pictures make the text much more interesting. Captions are included for some photographs that give readers more insight. The illustrations both add and clarify the information. I didn’t enjoy this book because I felt overwhelmed with information. It was a hard book for me to finish because I kept losing focus. Unless the reader has a strong interest in cheetahs, I do not think a student would stay interested while reading book.
Teaching Idea:
Because the text is so long and about one animal, I do not think this book should be read aloud in class. However, I think it could be a book students can choose from to complete a presentation. This text could be incorporated when third-grade students learn about habitats. The teacher could provide students this nonfiction text and other about animals in different habitats. Students could work in partners or small groups to create a presentation about one animal. The teacher could assign students to specific animals, have groups draw names out of a hat, or allow students to choose. The teacher could provide a checklist for information that should be included in their presentation. The checklist could include topics such as: diet, life span, predators, habitat, physical characteristics, or interesting facts. The teacher should also allow students to choose to mode of their presentation. Some possible presentation types could include a podcast, blog, skit, power point, movie, or poster. The activity allows students to research one animal and habitat, learn about multiple other animals and habitats, collaborate with other students, and present in front of the class, which is a Speaking and Listening Standard.
September 19, 2014
Another terrific entry in the Scientists in the Field series, this one follows the cause of Laurie Marker and her Cheetah Conservation Fund's Namibia compound. Although the work of Marker and her colleagues and staff is fascinating, the cheetahs are the stars here. Readers are informed that the species' numbers plummeted from 100,000 in 1900 to 10,000 presently. Sadly, the demise of the cheetah can be blamed on humans who have killed them out of fear and ignorance. Marker is trying to work with locals to find a way for cheetahs and humans to coexist peacefully, and she enlists the services of Kangal dogs that are raised alongside goats to protect the herders' flocks from predators. Marker is involved in education and rehabilitation projects, and even takes care of orphaned cheetahs. Some of them are painstakingly reintroduced to the wild and then monitored while others, brought to Laurie's workplace at too young an age, remain at the compound and are cared for there. Filled with photographs of the cheetahs and the science team, the book contains sections describing how scat is examined for clues about eating habits. The information provided is fascinating while the writing sparkles--as it always does when Sy Montgomery is at work. The author's awe at the cheetah's ability to move so quickly and at the species' beauty is as evident as her awareness that humans must act to fix the mistakes they've made. She also makes a careful case for why it's a mistake to remove the predators from an area, something the states intent on killing wolves might want to keep in mind. Don't hesitate to add this to your classroom book shelf since it contains a section that describes what young people today can do to save this species from extinction.
April 26, 2015
Like Sy Montgomery and Nic Bishop's other collaborations, Chasing Cheetahs is a slice-of-life approach to showing children what it's like to be an animal scientist. This informational text follows the work of Laurie Marker and the rest of her team at the Cheetah Conservation Fund in Namibia. Marker and other scientists work to learn more about cheetahs, prepare captive cheetahs to return to the wild, and educate citizens on cheetahs' importance and how to protect them.
This book was fascinating. It was so interesting to see how the work of scientists has changed local farmers' attitudes toward cheetahs. Likewise, it was amazing to learn how researchers have made a difference in increasing the lifespans of captive cheetahs, the success of breeding cheetahs in captivity, and teaching cheetahs to support themselves in the wild. At the same time, readers get to see that the work of a scientist is not always glamorous, like when researchers spend days analyzing cheetah poop. At the same time, even the seemingly mundane tasks like counting wild prey can be rewarding, whether it's in seeing a rare animal interacting with its environment or knowing that the result of their hard work is a balanced ecosystem. While many scientists work together at the CCF to obtain these and other goals, Marker has led the charge, and her work will likely inspire other young people to do the same. I enjoyed learning how she came to work with cheetahs and how she handled challenges along the way to becoming a great conservationist.
Montgomery's narrative style and Bishop's large, colorful photographs will draw young readers into the story. Animal lovers and future scientists will fly through the pages at up to 70 miles per hour (cheetahs' max speed).
