Alexander Von Humboldt: Explorer, Naturalist & Environmental Pioneer

In lightly worked pencil and watercolor spreads, Novgorodoff presents Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859) as a German child who baffles his parents and tutors with his predilection for wandering alone. Harboring an interest in exploration, von Humboldt "studied everything from mold to meteors" before eventually sailing to South America. There, a sketchbook sequence describes his initial thoughts as he encounters animals ("These creatures are so different!"), then, upon reflection, realizes that they occupy similar niches as the creatures he already knows: "The hawks were sharp-eyed, the lizards had eighteen toes, and the large cats were spotted." As he learns more about the geography of the continent, he comes to believe that everything--the plants, the animals, their placement on the land--is interrelated, formerly articulating that "habitats all over the world are connected." Though an author's note and back matter contextualize the figure's beliefs and Eurocentricity, some of the picture book's text nevertheless centers the white explorer's "discoveries" and opinions over those of Indigenous peoples in this detailed description of one person's observations about the natural world. Ages 4-8. (Feb.)

Gr 1-4--A biography that young readers and those with burning questions about the world will be sure to enjoy of a lesser-known scientist and explorer, Alexander von Humboldt. As a child in Germany, Humboldt's fascination for creatures grows into a lifelong crusade to see the world. Though not encouraged by the adults around him, von Humboldt learns that being different and curious is just the way he was meant to be--a fine lesson for any young reader struggling to fit in. He appreciates everything outdoors, from the birds and volcanoes, to the Indigenous people of the Amazon, and the interconnection of everything to everything else. After a relatively straightforward rendition of a fairly colorful life story, the book also features a helpful time line to further educate those who want to know more about von Humboldt's family, his accomplishments, and his death. While his story is a beautiful one accompanied by intricate watercolor illustrations, some of the vocabulary may be a little too advanced for primary readers with words such as "solitude" and "vegetation" as well as place names such as Pichincha. However, this will serve as a fine read-aloud for older students in a library setting or as a biography for independent readers at the elementary level. VERDICT Science and nature fans alike will dig into this biography with wonder and awe as they learn about a real-life naturalist.--Kerra Mazzariello