Becoming a Good Creature

by Sy Montgomery, Rebecca Green (Illustrator)

Overview

A New York Times Bestseller

School is not the only place to find a teacher. In this beautiful picture book, learn the many surprising lessons animals have to teach us about friendship, compassion, and how to be a better creature in the world.

Beloved, bestselling author Sy Montgomery, often described as part Emily Dickinson, part Indiana Jones, has had many teachers in her life: some with two legs, others with four, or even eight! Some have had fur, feathers, or hooves. But they’ve all had one thing in common: a lesson to share.

The animals Sy has met on her many world travels have taught her how to seek understanding in the most surprising ways, from being patient to finding forgiveness and respecting others. Gorillas, dogs, octopuses, tigers, and more all have shown Sy that there are no limits to the empathy and joy we can find in each other if only we take the time to connect.

Based on the New York Times bestselling adult memoir, Sy Montgomery and Rebecca Green's beautiful, friendly guide is for readers young and old who wish to be better creatures in the world. Go ahead, pass it on.       

Perfect for:

• Birthdays, graduations, and animal lovers, or for your favorite teacher.

Read more books by Sy Montgomery:

• The Book of Turtles
• The Magnificent Migration
• Condor Comeback
• The Hyena Scientist
• The Octopus Scientists
• The Great White Shark Scientist         

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780063312685
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	09/05/2023
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	134,371
Product dimensions:	8.80(w) x 8.80(h) x 0.30(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

In addition to researching films, articles, and thirty-six books, National Book Award finalist Sy Montgomery has been honored with a Sibert Medal, two Science Book and Film Prizes from the National Association for the Advancement of Science, three honorary degrees, and many other awards. She lives in Hancock, New Hampshire, with her husband, Howard Mansfield, and their border collie, Thurber.

Rebecca Green is an illustrator of many children's and middle grade books, including The Unicorn in the Barn, Iqbal and His Ingenious Idea, Madame Saqui, and From Far Away. She is also the author and illustrator of How to Make Friends with a Ghost. This is her second collaboration with Sy Montgomery, their first being How to Be a Good Creature. She resides with her husband and their lovely animals, Mori and Junie B.

Hometown:

Hancock, New Hampshire

Date of Birth:

February 7, 1958

Place of Birth:

Frankfurt, Germany

Education:

Syracuse University: B.A., Newhouse School of Public Communications, 1979; B.A., College of Arts and Sciences, 1979

Editorial Reviews

★"Full of conviction, wisdom, and essential truths" — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

★"A thoughtful, gentle work that highlights the connection between animals and humans. This tender picture book will inspire reflection." — School Library Journal (starred review)

From the Publisher

★ 09/01/2020

K-Gr 4—The collaborators behind Montgomery's 2018 memoir, How To Be a Good Creature, return for a picture book version. Vivid language and emotive illustrations effectively depict Montgomery's connection to animals. Montgomery observed the actions and behaviors of her first pet, a dog, which inspired her to learn more about animals. Her love of observation and research expanded to many more creatures, and her travels took her around the world. She lived in tents, hiked in jungles and deserts, and went wherever her work required her to go. The lessons she shared in her adult memoir have been reshaped for young readers. Green's illustrations depict warmth and tenderness in every line and stroke of gouache. VERDICT A thoughtful, gentle work that highlights the connection between animals and humans. This tender picture book will inspire reflection.—Nancy Call, formerly at Santa Cruz P.L., Aptos, CA

School Library Journal

★ 2020-07-14
Life lessons for young humans gleaned from a lifetime living with other creatures.

Reprised for young readers from Montgomery’s memoir (for adults) How To Be a Good Creature, this picture book’s message is concise and clear: Humans are only one of many creatures to inhabit the Earth, and knowing, respecting, and learning from other creatures will help humans become better creatures themselves. The organization of the story is also clear and concise: A short piece of advice is augmented by a brief story relayed in accessible, direct language from the author’s personal experiences in a lifetime of observing and being around other creatures. “Make Your Own Family” describes the author’s family of hens, a dog, a pig, a husband, and neighbors; the poignant “Trust Tomorrow” relates a dark period that lightened with the unexpected arrival of a dog; and “See For Yourself” relays the author’s observations of the gentleness of the oft-reviled hyena. Other topics include seeking similarity, forgiveness, and the importance of small creatures. Avoiding triteness, the narrative establishes a connection between humans and other creatures as it teaches that respect for the animal world is a good way to become a good human, too. Green’s visually pleasing illustrations are rendered in a warm, earth-hued palette, and they have an uncomplicated design that effectively complements the story’s wise, authentic narrative. Montgomery presents White.

Full of conviction, wisdom, and essential truths. (Picture book/memoir. 3-10)

Kirkus Reviews