Ages 10-14
This book was fascinating. It was so interesting to see how the work of scientists has changed local farmers' attitudes toward cheetahs. Likewise, it was amazing to learn how researchers have made a difference in increasing the lifespans of captive cheetahs, the success of breeding cheetahs in captivity, and teaching cheetahs to support themselves in the wild. At the same time, readers get to see that the work of a scientist is not always glamorous, like when researchers spend days analyzing cheetah poop. At the same time, even the seemingly mundane tasks like counting wild prey can be rewarding, whether it's in seeing a rare animal interacting with its environment or knowing that the result of their hard work is a balanced ecosystem. While many scientists work together at the CCF to obtain these and other goals, Marker has led the charge, and her work will likely inspire other young people to do the same. I enjoyed learning how she came to work with cheetahs and how she handled challenges along the way to becoming a great conservationist.
Montgomery's narrative style and Bishop's large, colorful photographs will draw young readers into the story. Animal lovers and future scientists will fly through the pages at up to 70 miles per hour (cheetahs' max speed).
Ages 10-14
April 20, 2016
Chasing Cheetahs: The Race to Save Africa's Fastest Cat is not just an informational book about the lives of cheetahs but also the story of some orphan cheetahs and the struggles they face. It has a lot of information about what is endangering the cheetahs and how as a society we can save them. It also compares captivated cheetahs to wild cheetahs. The goal of the program is to help the orphaned cheetahs grow up strong and healthy and then try to release them back into the wild if that is possible for that specific cheetah. Not all cheetahs will be able to do this though so it talks about the differences with that.
I rated this book a four, because I think it had a lot of good information in it not only about the cheetahs but also about how the human race can help them. I think it is great to teach children about how one person can make such a huge impact for others on the planet. Sometimes people think that they can't make a change because they are just one person, but that is not true. I also like that is talks about the orphaned cheetahs and what happens to them compared to what happens to the cheetahs taken in by the program that was created in Namibia. I wouldn't sit down an read this book with the whole class from start to finish. Instead, I think I might read some chucks at a time that had to do with the lesson for the day. I would send a child to this specific book if he/she was really interested in cheetahs or was doing a project on the cheetahs. I think I would also send a child to this book if they were doing a project on influential people.
I rated this book a four, because I think it had a lot of good information in it not only about the cheetahs but also about how the human race can help them. I think it is great to teach children about how one person can make such a huge impact for others on the planet. Sometimes people think that they can't make a change because they are just one person, but that is not true. I also like that is talks about the orphaned cheetahs and what happens to them compared to what happens to the cheetahs taken in by the program that was created in Namibia. I wouldn't sit down an read this book with the whole class from start to finish. Instead, I think I might read some chucks at a time that had to do with the lesson for the day. I would send a child to this specific book if he/she was really interested in cheetahs or was doing a project on the cheetahs. I think I would also send a child to this book if they were doing a project on influential people.
September 13, 2018
Summary: The cheetah is the fastest predator on Earth. People think of cheetahs as being very dangerous and not worth life. Laurie is trying to prove that Cheetahs are amazing animals. The word cheetah came from the term “spotted one.” Laurie found out while working at a zoo that Cheetahs are not given what they need to be to their full potential. She said the way to save cheetahs is working with people. The trick is to save the cats using dogs. Weird, huh? The dogs teach the cheetahs how to be kind to people, but also still be able to hunt and kill. Goats are used to teach cheetahs to herd. These are milk goats and are trained for this action. The cheetahs are introduced to deer scent, which will help them be successful hunters. The animals DNA will let scientists know what they need. The scientists use a boot camp to train the cheetahs how to live in the wild.
Laurie offers advice to her readers to saving the world. Anyone can do it. Animals always will need our help. Problems are started when people do not understand the animals.
Evaluation: This book is great because it is packed full of facts about cheetahs. I think this would be a great book to include in the animals section of a classroom library. It is a little lengthy but a good read about how to save not just cheetahs, but any animal.
Teaching Idea: This would be a good book to incorporate in an animal unit. It may be too long to read aloud to the class, but would be a great independent book for upper grade students.
Laurie offers advice to her readers to saving the world. Anyone can do it. Animals always will need our help. Problems are started when people do not understand the animals.
Evaluation: This book is great because it is packed full of facts about cheetahs. I think this would be a great book to include in the animals section of a classroom library. It is a little lengthy but a good read about how to save not just cheetahs, but any animal.
Teaching Idea: This would be a good book to incorporate in an animal unit. It may be too long to read aloud to the class, but would be a great independent book for upper grade students.
September 9, 2014
Sy Montgomery and Nic Bishop travel to Namibia and visit the Cheetah Conservation Fund's African headquarters. There they learn about the variety of programs the CCF has instituted to rescue cheetahs, reintroduce them to the wild, prevent their deaths, and increase their numbers.
