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The Chimpanzee Children of Gombe
Jane Goodall’s fans and followers will love these stories and photos of chimpanzee children living in the Gombe National Park
This heartwarming book is filled with photos of many of the chimpanzee babies, toddlers, and young adults that live in the Gombe National Park in Tanzania, where the Jane Goodall research center of is located. Dr. Goodall has campaigned unceasingly for the protection of the chimpanzee—now an endangered species—and this moving, personal account will educate readers about the many threats to the animals in the wild and inspire readers of all ages to join in her vital work.
This heartwarming book is filled with photos of many of the chimpanzee babies, toddlers, and young adults that live in the Gombe National Park in Tanzania, where the Jane Goodall research center of is located. Dr. Goodall has campaigned unceasingly for the protection of the chimpanzee—now an endangered species—and this moving, personal account will educate readers about the many threats to the animals in the wild and inspire readers of all ages to join in her vital work.
64 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2014
1 person is currently reading
113 people want to read
About the author
Jane Goodall
243 books2,638 followersFor the Australian academic and mystery writer, see Professor Jane R. Goodall.
Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE, Founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and UN Messenger of Peace was a world-renowned ethologist and activist inspiring greater understanding and action on behalf of the natural world every single day.
Dr. Goodall was best known for groundbreaking studies of wild chimpanzees in Gombe Stream National Park, Tanzania, transformative research that continues to this day as the longest-running wild chimpanzee study in the world. Dr. Goodall was the founder of the Jane Goodall Institute, a global conservation, advocacy, animal welfare, research, and youth empowerment organization, including her global Roots & Shoots program.
Dr. Goodall had worked extensively on climate action, human rights, conservation, and animal welfare issues for decades, and was a central voice in the work to advance environmental progress.
Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE, Founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and UN Messenger of Peace was a world-renowned ethologist and activist inspiring greater understanding and action on behalf of the natural world every single day.
Dr. Goodall was best known for groundbreaking studies of wild chimpanzees in Gombe Stream National Park, Tanzania, transformative research that continues to this day as the longest-running wild chimpanzee study in the world. Dr. Goodall was the founder of the Jane Goodall Institute, a global conservation, advocacy, animal welfare, research, and youth empowerment organization, including her global Roots & Shoots program.
Dr. Goodall had worked extensively on climate action, human rights, conservation, and animal welfare issues for decades, and was a central voice in the work to advance environmental progress.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
January 2, 2015
Did anyone make an effort to edit the text? I usually love seeing what Jane Goodall has to put out about her research, but while the pictures were great, the text left something to be desired.
July 5, 2017
The pictures are great, but the text leaves a lot to be desired. Goodall tries to tell a story about a "day" (which she tells you up front is really a collection of situations over several weeks) in the life of someone who watches the chimpanzees, especially the children. I think the book would be much stronger of she had written about the chimpanzees and their environment without trying to make it a story.
January 28, 2015
I've admired Jane and her work all my life, so I'm obviously biased whenever another book about her work is published. However, this one really is quite special, including actual photographs. Jane gives you a personal tour through the forest to give you a picture of what a day with these chimpanzee families is like.
January 10, 2025
The photographs were wonderful. I really got a sense of Jane talking to children while watching the chimps.
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August 7, 2016Title: The Chimpanzee Children of Gombe
Author: Jane Goodall
Illustrator: Photos by Michael Neugebauer
Genre: Photographic Essay
Theme(s): Chimpanzee, family, baby chimps
Opening line/sentence:
Have you ever been dazzled by a magic show?
Brief Book Summary:
Jane Goodall writes about the characteristics Chimpanzee families in Gombe.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Ilene Cooper (Booklist, Dec. 1, 2014 (Vol. 111, No. 7))
There have been many books about or by Goodall, who has now clocked in more than 50 years as a primatologist. This one, though, is especially inviting because it focuses on the young chimps, and it won t take long for readers to see how much they resemble their human counterparts. In a chatty, first-person text, Goodall introduces two chimp families, one whose names start with F, the other with G. The close-up color photos show mothers feeding, carrying, and teaching their babies; curious little ones at play; and, rather surprisingly, involved siblings taking care of younger chimps. Other flora and fauna of the Gombe National Park, in Tanzania, are also introduced. Both text and pictures emphasize the similarities between species; children whose interests are already piqued by the information may be interested in getting involved with Goodall s charitable works, which are discussed at the book s conclusion. Grades 4-6
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
Elizabeth Bush (The Bulletin of the Center for Children s Books, January 2015 (Vol. 68, No. 5))
Prolific writer, researcher, and educator Jane Goodall addresses young listeners in a photoessay that introduces the behavior of some of the younger chimpanzees at Gombe National Park in Tanzania. Large, uncaptioned color photographs coordinate with slightly oversized text, focusing on the undeniably adorable chimps as they cuddle their mothers, wrestle their siblings, climb, kiss, badger, tickle, eat, and groom. Browsing is a more satisfying experience than reading, as the tone of the narration is precious, and the syntax can be occasionally clunky: Now I would like you to come with me into the forest. We will pretend it s just one day but actually we shall be going back every few years so that we can find out what happens with the different families. Neugebauer s color photographs, though, should please chimp lovers with close-ups and action shots, and this title will put the esteemed Dr. Goodall on the radar of children just developing a serious interest in primates. Notes on chimpanzee endangerment and on the organizations that advocate for chimps are included.
