Emily: 10-Year-Old Champion of Rainforest Animals in Need

by Cathleen Burnham

10-Year-Old Champion of Rainforest Animals in Need is a photodocumentary book by journalist and writer Cathleen Burnham, the fourth in her WAKA (World Association of Kids and Animals) series of books featuring kids involved in wild animal rescue efforts around the globe. This book introduces Emily, a ten-year-old girl active in a youth conservation program to save rainforest animals in western Costa Rica called Kids Saving The Rainforest (KSTR). She helps care for an orphaned baby sloth at a local animal sanctuary and participates in other activities from dramatic presentations to the sponsorship of rope bridges installed to help squirrel monkeys cross busy roads near her small town. The story highlights the impact young people can have on protecting local wild animals and preserving natural habitats. Like the previous books in this series ( Doyli to the Saving Baby Monkeys in the Amazon ; Tortuga Kids Saving Sea Turtles in Costa Rica ; and Tony and His Elephants, set in Thailand), the text and photos show a youngster deeply involved in caring for the well-being of baby wild animals in need of shelter, food, and lots of love. The conservation message is clear and is skillfully blended into the glimpse of everyday life of active kids and their families who are involved in these inspiring small-scale, grassroots animal-rescue efforts.

32 pages, Hardcover

Published September 15, 2018

About the author

Cathleen Burnham’s books have received glowing reviews in the School Library Journal. She is also a recipient of the Shibo children’s book award. Before she began writing, Cathleen spent 20+ years as a wildlife rehabilitator. Her photography has even been exhibited at the National Wildlife Museum.

As an avid traveler, Cathleen spends many months per annum tenting in remote parts of the world, admiring impressive architecture in cities around the world, and exploring ancient villages dotting far-away landscapes. She loves visiting new places off the beaten path with only a camera, her backpack, and one nagging question, “I wonder how they do things here?”

Cathleen spent many happy decades raising nearly-perfect (to her) children. Now she divides her time between Upstate New York and coastal North Carolina where she spends her days on dolphin watch with her favorite person, Chris, a St. Bernard named Molly and her calico cat, Martha.

Follow Cathleen on Amazon for updates about her next book, or learn more at cathleen.travelnitch.org.

Reviews

[Sandy Brehl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the fourth book in the WAKA series, World Association of Kids and Animals. All are authored by and feature photographs by Cathleen Burnham and a few others. Emily, a ten year old girl, lives in Costa Rica and volunteers for a local agency, Kids Saving the Rainforest. In this case Emily has written and presented a play for the public, joined a group saving titi monkeys (squirrel monkeys) by building overhead rope routes for the troops of monkeys who travel freely throughout the village and the surrounding forest. Without those passages and adaptations, the monkeys were crossing streets with heavy auto traffic or crossing on electric wiring overhead.
Photos of Emily include the above, collecting suitable leaves for animals in the sanctuary, and taking an abandoned baby sloth for a "walk" through the forest to sample edible leaves and develop survival skills for later release.
The author and publisher (Crickhollow Books) have developed a format and narrative non-fiction style that is informative and inspiring, inviting readers to return again and again. The narrative and back page make it clear, by example and without preaching, that kids have the capacity to positively impact their environment and improve the lives of animals who share that space with humans. The photo captions, sidebars, specific events, and irresistible animals make the books prime examples of nonfiction content, offering ideal material for framing questions, summarizing, doing further research, and exploring local possibilities for kid-activist engagement.

[Reshamad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fourth in a series of book featuring conservation and environment care, this book features animal conservation from Costa Rica. Follow Emily and her friends part of a local youth program called "Kids Saving the Rainforest" Two nine year old children started this program to find ways to protect their precious environment.
The book highlights the sloth and the titi monkeys and how the program is trying to save these creatures from human harm.
Engaging to read, photos bring the book to life! interesting to read how children are making a difference.