This was a fascinating book in many aspects. The ways the CCF are using dogs and education to save cheetahs from being killed by farmers was fascinating and such a great example of a scientist finding the root cause and instead of pointing a finger finding a way to help both the cheetahs and the farmers. I also appreciated the way this book demonstrated the importance of each species in an ecosystem. It does a fantastic job of demonstrating how the elimination of the top predators can hurt everything down the food chain. If I were still teaching Biology I would definitely use this book as a resource during the ecology and biodiversity unit (the book also explains the harmful effects a limited gene pool is having on cheetahs). So much good science in here, and of course there's the info on the big cats themselves which would probably be enough on its own to draw many readers in. All around an excellent non-fiction book. Interesting enough to be read for fun, and also a rich resource for numerous science classrooms from elementary all the way to AP Bio.
Notes on content: No language issues I remember. No sexual content. The deaths of some animals are mentioned, but not shown.
This was a fascinating book in many aspects. The ways the CCF are using dogs and education to save cheetahs from being killed by farmers was fascinating and such a great example of a scientist finding the root cause and instead of pointing a finger finding a way to help both the cheetahs and the farmers. I also appreciated the way this book demonstrated the importance of each species in an ecosystem. It does a fantastic job of demonstrating how the elimination of the top predators can hurt everything down the food chain. If I were still teaching Biology I would definitely use this book as a resource during the ecology and biodiversity unit (the book also explains the harmful effects a limited gene pool is having on cheetahs). So much good science in here, and of course there's the info on the big cats themselves which would probably be enough on its own to draw many readers in. All around an excellent non-fiction book. Interesting enough to be read for fun, and also a rich resource for numerous science classrooms from elementary all the way to AP Bio.
Notes on content: No language issues I remember. No sexual content. The deaths of some animals are mentioned, but not shown.
November 1, 2014
At 79 pages, this book provides a comprehensive review of what scientists at the Cheetah Conservation Fund are doing to save cheetahs, and why their work is so important. The book provides a number of text features both teachers and children will appreciate. The book includes colorful maps and call-out boxes, and the photographs Nic Bishop provides are sure to capture the attention of children at all ages. Science concepts and vocabulary are creatively integrated into the book with chapters titled "Messages Written in Scent" and "Cooking with Poop and Toasting Hair", where children learn how important trees are in gathering data, and how researchers use DNA and equipment to set up and implement experiments in which the answers aren't always easy to identify. I liked the modeling used throughout the book of how scientists ask questions. Examples of how questions are posed are on pages 34 and 45 where researchers asked a question, answered it, but that led to another question. This was a great example of guided inquiry, and how we are teaching children to ask deeper questions that may be difficult to answer, but persistence will prevail. I appreciated the section provided by Laurie for "Saving the World", and the bibliography and resources section provide next steps for animal lovers and budding scientists alike. The last page also provides snapshots of other books in the "Scientists in the Field" series, yet another resource for what to read next questions.
April 15, 2015
Informational/Nonfiction
This book is all about the efforts of Laurie Marker and the Cheetah Conservation Fund to save the fastest cat in the world from going extinct. The CCF headquarters is located in Namibia, Africa which is the home of 2 percent of the remaining cheetah population. There used to be more than 100,000 cheetahs throughout Africa, Asia, and Europe but now there are fewer than 10,000 confined to 20 countries in Africa. The work that Laurie and the rest of the crew at CCF is extremely important to the existence of cheetahs. Not only does Laurie work with Namibia farmers to try and put an end to the killing of cheetahs because farmers have for a long time considered cheetahs to be vermin but she also works with veterinarians and geneticists to help keep cheetahs in good health and solve the long term problems of breeding cheetahs in captivity.
This would be a great text to include as part of a classroom library. Students will love reading about the adorable orphaned cheetah siblings who grew up to be the ambassadors of the CCF headquarters in Namibia. Students will delight at the idea that dogs are now being used to save these cats from being killed. Great example to use when teaching students about information/nonfiction texts and introducing comprehension strategies such as determining importance.
