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Trailblazers: Jane Goodall: A Life with Chimps
Meet history's game changers! This biography series is for kids who loved Who Was? and are ready for the next level.
In July 1960, Jane Goodall went into the wilderness in Tanzania to study chimpanzees. For years she camped out with the chimps, observing their behavior and making amazing discoveries! Jane had always been fascinated by animals and knew she wanted to make learning more about them her life's work. Find out how this girl who loved animals became one of history's greatest trailblazers!
Trailblazers is a biography series that celebrates the lives of amazing pioneers, past and present, from all over the world.
In July 1960, Jane Goodall went into the wilderness in Tanzania to study chimpanzees. For years she camped out with the chimps, observing their behavior and making amazing discoveries! Jane had always been fascinated by animals and knew she wanted to make learning more about them her life's work. Find out how this girl who loved animals became one of history's greatest trailblazers!
Trailblazers is a biography series that celebrates the lives of amazing pioneers, past and present, from all over the world.
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2019
5 people are currently reading
18 people want to read
About the author
Anita Ganeri
1,692 books61 followersAnita Ganeri is a highly experienced author of children’s information books, specialising in religion, India/Asia, multiculturalism, geography, biography and natural history. She became a freelance writer after working at Walker Books (as foreign rights manager) and Usborne Publishing (as an editor). Since then, she has written over 300 titles, including the best-selling Horrible Geography series for Scholastic. The series won the Geographical Association Silver Award in 1999 and was cited as being ‘an innovation that all geographers will applaud’. She is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society where she conducts most of her research for the books.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 26, 2023
Trailblazers biography series is for middle grade. This book brings a fascinating figure of Jane Goodall, who became a leading expert on chimpanzee. When she began her work, it was man’s world. It was her strong will to follow her dreams that pushed the boundaries for her.
Valerie Jane Morris-Goodall (born April 3, 1934) comes from a family supportive of women’s following their passions. Something that is unique of her time. She is fascinated with animals from the young age. After reading The Story of Doctor Dolittle who travels to Africa, where he has many extraordinary adventures, makes her dream of such adventures herself.
Her family doesn’t have money to pay for college. So after High School, she gets a few positions, mostly secretarial. Nothing seems exciting for her until she receives a letter from her friend inviting her to Kenya.
In 1957, her dream of African adventure comes true. She quickly realizes that in Africa, she feels at home. She gets hired by Louis Leakey, famous paleoanthropologist, as his secretary. That leads to an opportunity of studying chimps in the wild. With time, she becomes the leading expert on chimpanzee research.
With growing poaching problems and labs mistreating chimps for their research, she becomes a big advocate fighting for awareness of endangered animals.
Her work takes her from Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania, where she spends her first years on the research. To setting up different projects inspiring children to volunteer and make a difference in their communities. And setting up an institute where she makes it possible for young adults to do a research.
Conservation efforts by others open her eyes to the plight around her. She was so focused on the small area of doing certain research that she wasn’t aware what was happening in the world with other animals. Thus, leading her to become an advocate for endangered animals.
The storytelling is engaging. There is one scene where Jane is attacked by a male chimpanzee. It presents a moment how dangerous her work is. I wished for more such scenes in actions to show what it takes to achieve her dreams. Some of it is told instead of shown. Nevertheless, it is a well-presented story that shows it doesn’t always begin with our dream. There are other things we need to do meanwhile in order to get where we want to be. The important message is to continue dreaming and grabbing an opportunity when it comes our way.
The story has black and white illustrations which are interesting, and also give some additional information.
Valerie Jane Morris-Goodall (born April 3, 1934) comes from a family supportive of women’s following their passions. Something that is unique of her time. She is fascinated with animals from the young age. After reading The Story of Doctor Dolittle who travels to Africa, where he has many extraordinary adventures, makes her dream of such adventures herself.
Her family doesn’t have money to pay for college. So after High School, she gets a few positions, mostly secretarial. Nothing seems exciting for her until she receives a letter from her friend inviting her to Kenya.
In 1957, her dream of African adventure comes true. She quickly realizes that in Africa, she feels at home. She gets hired by Louis Leakey, famous paleoanthropologist, as his secretary. That leads to an opportunity of studying chimps in the wild. With time, she becomes the leading expert on chimpanzee research.
With growing poaching problems and labs mistreating chimps for their research, she becomes a big advocate fighting for awareness of endangered animals.
Her work takes her from Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania, where she spends her first years on the research. To setting up different projects inspiring children to volunteer and make a difference in their communities. And setting up an institute where she makes it possible for young adults to do a research.
Conservation efforts by others open her eyes to the plight around her. She was so focused on the small area of doing certain research that she wasn’t aware what was happening in the world with other animals. Thus, leading her to become an advocate for endangered animals.
The storytelling is engaging. There is one scene where Jane is attacked by a male chimpanzee. It presents a moment how dangerous her work is. I wished for more such scenes in actions to show what it takes to achieve her dreams. Some of it is told instead of shown. Nevertheless, it is a well-presented story that shows it doesn’t always begin with our dream. There are other things we need to do meanwhile in order to get where we want to be. The important message is to continue dreaming and grabbing an opportunity when it comes our way.
The story has black and white illustrations which are interesting, and also give some additional information.
April 25, 2025
The beginning chapters had me hooked -- definitely 4 or 5 stars; then all of the asides, boxed info, and tangents got in the way. If the writing had stayed with Jane Goodall and the chimps instead of bouncing in so many directions (all relevant, but not essential to the story), I would have stuck with the higher rating.
April 24, 2021
What a fascinating and adventurous (and tragic-filled) life Goodall has lived! Enjoyed reading all about her life in this well-done children’s book.
December 10, 2025
Adored. I just love anything about her. She is forever inspiring.
December 22, 2023
I read this book because I wanted to learn more about Jane Goodall. Although the book is meant for a younger audience, it was such a FUN book! I enjoyed it a lot and learned so much. Jane has quickly become one of my heroes.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews