Primates: The Fearless Science of Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey and Biruté Galdikas

by Jim Ottaviani and Maris Wicks

 Ottaviani, J. & Wicks, M. (2013). Primates: The fearless science of Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Biruté Galdikas. New York, NY: First Second. 

A lively and interesting read, Primates follows the lives of three of the most prominent primatologists in the world, Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Biruté Galdikas, as they cross paths in their quest to observe, study and protect chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans in their natural habitat.  These bright women, with no prior academic training, were recruited by the great anthropologist Louis Leakey and became responsible for some of the greatest breakthroughs in the study of primates and understanding what separates them from humans.  

Evaluation Criteria: Design

Primates is an informational text in graphic novel form.  What better way to get children hooked on the scientific exploits of famous female scientists Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey and Biruté Galdikas?  Though the information is factual in nature, it’s presented in such a way with speech bubbles and cartoon illustrations that children will be completely engaged and convinced they are reading a comic book.

Teachers Guide for Primates

Book Trailer for Primates