This book is all about the efforts of Laurie Marker and the Cheetah Conservation Fund to save the fastest cat in the world from going extinct. The CCF headquarters is located in Namibia, Africa which is the home of 2 percent of the remaining cheetah population. There used to be more than 100,000 cheetahs throughout Africa, Asia, and Europe but now there are fewer than 10,000 confined to 20 countries in Africa. The work that Laurie and the rest of the crew at CCF is extremely important to the existence of cheetahs. Not only does Laurie work with Namibia farmers to try and put an end to the killing of cheetahs because farmers have for a long time considered cheetahs to be vermin but she also works with veterinarians and geneticists to help keep cheetahs in good health and solve the long term problems of breeding cheetahs in captivity.
This would be a great text to include as part of a classroom library. Students will love reading about the adorable orphaned cheetah siblings who grew up to be the ambassadors of the CCF headquarters in Namibia. Students will delight at the idea that dogs are now being used to save these cats from being killed. Great example to use when teaching students about information/nonfiction texts and introducing comprehension strategies such as determining importance.
April 19, 2016
Chasing Cheetahs is an informational text with lots of photographs showing what scientists are doing to save cheetahs and learn about them. In Africa, farmers see cheetahs as vermin because cheetahs hunt the livestock. In turn, farmers have started killing the cheetahs. Laurie, whom this book is mainly about, talks about using Kagal dogs to protect the livestock, and therefore protect them from the cheetahs. She and her team also use border collies to find cheetah poop. They then go into detail about how they collect DNA samples from the poop- which might be quite funny and/or gross to a young reader! It then talks about how they give the cheetahs yearly checkups to keep them healthy so they can live longer. Next Laurie says she loves going to schools in Africa and talking to the children about the animals that live near them. She teaches them to respect these animals instead of being afraid of them. At the end of the book, Laurie encourages the reader to get involved and help animals instead of letting someone else do it.
I liked that there were little fun tidbits thrown in to keep the reader interested such as "fast facts on the fastest cats", and "the crucial role of predators" where you could learn all about cheetahs. I know when I was little I thought cheetahs were the coolest animal, so this book would be good to give someone who loves cats, especially cheetahs.
I liked that there were little fun tidbits thrown in to keep the reader interested such as "fast facts on the fastest cats", and "the crucial role of predators" where you could learn all about cheetahs. I know when I was little I thought cheetahs were the coolest animal, so this book would be good to give someone who loves cats, especially cheetahs.
July 8, 2015
I am a huge fan of the Scientists in the Field series by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. They are not only fascinating but well designed with gorgeous photographs. Chasing Cheetahs did not disappoint, it's as high in quality as its predecessors. With the growing emphasis on STEM (Science, technology, engineering, and math) in the education field, these books are a great help in that endeavor. This book takes a look at the work of the Cheetah Conservation Fund's work in Namibia, Africa in saving cheetahs. The work done by Laurie Marker and her associates has clearly made a difference, but like all conservation stories there is still much to be done as Montgomery clearly shows. I found it absolutely intriguing to read about the things the CCF is doing to help the species. The strategies they are using are clearly explained and demonstrated in the book which shows the power of science in action. I for one found the stories about different cheetahs and the way the scientists study them and share what they've learned with local farmers and school children as well as with colleagues worldwide makes for a great story. This book is very readable with lots of gorgeous photographs to highlight the text. A wonderful addition to a great series.
December 10, 2014
Montgomery, S. & Bishop, N. (2014). Chasing Cheetahs. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Kirkus Starred Review 2014.
Informational
Author Sy Montgomery tells the story of Laurie Marker, the founder and director of the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) in Namibia. Marker and her team are successfully using some innovative and creative practices to save cheetahs. Nic Bishop���s photographs are so stunning that many shelf browsers would pick up this book just to look at the pictures, and would them find themselves drawn in to this fascinating story. There are many extras that enhance the text. The forward-leaning title fonts give the impression of speedy cheetahs. There is a mini flip book of running cheetahs at the bottom of the recto pages, so the reader can see them run when flipping the pages. There are a number of inset boxes that provide extra information on a number of topics. The author and photographer stayed at the CCF to research the book and the tone of the book gives the sense that we are all together at Cheetah Camp. Chasing Cheetahs would be great to use with lessons on DNA structure, conservation biology, ecological principles, and of course, cheetahs. Grades 5-8.
Kirkus Starred Review 2014.
