Now more than ever our planet needs Earth Heroes. This eloquent book takes us on a journey through the personal lives of the most renowned naturalists, describing their lasting influence on the world. The passion and profound impact of the heroes of yesterday will inspire the young to be our leaders tomorrow.
— Richard Louv, author, Last Child in the Woods (January 2009)
. . . This compact paperback book is a great choice for a classroom supplement. Its eight biographies would be appropriate for group work, independent reading, or whole-class explorations and extensions. It illustrates the history and methods of science in a way that will appeal to many learning styles.
— NSTA Recommends (March 2010)
This book is an excellent source for students who wish to learn more about environmentalists, both past and present. . . . All of the included naturalists became fascinated with nature from an early age, and each one contributed greatly to his or her field. . . . Each chapter is followed by a “Fast Facts” page and a timeline of important events, which provides historical context. This book could be utilized by middle school students for both research and pleasure. The stories are quite inspirational.
— Children’s Literature (January 2010)
Like its present companion in the Earth Heroes series, Champions of the Wilderness is well written and illustrated. Again, it too is aimed at young readers but will interest even seasoned outdoor educators hoping to learn a little more about one of their personal heroes. Heroes included in this edition are: Henry David Thoreau, John Muir, Theodore Roosevelt, Aldo Leopold, Richard St. Barbe Baker, Margaret Murie, David Suzuki, and
Wangari Maathai.
The “snapshots” Bruce and Carol Malnor have created include interesting anecdotes about the life of each hero. Just enough detail is provided in the narrative sections to hold the interest of a young reader. Images and photographs selected work nicely. Like Champions of the Oceans, the end of each chapter provides “Fast Facts” and a timeline for those who would learn more. All and all, the book works well to introduce the reader in “a personal way” with the “Greats” selected by the authors.
One task this reviewer doesn?t envy of the Malnors is explaining how they selected the heroes to write about. Surely, they will be queried why “Greats” like Robert Marshall and Howard Zahniser, for example, were left out of a book on Champions of the Wilderness. In the authors? defense, they do mention in the introduction, “There have been many heroes of the wilderness throughout history.” There is also no pretense on the part of Dawn Publications that this is an encyclopedic work, rather a series to inform and motivate young children. Perhaps this could be a little more clearly, and visibly, stated. A page at the end of each book could be inserted listing other “Greats” and a suggested bibliography for further reading/learning.
In this day and age of shallow/money seeking heroes it is important to put forth stories about people who see something in this life bigger than them. Accolades to Dawn Publications for its long-standing commitment to help children learn to love the earth!
— Taproot Magazone – Charles Yaple (Fall/Winter 2009)
This outstanding series from Dawn Publications shares the stories of explorers and scientists who have become “earth heroes.” From icons like Jacques Cousteau and Jane Goodall to lesser known people like William Temple Hornaday and Margaret Wentworth Owings, these mini-biographies show how these individuals became who they are and why. By revealing their humble beginnings in curiosity and wonder, these stories provide ample inspiration and encouragement to young readers who may want to follow a similar path. Accessible text accompanied by wonderful illustrations and photographs make these books a wonderful gift for a young naturalist.
— Clearing Magazine (December 2010)
Children have lots of people that they look up to and want to be like including singers, actors and athletes. Rarely do children say that they want to be like John Muir, Jane Goodall or Wangari Maathai. They might not even have heard about these people!
Books about environmentalists that highlight achievements for nature are important for children to read. Not only will children be educated about those responsible for protecting the natural world and promoting the importance of “wilderness”, but they will learn why it is necessary for everyone to protect the environment.
In Earth Heroes: Champions of the Wilderness Bruce and Carol Malnor provide short biographies of eight “Champions of the Wilderness” who “have supported and protected wild places around the world.” The eight people featured in the book are: Henry David Thoreau, John Muir, Theodore Roosevelt, Aldo Leopold, Richard St. Barbe Baker, Margaret Murie, David Suzuki and Wangari Maathai. For each person there is a brief biography, some “Fast Facts” as well as a “Timeline of Important Events”. Reading about the environmental accomplishments of the various people is both interesting and inspirational.
The interesting text is complemented by illustrations and photographs. I particularly enjoyed some of the photographs which included Henry David Thoreau’s one-room cabin at Walden Pond, John Muir and Theodore Roosevelt in Yosemite and Aldo Leopold writing outside his “Shack”.
Earth Heroes: Champions of the Wilderness is a good book that highlights the environmental efforts of some remarkable people.
— Metroland North – Glenn Perrett (April 2009)
This short book is a gem which includes biographies of eight “heroes” who have championed the preservation and/or conservation of wilderness areas around the world over the past two centuries. Included are Thoreau, Muir, Teddy Roosevelt, Aldo Leopold, Richard St. Barbe Baker, Mardy Murie, David Suzuki, and Wangari Maathai. The storytelling fluent and engaging, despite a few copy editing glitches.
At the end of each biography the authors provide a two page wrap-up including fast facts, a life timeline adjacent to an historical context timeline, and a clever “ripples of influence” section which details famous people who influenced a specific earth hero and famous people who were influenced by that person. This allows students to begin unraveling the complex interplay of ideas and actions which have brought wilderness conservation and preservation to the state we find it today.
This book would work well in an elementary library to pique students’ interests in the environment when they move through that stage of fascination with true life stories. It would work equally well as the source material for high school students to conduct a panel discussion or fishbowl discussion/critique among two centuries of earth heroes. Particularly intriguing is the potential for older students to elucidate the “ripple effects” of each of these individuals’ lives, reflecting on who has influenced them at this point in their lives and pondering whose lives they might already be impacting or may impact in the future.
I highly recommend this book and plan to purchase the next volumes on oceans and wildlife as they become available.
— AAAS Science Books & Films – Mare Sullivan (April 2009)
I think the most positive characteristic of this book is that it gives the reader a brief history of the life of the featured Wilderness Heroes. The information presented in the short stories is interesting and important to show accomplishments in the lives of these few people who wanted to both preserve and conserve our natural resources. Each of the stories allows a glimpse into the life of the person and how they became interested in the natural world. The stories are long enough to give the reader a great appreciation of the person, but not too long. The illustrations are very nice pencil sketches and add to the interest of each story. I also really like the information presented at the end of each story with the time line. It allows the reader to see what events were happening at the same time that might have influenced the actions of each individual, and how their surroundings influenced the course of their lives. The information also shows how the actions of the heroes in the book greatly influenced the actions of their peers. This was very enjoyable to read and a lot of information provided in an easy to read format. A great book for all ages.
— iParenting Media Awards Reviewer (August 2009)
A compilation of outstanding biographies from 19th century to modern day environmentalists geared towards upper elementary and middle school-aged children, Earth Heroes: Champions of the Wilderness is a detailed reference guide and source of inspiration. In a way, those profiled act as a domino effect where the first stimulated the actions of the next: Henry David Thoreau served as a hero for John Muir; Muir did the same for Theodore Roosevelt; Teddy moved Aldo Leopold; and so it goes for Richard St. Barbe Baker, Margaret Murie, David Suzuki, Wangari Maathai, and then ideally upon the reader. Each chapter is structured in roughly the same manner, where the person’s childhood is retold, including their initial and deep connections to nature, their careers and achievements and even a bit of their personal information (marital status, children, etc). For those looking for the basics, the authors provide a page on “Fast Facts” and a timeline that contrasts personal mile markers within its historical context.
There’s no doubt that these individuals initiated and began to define the ecological movement: preserving large tracts of land as national parks and wildlife refuges, creating founding theories on food chains, preservation and conservation, planting peace and generating forests in African villages, and helping native tribes in Canada and elsewhere protect their locales. While such achievements are the main reason for writing this text, I love the honest portrayal of each person. Aldo Leopold, was the odd one of the bunch, quirky with girls and preferred to spend time with family or in nature, but eventually he came into his own, settled down and created a lasting legacy. You’ll find the other naturalists with trying adolescences: During WWII, Suzuki and his family were separated and forced to work in labor camps; Maathai had to overcome sexism in order to achieve her many “firsts,” such as the first woman to earn a PhD in East and Central Africa.
