Tippi: My Book of Africa

by Tippi Degré, Sylvie Robert, Alain Degré

Tippi is no ordinary child. She believes that she has the gift of talking to animals and that they are like brothers to her. 'I speak to them with my mind, or through my eyes, my heart or my soul, and I see that they understand and answer me.' Tippi is the daughter of French filmmakers and wildlife photographers, Alain Degre and Sylvie Robert, who have captured her on film with some of Africa's most beautiful and dangerous animals. Tippi shares her thoughts and wisdom on Africa, its people and the animals she has come to know and love. Often her wisdom is beyond her years, and her innocence and obvious rapport with the animals is both fascinating and charming.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Africa, Animals, Nature, Travel, Photography

142 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[Sabien Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

My mom gave me that Book when I was about ten years old and I completely loved it! And I still do!

It's filled with amazing photographs and memorys of the young Tippi.

I still try to make people read it and used to take it to school really often when I was younger.

It's impressive and breathtakingly brilliant.

Tippi is one of a kind and I could not recommend this book more!

[Chip Huyen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book whenever I'm stressed and want to escape real world. Beautiful photos. Beautiful stories.

[Taveri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lelightful and inspiring. Great photos too!

[Fra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interessante conoscere la storia di una bambina che ha vissuto i primi anni della sua vita in una realtà così diversa dalla nostra. Si imparano anche diverse cose sugli animali africani di cui Tippi ci parla. Eccezionali le fotografie.

[Miriam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect book for your favorite little wild girl or boy. You'll probably end up jealous that you or your children didn't have a childhood like Tippi's! Advisory: A small amount of nudity (she was a very little girl, and she lived in a part of Africa where people lived as they traditionally had for hundreds of years.) Tippi shares her own very perceptive ideas and speculations about spirituality. And she lived with wild animals, who could be gentle and loving but at times very dangerous!

[Cicely · Rating 4 out of 5]

A darling book about the life of a child of French heritage, who was born and raised in Namibia, Africa. Charming photographs of Tippi with her Bushmen friends, and animal friends.

[Isabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Als Kind habe ich dieses Buch unzählige Male gelesen und mir gewünscht wie Tippi sein zu können. Die Bilder sind ebenfalls unglaublich beeindruckend!!

[Tuyet Lan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tác giả đã chụp những tấm ảnh ghi lại cả thời thơ ấu của con gái mình - đứa trẻ lớn lên giữa người bản địa và các loài động vật hoang dã Châu Phi.
Những tấm hình mang đến cho người đọc một hình ảnh châu Phi hoang sơ, đầy nắng gió, bụi đất, có nguy hiểm nhưng không hề đáng sợ. Châu Phi đủ hồn nhiên và thân mật để nuôi dưỡng một đứa trẻ da trắng lớn lên.
Sách phù hợp với cả trẻ em và người lớn. Qua cuốn sách, người đọc không chỉ được tìm hiểu về một miền đất xa xôi với nền văn hóa khác lạ, thích thú ngắm nhìn các loài động thực vật độc đáo; mà còn cảm nhận được bài học lớn lao hơn về mối quan hệ hòa hợp của con người với thiên nhiên và giữa các tộc người với nhau. Mẹ Trái Đất bao dung tất thảy sinh vật, chỉ cần biết yêu mến và tôn trọng, đừng tàn phá bức hại lẫn nhau.

[chloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saw this book in a second-hand bookstore instantly brings me back to childhood. I remember constantly borrowing this book from my elementary school's library. Reading this when i was a kid felt so magical and made me fall in love with animals. Now, having my own copy just came full circle. Thank you, Tippi.

[Doan Trang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emotions well captured!

[ChenChen · Rating 5 out of 5]

my first english book I've ever read.
当年看完《档案》对她的介绍之后觉得这人与大自然也太和谐了，于是随即下载了这本书的PDF到手机上看了。

[Dana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tippi Degré who was born in Namibia is a little girl who spent her childhood surrounded by wild animals and local tribes! Which means she had an extraordinary childhood!

It was so fun to look at all the pictures and read the story behind some of them! I think Tippi could actually be Mowgli’s long lost sister, although she’d much prefer to be known as a sibling to all the animals of the wild. I like how the tone of voice in the book is informal and childlike. It felt as if the little Tippi from the pictures was telling me all about her adventures. The only thing that struck me is her notions on religion and God. To each his own of course, but as a believer, I don’t understand how someone surrounded by this much beauty and glory does not believe in God. All of it is his creation! Nonetheless, it was a lovely book to read. What an adventurous life she’s had! I’m glad she shared some of it with us!

[raptorsandprey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read and loved this book and it’s pictures as a child. This hasn’t changed until today. The book has had a huge influence on me and my love for animals that has coined my life ever since up to the point that I wanted to speak the language of animals myself. I didn’t achieve that but it feels close enough when my parrots say “hi” to me.

Although I love this book, I read it differently nowadays. The voice is definitely that of a child, although it seems a bit artificial and forced every now and then. But it does it’s job. Life can be so simple if it’s explained in the words of a child.

[Jenny Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tippi Benjamine Okanti (Mongoose) Degré was born in Africa to wildlife photographer parents. This book is full of the most amazing and beautiful photographs of how she integrated with wild animals and local tribespeople (Himba) in Namibia for the first ten years of her life.

Tippi's thoughts and reflection on nature, humanity and life are endearing in their innocence yet carry the profound insights of a child who has not been exposed to western materialism.

It's a thought-provoking read with illustrations that may make you wish you were born in Africa too.

[Souly Peerage · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seid meiner Kindheit eines meiner Liebsten Bücher. Die Geschichte der kleinen Tippi die, wie Mogli, unter Tieren aufwächst und scheinbar ihre Sprache versteht und kommunizieren kann. Gestaltet mit so viel Liebe und wunderschönen Fotos die ein wildes und freies Leben zeigen, wie ich es mir als Kind ebenfalls gewünscht habe.

[Ilse · Rating 2 out of 5]

de foto's in het boek zijn prachtig
de tekst ernaast is dat een stuk minder
geschreven vanuit een kind van 10, maar soms kan je niet anders dan denken dat dit toch wel heel erg gekleurd is door de opvoeding. datzelfde gevoel had ik ook bij het boek dat de ouders schreven. Hoe werelds hun opvoeding ook kan zijn, ik heb er een heel beklemmend gevoel bij

[Mio]

Just found this again, at the bottom of a long forgotten moving box. The inscription says that i got this book for my second birthday, and indeed i remember it really vividly… will go back go it someday soon. Can’t believe i’ve had this book for 20 years now. When i opened it, the smell made me feel so small again. Love the Proust effect in action once again. Now i am all nostalgic!

[misha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful book, beautiful for readers of all ages. The photos are truly beautiful - I would love to read a follow up from her adult perspective.

[Catarina Henriques · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who wouldn’t love to be Tippi? Being friends with wild animals and a world without animal exploitation?
A book to read over andd over again and being able to dream about the wildness of Africa

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for animal lovers, an amazing book!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Otils Olsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm keeping this one for my kids. Instead of cartoons.

[Daisy · Rating 4 out of 5]

It made my day!

[Marina Navarro · Rating 5 out of 5]

El libro que todos los niños que creen que pueden hablar con los animales necesitan.

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

dream childhood

[Linh · Rating 5 out of 5]

a wonderful book for people loving wild animals

[Genevieve Tucker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book to read with your child. The pictures are fantastic and the story has enough interest for parent and child. It’s written by a 10 year old and wanders into many topics of life.

[Tracy Boyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't realize that it reads like a child's book. But that doesn't change my rating. Mesmerizing.

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book was not especially good. It did not shed any real light on the way she grew up and the voice was not at all authentic. I read it because of a website I stumbled across with photos of her interactions with animals which led one to believe in a special relationship with animals. But the book made it obvious that her photographer parents were skewing the reality

[Edwina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I mostly liked this book. I wondered how many of these words are hers or indeed someone else's. But in the end it doesn't matter because they are enjoyable words, thought provoking ideas, and lovely pictures.

In the end I find myself wanting to know more, so that's good. It is all rather lovely.

[Elme Deyzel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really a amazing story!!!!!! Loved reading about her life!!!!!