Just Wild Enough

August 15, 2022
From pompoms to Ph.D.! Mireya Mayor, a Cuban American primatologist who grew up in Miami, was interested in wild animals from a young age--her childhood home teemed with animals, from dogs to snapping turtles to a chicken and everything in between. Although her interest in nature hit a speed bump when her mother sent her to ballet class instead of letting her join the Girl Scouts, Mireya discovered a talent for dance that led to her becoming an NFL cheerleader while she attended college. Her desire to work with animals--particularly primates--led her to international fieldwork in the jungles of South America as well as struggles with colleagues who judged Mireya based on her looks and not her accomplishments. Her continued work in far-off places caught the attention of National Geographic, which made her its first woman wildlife TV reporter, and on an expedition to Madagascar, Mireya discovered a new species of lemur. With this discovery, Mireya successfully petitioned the prime minister of Madagascar to create a national park to ensure the lemur's survival. The story effectively documents Mireya's career path, and attentive readers and caregivers will have moments to consider themes of prejudice and how everyone has unlimited capability for divergent interests. The backmatter, which contains additional information about mouse lemurs and the lemur reserve and an author's note with more details about Mireya's career path, including how she obtained her doctorate, will help direct curious readers to learn more. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Pleasing and stimulating. (glossary, further reading) (Picture-book biography. 6-8)

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September 15, 2022
Grades K-2 What does a wildlife explorer look like? As Mireya Mayor chased her dream of becoming a primatologist and exploring jungles and wildlife, she didn't let the opinion of others stop her from doing what she loved. Some people didn't think that a former cheerleader could ever be a scientist or explorer, but Mayor knew they were wrong. She explored jungles in South America and traveled to Madagascar, where she discovered a new species of the elusive lemur. Working with the government, Mayor helped ensure the safety of the wild habitat that these lemurs called home, thereby saving many native plants and animals. Beautiful, luminous illustrations depict the beauty of the wildlife and places Mayor explored, with magical bursts of color conveying her unique personality and love of the wild. Enthusiastic text makes this a great biography to read aloud, with the dangers faced by Mireya--along with her many accomplishments--making this a fun and exciting read. An inspirational story that shows how an explorer and a scientist don't look one certain way.

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