Alexander von Humboldt
Explorer, Naturalist & Environmental Pioneer
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- $4.99
Publisher Description
Budding botanists, growing geologists, and early explorers will dive into this picture book biography about the father of ecology, Alexander von Humboldt. The captivating prose and art from a New York Times bestselling illustrator will spark a passion for discovery and conservation in the youngest readers.
Whether sailing across the ocean, hiking through the jungle, or climbing the highest volcanic peaks, everywhere Alexander went, he observed the land, animals, and culture. And where others saw differences, Alexander spotted connections.
Discover the incredible life of naturalist Alexander von Humboldt, whose explorations created the basis for modern ecology, whose travels made him one of the most famous scientists of his day, and whose curiosities have inspired generations of creative thinkers.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
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.
