The Watcher

The Watcher: Jane Goodall's Life with the Chimps by Jeanette Winter
2011

     The Watcher is a wonderful biography about Jane Goodall, the famous woman who has spent her life observing chimpanzees and fighting for their survival.  It takes us from Jane's childhood in England, watching "ALL the animals in her world," through her young adult years working to save money to fly to Africa, and all the way to her days among chimps in Tanzania.  Jeanette Winters does a wonderful job of immersing young readers in the world of Gooddall and her chimps, with tons of information and details, without loosing their attention for a second.  My four year old was completely engrossed in the tale and loved the idea of being a watcher of animals, of being patient, and learning from them.
     The best thing abut The Watcher: Jane Goodall's Life with the Chimps is that it's a book that teaches a lot of non-fiction content, but reads likes a wonderful story.  It's also a great addition to the classroom library.