One recurring theme that will dishearten animal lovers is the incredible number of animals hunted by some of these champions. The authors do note that:
“Being a hunter might seem like a contradiction for a person like Teddy [Roosevelt] who loved birds and animals. However, during the 1800’s and 1900’s most naturalists were also hunters. They killed animals so they could carefully study them.”
Nowhere do the authors suggest that hunting is no longer a needed pastime, but at the very least readers will come to appreciate Aldo Leopold’s evolved view on the subject matter: “I can’t imagine wanting to kill anything now when there is so much to see and appreciate out of doors.” The book ends with creative recommendations on how to become a Hero.
— Vegbooks – Carolyn M. Mullin (January 26, 2011)
A daily “Green Hour” helps ensure that kids get the time needed to explore and daydream, the time to connect to a place that may become their “happy place.” Like a friendship, this bond cannot be forced or rushed; it builds over time, often through frequent visits, and is deeply personal. Members of a family often have very different “happy places.”
The real places behind “happy places” are powerful spots, indeed, as witness their effect on the life paths of eight great environmentalists. In Earth Heroes: Champions of the Wilderness (Dawn, 2009, ages 8 and up), authors Bruce and Carol Malnor explore how people as diverse in time, locale and temperament as Henry David Thoreau, the 19th century “sage of Walden,” and Wangari Maathai, contemporary Africa’s “tree mother” worked, wrote, educated and fought to preserve the wild spaces they found inspiring. And they did so not just for themselves but for the many species, humans included, in need of their food, shelter and spiritual uplift. The “Become a Hero” section at the end invites readers to discover their own wild space, suggests ways to explore it (take a night hike, for example, or build a tree fort) and asks them to reflect on the legacy of these heroes – John Muir, Aldo Leopold, Margaret Murie – when deciding how they, too, might make a difference.
— Nat. Wildlife Federation’s GreenHour.org – Mary Quattlebaum (August 2009)
Even one person can make a big difference in the world. This captivating book chronicles eight environmental champions who did just that: from Henry David Thoreau, whose famous stay at Walden Pond inspired countless future leaders, to Richard St. Barbe Baker, who inspired people to plant some 26 trillion trees. These illustrated profiles remind us just how beautiful and important our wilderness really is.
— Skipping Stones Magazine (Sept/Oct 2009)
Written for young readers, Earth Heroes: Champions of the Wilderness chronicles the lives of eight conservation heroes who have made significant contributions to the way humans interact with and protect wild places today. In their preface, authors Bruce and Carol Malnor promise that you will feel less like you are reading a history book and more like you are meeting friends. They stay true to that promise, highlighting not only the achievements, but the personalities of conservation greats such as John Muir, Aldo Leopold, David Suzuki and Wangari Maathai. At the end of each chapter is a useful “Timeline of Historical Events” which juxtaposes the major environmental and pop culture milestones that occured at the same time as significant moments in the life of each hero.
— Green Teacher (Summer 2010)
The positive characteristic of this book is that it is a great topic matter. The children were fascinated and talked about the information in the book for many days as they were reading it. It inspired thought and conversation about how they can be like the people they read about in the book.
— iParenting Media Awards Reviewer (August 2009)
Who do you think can be considered a hero or a champion? In Earth Heroes: Champions of the Wilderness, authors Bruce and Carol L. Malnor introduce us to eight “Earth heroes” who did things to preserve the environment and are thus “champions of the wilderness” because they have protected wild places around the world. Some of the names will be fairly familiar to most people: Henry David Thoreau, John Muir, and Theodore Roosevelt. But you may not recognize others, like Richard St. Barbe Baker, Margaret Murie, and Wangari Maathai. We often think of Teddy Roosevelt charging up San Juan Hill as a Rough Rider, or speaking softly but carrying a big stick as President. But did you know that as child he was “sickly and delicate” due to asthma and that he “was home-schooled by tutors”?
Everyone undoubtedly recognizes the need for young people today to be concerned about protecting the environment. One great way to accomplish this aim is by looking at the real-life examples of others who did what they could to help the causes of conservation and preservation. The eight biographical sketches in this book are fascinating reading as they focus upon the childhood events and early experiences that shaped the subjects’ lives and influenced them to care about the environment, and then describe the lasting contributions that they made.
