Back of Book:
Meg Lowman was always fascinated by the natural world above her head. The colors, the branches, and, most of all, the leaves and mysterious organisms living there. As a scientist, Meg set out to climb up and investigate the rain forest tree canopies– and to be the first scientist to do so. But she encountered challenge after challenge. Male teachers would not let her into their classrooms, the high canopy was difficult to get to, and worst of all, people were logging and clearing the forests. Meg never gave up or gave in. She studied, invented, and persevered, not only creating a future for herself as a scientist but making sure that the rainforests had a future as well.
My Review:
I am so excited to be apart of the blog tour for this incredible nonfiction narrative. “The Leaf Detective: How Margaret Lowman Uncovered Secrets in the Rainforest” by Heather Lang follows the life and work of Meg Lowman. Meg grew up fascinated by all aspects of the rainforest. In college, Meg fed her passion with science and curiosity. Determined to understand the rainforest, Meg created a harness that allowed her to climb into the treetops and gather research about the different parts of the rainforest and how they impacted the Australian ecosystems. Although she was discouraged by many, Meg continued to document her findings. With the help of a good friend, Meg helped invent the world’s first canopy walkway. She began to travel the world and study other rainforests. Meg soon realized that she had to use her voice to show others that a tree was not just a tree, but a part of an ecosystem. Heather Lang wrote a beautiful informational book that showcases the drive of one determined woman. I love that the text has a combination of quotes from Meg Lowman and details about the rainforest. The illustrations by Jana Christy capture the vibrance and intricate details of the rainforest. The back of the book has more information about a trip Heather Lang took with Meg to Peru as well as photos of the two. The last page is titled Rainforest Magic and shows readers the different layers of the rainforest. “The Leaf Detective” is an inspirational story about the importance of understanding, and protecting or planet.
Ages 6 and up
48 Pages
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