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WILD PLACES

Hayley Rocco John Rocco

The Life of Naturalist Daic Attenborough

An inspiring and accessible picture book biography of the world's best-known naturalist - broadcaster and documentarian David Attenborough - stunningly illustrated by a Caldecott Honoree.
Follow David as a young boy growing up in England, to his early career in television, where he had the innovative idea to travel all over the world to film animals in their natural habitats. He played with penguins on icebergs in Antarctica, cuddled with sloths in the rainforests of South America, and listened to the songs of humpback whales in the South Pacific. Over the years his programs reached millions of people.

But over the course of his lifetime, David noticed the wild places he loved were shrinking. The animals were becoming harder to find. The weather was becoming more extreme and unpredictable. And so, David turned his lens toward conservation, restoring the wild ecosystems of our planet, and protecting the animals who call Earth home.


Hayley Rocco is the author of How to Send a Hug, her first collaboration with her husband, John Rocco. Before dedicating herself to writing for children full-time, Hayley worked as a publicist at several major publishers. Visit Hayley online at hayleyrocco.com and follow her on Instagram @hayleyroccobks.

John Rocco is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and illustrator of many acclaimed books for children, including Blackout, recipient of a Caldecott Honor, and How We Got to the Moon, recipient of a Sibert Honor and longlisted for the National Book Award. Visit John online at roccoart.com and follow him on Instagram @roccoart.
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Book

Published 2024-02-06 by Putnam

Book

Published 2024-02-06 by Putnam

Comments

This stunning, informative, and deeply humane book belongs on the shelf of everyone who cares about our planet, its creatures, and its caretakers. A wonder and a treasure.

UK: Rock the Boat/Oneworld

Featuring highly detailed full-page illustrations, this picture-book biography traces David Attenborough's life through his relationship with "wild" places - where flora and fauna thrive - as opposed to "tame" places, where humans live and work. Told in short elementary-school-friendly sentences with some science vocabulary, the text offers an overarching look at Attenborough's life so far... Crisp, neat prose and lush artwork augment the simplicity well. A well-illustrated introduction to the topic with many real-world applicabilities.

For fledgling conservationists and climate activists... An inspiring overview of a life dedicated to essential eco-causes.

Wild Places is eloquent and profound in its telling of Sir David Attenborough's life. Hayley's concise writing, matched with John's vivid art, shows the impact one person can have on our planet and encourages us to change for the better. This is a must-have for any classroom.

A beautiful book about an inspiring life, with a timely message accessible for all ages.

Both an inspiring picture biography and a call to arms for rewilding our planet... David Attenborough is universally recognised as a genuine hero of our times and this informative picturebook tells an engaging story of his life and work...The illustrations, from a Caldecott medal honouree, are stunning evocations of the natural world...This hopeful message is bound to inspire and enthuse young eco-warriors and fledgling conservationists.

A beautifully written and illustrated tribute to the importance of preserving the Earth for Future generations. Wild Places should be required reading for every young citizen of planet Earth.

This mesmerizing picture book will likely captivate its audience with a powerful, accessible message and remarkable illustrations... Belongs in the library of any child who finds joy in the natural world. Dazzling.

[A] light but sterling biographical account of Sir David Attenborough... Scenes on double page spreads, with lush greenery and thriving wildlife, contrasts starkly with the spaces struck bare by humans via pollution, overfishing, and logging. A must-purchase for libraries; children will delight in learning about the "voice of nature."

Naturalistic illustrations illuminate scenes of Attenborough's youth and young adulthood with period detail... An exemplar of a public figure who changed course to address climate change.

It is not often that I'm truly touched by the picture books I read, but Wild Places is one of those books. The author and illustrator's deep passion for and devotion to conservation is apparent throughout. Equally important and beautiful, Wild Places belongs on the shelves of every school and home library.

Haley Rocco proficiently distills information about Attenborough's career into straightforward text following Attenborough's path chronologically... John Rocco's art is notable for its rich and luminous hues depicting stunning natural landscapes, and several art spreads cleverly rely on juxtaposition of scenery, such as the industrial London skyline with a lush green rainforest, to make a statement about the importance of environmental conservation.[includes] a clever infographic of environmental problems and solutions.