The black and white illustrations by Anisa Claire Hovemann, based on careful research, are a perfect complement to the highly readable text. There are also several photographs, and each entry has a page of fast facts and a timeline of important events to give perspective. In addition, the back of the book contains some suggested activities and additional resources for further study. Future Earth Heroes volumes will include Champions of the Oceans and Champions of Wildlife. Children and adults who are already conscious about environmentalism will certainly enjoy this book, as I did, but it would be good for everyone to read it because all of us need to be more concerned about what happens to the planet on which we live. I highly recommend it.
— Stories for Children Magazine – Wayne S. Walker (August 2009)
Earth Heroes: Champions of the Wilderness is the first release in the “Earth Heroes” series that will feature the youth and careers of the world’s greatest environmentalists, including the likes of Henry David Thoreau, John Muir, and Theodore Roosevelt. Their lives show how they shared their scientific skills and knowledge with the public to make lasting contributions to the world. The second and third in the series will be about environmental heroes that preserved the oceans and wildlife.
— Independent Publishers Online Magazine (January 2010)
This book contains very informational biographies of eight of history’s “Champions of the Wilderness,” aka environmentalists. It details the reasons each of them found it imperative and life consuming in some instances to put nature, specifically the wilderness, in the forefront of their lives. It talks about their struggles and how each person contributed in saving, protecting or promoting our wildernesses. The illustrations by Anisa Claire Hovemann are beautifully done and the historical photos are an added bonus. I found the time lines on each biography fascinating; they helped with the bigger picture of what, where, and especially when both the environmentalist and in pertinent history. This paperback would make an awesome classroom addition as well as library resource. I liked that it also included ideas especially geared toward younger readers on how they could find and improve their own wildernesses. It was also helpful that they listed other resources, both book and internet that could be used on each featured champion should you be doing a report and need more information.
— Lane Education Service Dist. Book Reivew Program (July 2010)
Who is a hero? What is a wilderness? This book introduces you to eight people who did help to preserve and protect environment. They are truly “Earth Heroes”. These people are called “Champions of the Wilderness” because they have supported and protected wild places around the world. The eight people are Henry David Thoreau, John Muir, Theodore Roosevelt, Aldo Leopold, Richard St. Barbe Baker, Margaret Muries, David Suzuki, and Wangari Maathai. This book takes a very personal look at these champions. There is a biography and timeline of important events listed for each one. The next books in this series are Earth Heroes: Champions of the Ocean (Fall 2009) and Earth Heroes: Champions for Wildlife (Spring 2010). Illustrator Anisa Hovemann did the wonderful pictures in this book. This is a wonderful book for children to learn about the environment.
As young children, Bruce and Carol Malnor were influenced to love nature. As educators for over 30 years, that ripple of influence spread to their students. They took the students on many outdoor adventures–hiking, camping, white water rafting and rock climbing. Anisa Hovemann is a young artist with a fine sense of the human form. Her figures come alive with depth of character and expression. She also did the illustrations in If You Give a T-Rex a Bone and Eliza and the Dragonfly.
— The Nashville News – Mary Barrett (June 2009)
Now more than ever our planet needs Earth Heroes. This eloquent book takes us on a journey through the personal lives of the most renowned naturalists, describing their lasting influence on the world. The passion and profound impact of the heroes of yesterday will inspire the young to be our leaders tomorrow.
— Richard Louv, author, Last Child in the Woods (January 2009)
As we approach Earth Day 2009, the book Earth Heroes: Champions of the Wilderness is an ideal one to consider. It showcases the lives, adventures and stellar accomplishments of some remarkable naturalists/environmentalists. They include: Henry David Thoreau, John Muir, Theodore Roosevelt, Aldo Leopold, Richard St. Barbe Baker, Margaret Murie, David Suzuki and Wangari Maathai.
The recurrent theme in this book is how these individuals began observing and enjoying the natural environment at an early age. These transformative experiences led to life-long careers and commitments in educating advocating and actively working to protect beautiful wild places on Earth.