Informational
Author Sy Montgomery tells the story of Laurie Marker, the founder and director of the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) in Namibia. Marker and her team are successfully using some innovative and creative practices to save cheetahs. Nic Bishop���s photographs are so stunning that many shelf browsers would pick up this book just to look at the pictures, and would them find themselves drawn in to this fascinating story. There are many extras that enhance the text. The forward-leaning title fonts give the impression of speedy cheetahs. There is a mini flip book of running cheetahs at the bottom of the recto pages, so the reader can see them run when flipping the pages. There are a number of inset boxes that provide extra information on a number of topics. The author and photographer stayed at the CCF to research the book and the tone of the book gives the sense that we are all together at Cheetah Camp. Chasing Cheetahs would be great to use with lessons on DNA structure, conservation biology, ecological principles, and of course, cheetahs. Grades 5-8.
November 12, 2014
Montgomery, S. & Bishop, N. (2014). Chasing Cheetahs. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Kirkus Starred Review 2014.
Informational
Author Sy Montgomery tells the story of Laurie Marker, the founder and director of the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) in Namibia. Marker and her team are successfully using some innovative and creative practices to save cheetahs. Nic Bishop’s photographs are so stunning that many shelf browsers would pick up this book just to look at the pictures, and would them find themselves drawn in to this fascinating story. There are many extras that enhance the text. The forward-leaning title fonts give the impression of speedy cheetahs. There is a mini flip book of running cheetahs at the bottom of the recto pages, so the reader can see them run when flipping the pages. There are a number of inset boxes that provide extra information on a number of topics. The author and photographer stayed at the CCF to research the book and the tone of the book gives the sense that we are all together at Cheetah Camp. Chasing Cheetahs would be great to use with lessons on DNA structure, conservation biology, ecological principles, and of course, cheetahs. Grades 5-8.
Kirkus Starred Review 2014.
Informational
Author Sy Montgomery tells the story of Laurie Marker, the founder and director of the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) in Namibia. Marker and her team are successfully using some innovative and creative practices to save cheetahs. Nic Bishop’s photographs are so stunning that many shelf browsers would pick up this book just to look at the pictures, and would them find themselves drawn in to this fascinating story. There are many extras that enhance the text. The forward-leaning title fonts give the impression of speedy cheetahs. There is a mini flip book of running cheetahs at the bottom of the recto pages, so the reader can see them run when flipping the pages. There are a number of inset boxes that provide extra information on a number of topics. The author and photographer stayed at the CCF to research the book and the tone of the book gives the sense that we are all together at Cheetah Camp. Chasing Cheetahs would be great to use with lessons on DNA structure, conservation biology, ecological principles, and of course, cheetahs. Grades 5-8.
October 29, 2015
This book is PHENOMENAL. Absolutely amazing youth nonfiction. Definitely meant for an older set--probably 4th grade (?) and up--but wow, what a great read. There's so much information about cheetahs and it's portrayed in such an interesting way. The book is narrative nonfiction, chronicling the writers' experience at a cheetah conservancy in Namibia. The reader learns about nearly every aspect of what goes on in the conservancy, from rescuing orphaned cubs, tracking wild cheetahs and other game, and introducing some cheetahs back into the wild. The pictures are great--kids will marvel at seeing cheetahs walking alongside their human handlers, almost completely tame. There's also a section on the dogs in the conservancy. Dogs are proving to be a major factor in saving the cheetah population, as they guard the livestock that cheetahs sometimes prey on when no game is available. Cheetahs aren't actually all that big, so if farmers have big enough dogs, they won't come anywhere near the livestock. It's all pretty amazing, how much work and dedication has been put in to figuring all of this out.
I am now very interested in reading the rest of the books in this series--I see from other reviews that they're also really well-done.
I am now very interested in reading the rest of the books in this series--I see from other reviews that they're also really well-done.
June 23, 2015
I believe this book has some crossover content with a social studies lesson. It explains the different jobs Laurie and her crew do to rescue cheetahs and stabilize the population. It also tells of the the local farmers and their struggle with the cheetahs who hunt their livestock. Laurie explains how her organization works with the local farmers to find a solution that saves the cheetahs population and the buisinesses of the farmers.
Bloom's Taxonomy Questions:
1. Knowledge
What is the number one killer of the endangered African cheetahs?
2. Comprehension
Describe what was happening before Laurie began her cheetah program?
3. Application
What would result if all of the cheetahs that Laurie took in were tamed like the ambassadors?
4. Analyze
What is the relationship between Laurie’s organization and the local farmers of Namibia?