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
I like how the second review states that the book works well for “children just developing a serious interest in primates” because it offers great information about chimpanzees that any interested child would want to know. Both reviews commend the photographs in the book for the close-up action shots. Last, both reviews mention that the notes located in the back of the book about the endangered species and Goodall’s contributions to help them.
Evaluation of Literary Elements:
The photos are a wonderful addition to the informative text. They lend well to the traditional definition of nonfiction using real photos and images. The text is clear and easy to read with not too much on each page to take away from the photos.
Consideration of Instructional Application:
I would use this book when teaching about endangered species to second or third grade. The book uses a clear example of an endangered species and the back of the book gives information about chimpanzees being endangered. I would read this book as the introduction to the unit because to give students background on an endangered species.
Author: Jane Goodall
Illustrator: Photos by Michael Neugebauer
Genre: Photographic Essay
Theme(s): Chimpanzee, family, baby chimps
Opening line/sentence:
Have you ever been dazzled by a magic show?
Brief Book Summary:
Jane Goodall writes about the characteristics Chimpanzee families in Gombe.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Ilene Cooper (Booklist, Dec. 1, 2014 (Vol. 111, No. 7))
There have been many books about or by Goodall, who has now clocked in more than 50 years as a primatologist. This one, though, is especially inviting because it focuses on the young chimps, and it won t take long for readers to see how much they resemble their human counterparts. In a chatty, first-person text, Goodall introduces two chimp families, one whose names start with F, the other with G. The close-up color photos show mothers feeding, carrying, and teaching their babies; curious little ones at play; and, rather surprisingly, involved siblings taking care of younger chimps. Other flora and fauna of the Gombe National Park, in Tanzania, are also introduced. Both text and pictures emphasize the similarities between species; children whose interests are already piqued by the information may be interested in getting involved with Goodall s charitable works, which are discussed at the book s conclusion. Grades 4-6
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
Elizabeth Bush (The Bulletin of the Center for Children s Books, January 2015 (Vol. 68, No. 5))
Prolific writer, researcher, and educator Jane Goodall addresses young listeners in a photoessay that introduces the behavior of some of the younger chimpanzees at Gombe National Park in Tanzania. Large, uncaptioned color photographs coordinate with slightly oversized text, focusing on the undeniably adorable chimps as they cuddle their mothers, wrestle their siblings, climb, kiss, badger, tickle, eat, and groom. Browsing is a more satisfying experience than reading, as the tone of the narration is precious, and the syntax can be occasionally clunky: Now I would like you to come with me into the forest. We will pretend it s just one day but actually we shall be going back every few years so that we can find out what happens with the different families. Neugebauer s color photographs, though, should please chimp lovers with close-ups and action shots, and this title will put the esteemed Dr. Goodall on the radar of children just developing a serious interest in primates. Notes on chimpanzee endangerment and on the organizations that advocate for chimps are included.
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
I like how the second review states that the book works well for “children just developing a serious interest in primates” because it offers great information about chimpanzees that any interested child would want to know. Both reviews commend the photographs in the book for the close-up action shots. Last, both reviews mention that the notes located in the back of the book about the endangered species and Goodall’s contributions to help them.
Evaluation of Literary Elements:
The photos are a wonderful addition to the informative text. They lend well to the traditional definition of nonfiction using real photos and images. The text is clear and easy to read with not too much on each page to take away from the photos.
Consideration of Instructional Application:
I would use this book when teaching about endangered species to second or third grade. The book uses a clear example of an endangered species and the back of the book gives information about chimpanzees being endangered. I would read this book as the introduction to the unit because to give students background on an endangered species.
December 22, 2014
Jane Goodall invites young readers to spend some time in the Gombe National Park in Tanzania with the chimpanzee families she has been studying for decades. Readers are introduced to two chimpanzee families, F-family and G-family, who are all named with that letter as the first in their name. So there are Ferdinand, Faustino and Fifi and also Gremlin, Galahad and Gaia. Goodall shows similarities between humans and chimpanzees, including greeting each other with kisses, having mothers who are good and others who are not so good, and children who love to play. The book celebrates the close family bonds of chimpanzees, the caring mothers who lug children on their fronts and then their backs, siblings who play together, and the way young are taught to use tools. The result is a book that is a trip to their world and an invitation to learn more about these amazing endangered animals.