This book was an eye-opener to me; half of these heroes I had never heard of before. Its truly astonishing how much good one individual can do.
This book is quite entertaining and can inspire young boys and girls to learn about local wild places and to have a greater appreciation and respect for nature.
Today’s review comes courtesy of my brother-in-law, Henry Grossman. A retired science teacher and avid outdoor photographer from New York, Henry has visited many of the national parks mentioned in this book.
— L.A. Parent – Henry Grossman (April 2009)
(Review of Earth Heroes: Champions of the Wilderness and Earth Heroes: Champions of the Ocean):
Both books are part of the new series Earth Heroes. I was taken with the format of the books right away – it’s different from any other books I’ve seen. The authors looked for the common threads linking each of these explorers and wrote about their successes and also their failures, making the point that failure is what you make of it and not necessarily a bad thing.
The short introduction to each book asks stimulating questions and points out what to look for in each biography.
Each chapter is devoted to a special person of influence, eight in each book. There are explanations of the big events that influenced each hero and intriguing details about their lives that help the reader really get to know each person. After each biographical chapter is a one-page fact sheet that boils down the important facts, the accomplishments, and the “Ripples of Influence” (those who influenced the hero and those he or she influenced in turn). Then there is a one-page timetable that sets the particular hero in the historical context of his or her own time. These books are well illustrated with black-and-white photos and drawings.
Each book ends with a couple of pages explaining how readers can become heroes in their own way.
— Brook Farm Books Blog (January 2010)
One of several Earth Heroes books that portray the lives of notable people who have made significant accomplishments in the featured area, Champions of the Wilderness is a fascinating read. The biographies of eight conservationists and naturalists, historical and contemporary, familiar and little known, make this edition a valuable book for any library or classroom. This is a well-organized book which includes an interesting biographical description plus a page of facts (birthday, place, parents) in addition to a listing of accomplishments for each hero. There is also a full page timeline which compares their life with historical events. One of the unique and inspirational features of this book is its “Ripples of Influence” which is included for each biography and is also described at the conclusion of the book in a follow-up note to the reader on how to become a hero. The theme that every person is influenced by others and in turn can influence others is a profound statement embraced by the authors. This book is a treasure and rates a 5.
— Lane County ESD Reviews (Fall 2010)
Earth Heroes skillfully brings to life the lives of great environmentalists in a fresh and moving way. You can feel their idealism and reverence for life in the stories of these remarkable men and women. I highly recommend it to any parent or teacher who wants to inspire children to learn about the Earth and to love and care for it.
— Joseph Cornell, author, Sharing Nature with Children (January 2009)
Earth Heroes: Champions of the Wilderness includes stories about historical leaders who cared for the environment. These stories will inspire readers to preserve nature, while interesting them with biographical information about each person. Some of the “Earth Heroes,” as the book refers to them, are John Muir, Theodore Roosevelt, and Margaret Murie. The detailed and beautiful illustrations make each story come alive.
— Oneota Reading Journal (November 2010)
Henry David Thoreau, John Muir, Theodore Roosevelt, Aldo Leopold, Richard St. Barbe Baker, Margaret Murie, David Suzuki and Wangari Maathai. These are eight people who protected what they loved. Forests are saved from losing millions of trees, a village in Kenya becomes peaceful, and books are written about the environment. David Suzukis twelve-year-old daughter, Severn, shows a kid that no matter how old or how young you are anything is possible. Champions of the Wilderness brings us fascinating stories of childhood experiences that shaped how these individuals look upon nature.
This book is inspiring as well as infuriating. It made me think more about the environment but there are only two girls mentioned in it! I am an eco-friendly girl who would like to read more about important things that other girls have done.
The illustrations in this book are phenomenal! They are so detailed they come alive.
I learned about a lot of people and more about Theodore Roosevelt. I also learned not to give up on what you really want, because you just might inspire others.
Carol and Bruce Malnor have really impressed me with Champions of the Wilderness and I hope they continue inspiring kids with their books.
— Kids Reader Views – Sara McGinn (age 9)(July 2009)