5. Evaluate
What is your opinion on how Laurie’s organization worked with the farmers by getting them low cost watch dogs and why do you feel that way?
6. Creating
What do you predict will happen in the future? Will Laurie’s organization be able to build the cheetah population to a stable level? Will her affordable watch dog program help to keep the cheetahs from being shot by farmers?
Bloom's Taxonomy Questions:
1. Knowledge
What is the number one killer of the endangered African cheetahs?
2. Comprehension
Describe what was happening before Laurie began her cheetah program?
3. Application
What would result if all of the cheetahs that Laurie took in were tamed like the ambassadors?
4. Analyze
What is the relationship between Laurie’s organization and the local farmers of Namibia?
5. Evaluate
What is your opinion on how Laurie’s organization worked with the farmers by getting them low cost watch dogs and why do you feel that way?
6. Creating
What do you predict will happen in the future? Will Laurie’s organization be able to build the cheetah population to a stable level? Will her affordable watch dog program help to keep the cheetahs from being shot by farmers?
May 18, 2016
"Chasing Cheetahs: The Race to Save Africa's Fastest Cat" is a realistic non-fiction picture book that is very informational about cheetahs and the lives they're currently living with problems going on in their homeland. The book had vibrant pictures and information about cheetahs being orphaned, giving proof of their numbers decreasing over the past few years. The Cheetah Conservation Fun are currently undergoing many trials and motions of working to save the cheetahs. Without their help and efforts, cheetahs will almost assuredly go extinct. The book goes on to talk about the many different ways these teams are working on preserving the cheetah population and the efforts that go into working alongside these big cats in the wild.
I chose to give this book 5 stars because I think I would definitely be able to use this book in my classroom for a lesson on Africa or animals in general. I think this book would have to be used along with a teacher because many of the words wouldn't be able to be read by a kindergartner alone. I think the pictures are beautiful and the younger children that may not even be able to read fully, would still be able to look at the illustrations and enjoy those alone.
I chose to give this book 5 stars because I think I would definitely be able to use this book in my classroom for a lesson on Africa or animals in general. I think this book would have to be used along with a teacher because many of the words wouldn't be able to be read by a kindergartner alone. I think the pictures are beautiful and the younger children that may not even be able to read fully, would still be able to look at the illustrations and enjoy those alone.
April 27, 2016
The book shows the cheetah population in Africa is beginning to shrink, and Montgomery and Bishop join CCF in analyzing these wild cats and what makes them tick. They visit a cheetah reclamation preserve in Tanzania and see close up rescued orphaned and injured animals. They see the process they go through to reclaim their health. The book is full of beautiful photography as well as expert insights from the staff and volunteers that work with the cheetahs. It also follows the lead staff member as she tries to push the cheetah killers, who are also livestock herders, to become a solution rather than an issue when working with the cheetahs. The book uses facts along with beautiful pictures to tell the take and history of the cheetah population and their struggle through the years. I liked this book because the use of the photographs really made the book what it was. My love for animals is what originally made me chose this book. The story line I thought wasn’t really interesting. The pictures are what really made the book specially and tied the story together, I think without the pictures the book would be majorly lacking.
December 10, 2014
4.3 stars
Got this title from a list of notable nonfiction for children for 2014.
In 1900, there were over 100,000 cheetahs worldwide. Now, there are about 10,000. There used to be cheetahs in India. There are cheetahs in Iran!
The book is about the efforts of Laurie Marker who developed a program to help endangered cheetahs in Namibia. The program has been successful and is currently being expended to other African countries. Farmers in Namibia consider cheetahs to be pests and kill, on average, 19 cheetahs every year. Instead of berating farmers, Laurie has worked with them and listened to them and asked them about problems on their farms, about how much livestock they have, about the challenges on their farms, etc. And then she tried to solve the problems of the farmers. She developed a program to acquire and train dogs that guard livestock. When farmers received these dogs, they mostly stopped killing cheetahs.
This is incredibly interesting. But it's a little long for many elementary students to read cover-to-cover.
Got this title from a list of notable nonfiction for children for 2014.
In 1900, there were over 100,000 cheetahs worldwide. Now, there are about 10,000. There used to be cheetahs in India. There are cheetahs in Iran!
The book is about the efforts of Laurie Marker who developed a program to help endangered cheetahs in Namibia. The program has been successful and is currently being expended to other African countries. Farmers in Namibia consider cheetahs to be pests and kill, on average, 19 cheetahs every year. Instead of berating farmers, Laurie has worked with them and listened to them and asked them about problems on their farms, about how much livestock they have, about the challenges on their farms, etc. And then she tried to solve the problems of the farmers. She developed a program to acquire and train dogs that guard livestock. When farmers received these dogs, they mostly stopped killing cheetahs.
This is incredibly interesting. But it's a little long for many elementary students to read cover-to-cover.
February 6, 2016
Nonfiction/ Twin Text Entry #2
This narrative nonfiction book is titled Chasing Cheetahs: The Race to Save Africa's Fastest Cats by Sy Montgomery. This is a great book with vivid photographs and nine chapters about Laurie and how she is working to save cheetahs. Any upper elementary student will love reading about the fastest mammal and especially the chapter about how dogs are trained to defend and protect the cheetahs.
For the fiction twin text, I found a book titled I Wish I Were a Speedy Cheetah by Christina Jordan. This book is about a young African girl who imagines what life would be like if she were a speedy cheetah.
Both of these books are set in Africa and share the common theme of one of Africa's most beautiful animals, the cheetah. The fiction book contains facts about cheetahs that will help reinforce the information presented in the nonfiction book. Between the two books, intermediate elementary students will love learning and discovering more about cheetahs and learn a little about life in Africa.
This narrative nonfiction book is titled Chasing Cheetahs: The Race to Save Africa's Fastest Cats by Sy Montgomery. This is a great book with vivid photographs and nine chapters about Laurie and how she is working to save cheetahs. Any upper elementary student will love reading about the fastest mammal and especially the chapter about how dogs are trained to defend and protect the cheetahs.
For the fiction twin text, I found a book titled I Wish I Were a Speedy Cheetah by Christina Jordan. This book is about a young African girl who imagines what life would be like if she were a speedy cheetah.
Both of these books are set in Africa and share the common theme of one of Africa's most beautiful animals, the cheetah. The fiction book contains facts about cheetahs that will help reinforce the information presented in the nonfiction book. Between the two books, intermediate elementary students will love learning and discovering more about cheetahs and learn a little about life in Africa.
May 17, 2016
"Chasing Cheetahs: The Race to Save Africa's Fastest Cats," is all about the fastest predatory animal on earth: the cheetah. In the book, we also find out the cheetah is the most endangered cat on earth too. I enjoyed reading the fast facts on the fastest cats on page 15 in the book. Who knew that a cheetah could run 70/mph?? Crazy! Then, a cheetah can get to 40/mph in just three strides, with each stride being twenty-five feet. I found it very interesting that DNA of a cheetah was observed and tested through their poop. I was happy that none of the illustrations/photographs actually showed poop. This book is extremely informational when it comes to cheetahs and where they can be found on Earth. I will definitely recommend this book to my readers interested in cheetahs, however; being in early childhood education, this book has too many words and my kids would enjoy looking at the illustrations more than reading the book themselves.
I rated the book 4/5 because I did learn a lot during my read and enjoyed learning about cheetahs.
I rated the book 4/5 because I did learn a lot during my read and enjoyed learning about cheetahs.
July 13, 2017
In another beautiful book in the Scientist in the Field series, readers can learn about the efforts to keep cheetahs safe from a world that threatens them. The dramatic decline in the number of cheetahs in the last hundred years have led some scientists to dedicating their lives to the study and protection of these creatures. The book details efforts to help people understand cheetahs and be able to work with them with efforts such as giving farmers dogs to protect their lands so the farmers don't feel the need to kill cheetahs.
Chasing Cheetahs: The Race To Save Africa's Fastest Cat has beautiful full-page photographs of cheetahs and the people who study them, pages of easy facts, and a story to read full of real-life environmental heroes. Readers will learn a lot about the scientific, cultural, and political process of protecting endangered animals as well as a lot about cheetahs. Young readers will be able to be inspired by the gorgeous photographs, the lives of the scientists, and the beautiful animals themselves.
Chasing Cheetahs: The Race To Save Africa's Fastest Cat has beautiful full-page photographs of cheetahs and the people who study them, pages of easy facts, and a story to read full of real-life environmental heroes. Readers will learn a lot about the scientific, cultural, and political process of protecting endangered animals as well as a lot about cheetahs. Young readers will be able to be inspired by the gorgeous photographs, the lives of the scientists, and the beautiful animals themselves.
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