Goodall writes with a wonderful inviting tone, explaining facts carefully but also allowing the images of the animals to tell much of the story. She plays hostess in the book, taking care to make sure that children know the basics about the chimpanzees and then also moving on to include other animals like baboons and monkeys that live in the same area. The book nicely balances offering just enough information to stay fascinating and not overwhelming children with too many small facts. Instead it reads as a stroll alongside Goodall through her research center.
The photographs by Neugebauer reinforce what Goodall is explaining in words. Readers see the close family ties, they witness young chimpanzees at play, and there are gorgeous shots of the habitat itself that show how special and important this place is.
A strong introduction to Goodall’s work, this book is engaging and inspiring. Appropriate for ages 6-9.
Goodall writes with a wonderful inviting tone, explaining facts carefully but also allowing the images of the animals to tell much of the story. She plays hostess in the book, taking care to make sure that children know the basics about the chimpanzees and then also moving on to include other animals like baboons and monkeys that live in the same area. The book nicely balances offering just enough information to stay fascinating and not overwhelming children with too many small facts. Instead it reads as a stroll alongside Goodall through her research center.
The photographs by Neugebauer reinforce what Goodall is explaining in words. Readers see the close family ties, they witness young chimpanzees at play, and there are gorgeous shots of the habitat itself that show how special and important this place is.
A strong introduction to Goodall’s work, this book is engaging and inspiring. Appropriate for ages 6-9.
December 31, 2015
This was a pleasant discovery on the S.T.E.A.M. display at my local library. It is written as if Goodall were talking to the reader, explaining the pictures in a photo album. Her focus is on the F- and G-families to whom we are introduced in a group photo. We learn much about the many ways chimpanzees are similar to people and how they develop within their family groups.
The only question the book prompted was about the particulars of the naming convention. Though not hard to guess, online I found that the Gombe chimps are named using the first letter of their mother's name. The question had diverted my attention so I was very glad to know rather than assume what the reason was.
The fragility of the chimpanzees' safety and habitat is only mentioned in the final three pages, much like an afterword, and in a smaller, less child-friendly font. That way, older children will have no trouble with the text or information that might make a younger reader anxious.
I like the idea that she is building bridges of like-ness for young readers. Empathy is not a bad way to aid change.
January 28, 2015
If you ever wanted evidence that one person can make a difference, just look at Jane Goodall's life. This book has a premise of it being one day in Gombe, but it is explained at the beginning that the pictures were taken over a period of years. The photographs are simply amazing, and I think children will readily identify with the families of chimpanzees and the sheer beauty of Africa. And then, if they want to continue learning more, the notes at the end have information on the various do-gooder organizations of Jane Goodall.
June 5, 2015
I loved the wonderful photographs. I had issues with the text though. Several. The formatting was strange for children. There were no indents for paragraphs. The were some errors too like a random ? in the middle of a sentence. I also didn't think it made sense when she talked of her own son, there were pictures of children that were not her son. At first I wondered if she had married a Tanzanian since the boys in the picture were black. Anyway, it could be confusing for young readers.
The storytelling seemed forced and the text was awkward at times so his wasn't a standout for me.
The storytelling seemed forced and the text was awkward at times so his wasn't a standout for me.
April 12, 2015
Jane Goodall is an amazing advocate and scientist. While this books has some flaws (forced format, some awkward text), the photographs are fascinating. Everyone who reads this book will learn something new -- baboons and chimpanzees play together, Gremlin is the only chimpanzee that Jane Goodall has seen successfully raise twins -- and students of all ages will be fascinated with this portrait of a chimpanzee family's day
January 24, 2015
I enjoyed the full color, full page photographs and the narrative text, but I thought that the photos were sometimes difficult to discern the action described. The text also mentions baboons that interact with chimpanzees as well as some other animals and flora found in Gombe. The pictures would generate good discussion about chimpanzee behavior.
April 9, 2015
Wonderful photographs capture the expressive faces, gestures, play and relationships of chimpanzees in Gombe. Text is accessible for early elementary age children.
What I learned: I didn't know that young chimps and young baboons would play together (love the photo of two holding hands). Cool!
What I learned: I didn't know that young chimps and young baboons would play together (love the photo of two holding hands). Cool!
December 1, 2015
Jane Goodall – The Chimpanzee Children of Gombe by Jane Goodall, photos by Michael Neugebauer – really cute story packed with facts and examples of the lives of the chimpanzee children that Jane Goodall has observed over the years.
January 9, 2015
This is a great book about the chimpanzee of Gombe. Loved it. A must read for non-fiction.
January 29, 2015
Lovely BUT ... Did anyone else find it off-putting that the spread that compares human children and chimpanzee children uses only photos of African children?
February 2, 2015
This is a very pretty book with gentle text that invites children to observe the chimps and other natural wonders of the Gombe.
April 1, 2015
I love Jane Goodall. Check out my review from our Kids library blog!
April 13, 2015
Lovely photographs, but the text is lacking. Overall, rather disappointing.
May 17, 2015
Gorgeous photos of chimp families, mostly at play can't make up for the text, which while earnest and showing true affection for the subject, was rambling and disjointed.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews