Awards

• Children's Book Committee at Bank Street College Best Children's Book of the Year
• Junior Library Guild Selection
• Orbis Pictus Award Recommended Book
• Texas Topaz Nonfiction Reading List

Overview

True or false: Sloths are lazy. Answer: False! True or false: Sloths are mysterious. Answer: True! Scientists are only beginning to discover how sloths live in the wild. Sloths spend most of their lives in trees, and until recently scientists didn’t know very much about them. But Dr. Rebecca Cliffe was determined to discover their secrets. To find out more, she fitted sloths with special backpacks containing a device to track their activity. She learned how to climb trees in the Costa Rican jungle so she could take sloth hair samples and test their DNA. And she’s helped create sloth crossings and plant trees to ensure the sloths aren’t trapped in shrinking territories. Along the way, she earned the nickname Dr. Sloth. Discover the story of how an animal-loving kid in England grew up to become one of the world’s leading sloth scientists, and learn how Dr. Sloth is using her discoveries to help keep sloths safe. Author and professional wildlife photographer Suzi Eszterhas brings readers up close to the action with engaging text and fantastic photos. Scan QR codes throughout the book to see her videos of sloths in the wild!

Full Product Details

9781541589391

Table of Contents

Reviews

""[A] fascinating biography laced with compelling information about an animal that has great appeal and innate value."" –Children's Literature ""[A] delightful addition to any library, helping readers not just to understand sloths, but to understand why safeguarding them and their habitats is critical.""—School Library Journal ""Eszterhas offers a fascinating glimpse at the work of a scientist currently active in her field. . . . Kids passionate about animal conservation will love this.""—Booklist

Plenty of full-color photos adorn this account of scientist Rebecca Cliffe's work researching sloths and advocating for their conservation. On splashy pages, Eszterhas describes some of Cliffe's research--outfitting sloths in little backpacks containing radio trackers, for instance--along with some of her findings. In addition to ample information about sloth anatomy, behavior, and habitat, Eszterhas offers a fascinating glimpse at the work of a scientist currently active in her field. Cliffe spends long hours observing animals in the jungle, climbs high into the trees, and learns a lot about sloths by sifting through their poop. Many sloth populations are facing habitat loss, and Eszterhas devotes many pages to efforts to preserve natural spaces and rehabilitate injured sloths, as well as some of the community outreach efforts Cliffe undertakes to encourage communities to cultivate sloth-friendly environments. Occasional QR codes link to videos of sloths in the wild, and robust back matter, including easy steps kids can take to help sloths, closes out this visually engaging volume. Kids passionate about animal conservation will love this.--Booklist -- Journal (3/1/2022 12:00:00 AM)

Born in England, Rebecca Cliffe demonstrated an interest in animals and science from an early age onward. As a little girl, Rebecca once became fascinated with a dead squirrel and was determined to find out why it had died. As the years passed, this innate interest in animals and world that surrounds all of us led her to study science and choose a vocation that revolved around the study of animal behavior. Over the years, Rebecca achieved scholastic success, earned her doctorate, and worked hard to become one of the leading experts in the study of tree sloths, a secretive and fascinating creature that lives in South and Central America. As Dr. Cliffe discovered in her extensive research and field work, sloths are unique residents in the rain forests that make up their home territories. Sloths are profoundly slow-moving creatures who spend most of their lives ensconced in the tree canopy of their native habitat. Dedicated parents, sloth mothers patiently teach their offspring the ins and outs of living in a rainforest environment. Endangered by human encroachment, deforestation, and human-induced environmental pollution, sloths will need people's compassion and forbearance to continue to survive. Through her studies, Dr. Cliffe has helped to assist the scientific community to better understand these wonderful creatures. Likewise, Dr. Cliffe has dedicated her life to helping support the cause of preserving sloths and their habitats. It is the story and life's work of Dr. Rebecca Cliffe that is highlighted in this engaging science biography. Filled with information about Dr. Cliffe, her scientific work, and sloths in general, this is a book that will greatly appeal to young scientists or animal lovers. This book also includes numerous color photographs, taken by the author, of sloths either in natural settings or at rehab centers designed to assist in their recovery. A number of QR codes are also embedded in the text and allow readers to scan and see sloths engaged in fascinating aspects of their daily lives. In a charitable sense, this book is also appealing in that a portion of its cost will be redirected to organizations committed to saving sloths and preserving their habitat. The end result is a fascinating biography laced with compelling information about an animal that has great appeal and innate value. Reviewer Rating: 4 -Children's Literature Comprehensive Database (CLCD) -- Website (6/4/2022 12:00:00 AM) Many young readers won't know that sloths only eat leaves, and move so slowly that a special type of algae grows on them. This book combines that kind of detail and scientific research with stunning photography to serve up fascinating information about these sometimes mysterious, sometimes adorable creatures. QR codes throughout the book give readers access to videos of sloths doing sloth things--as a baby, chewing a leaf, yawning. After a brief history of Dr. Becky and why she embarked on a sloth study, the focus is on the unique and slow-moving world of sloths. Throughout the book, conservation and protection of sloths remain the overarching goal. Maps and photographs are included with basic facts and fun trivia. A glossary, further reading, websites, and index are included. VERDICT Overall, a delightful addition to any library, helping readers not just to understand sloths, but to understand why safeguarding them and their habitats is critical.--School Library Journal -- Journal (4/1/2022 12:00:00 AM) Plenty of full-color photos adorn this account of scientist Rebecca Cliffe's work researching sloths and advocating for their conservation. On splashy pages, Eszterhas describes some of Cliffe's research--outfitting sloths in little backpacks containing radio trackers, for instance--along with some of her findings. In addition to ample information about sloth anatomy, behavior, and habitat, Eszterhas offers a fascinating glimpse at the work of a scientist currently active in her field. Cliffe spends long hours observing animals in the jungle, climbs high into the trees, and learns a lot about sloths by sifting through their poop. Many sloth populations are facing habitat loss, and Eszterhas devotes many pages to efforts to preserve natural spaces and rehabilitate injured sloths, as well as some of the community outreach efforts Cliffe undertakes to encourage communities to cultivate sloth-friendly environments. Occasional QR codes link to videos of sloths in the wild, and robust back matter, including easy steps kids can take to help sloths, closes out this visually engaging volume. Kids passionate about animal conservation will love this.--Booklist -- Journal (3/1/2022 12:00:00 AM)

Many young readers won't know that sloths only eat leaves, and move so slowly that a special type of algae grows on them. This book combines that kind of detail and scientific research with stunning photography to serve up fascinating information about these sometimes mysterious, sometimes adorable creatures. QR codes throughout the book give readers access to videos of sloths doing sloth things--as a baby, chewing a leaf, yawning. After a brief history of Dr. Becky and why she embarked on a sloth study, the focus is on the unique and slow-moving world of sloths. Throughout the book, conservation and protection of sloths remain the overarching goal. Maps and photographs are included with basic facts and fun trivia. A glossary, further reading, websites, and index are included. VERDICT Overall, a delightful addition to any library, helping readers not just to understand sloths, but to understand why safeguarding them and their habitats is critical.--School Library Journal -- Journal (4/1/2022 12:00:00 AM) Plenty of full-color photos adorn this account of scientist Rebecca Cliffe's work researching sloths and advocating for their conservation. On splashy pages, Eszterhas describes some of Cliffe's research--outfitting sloths in little backpacks containing radio trackers, for instance--along with some of her findings. In addition to ample information about sloth anatomy, behavior, and habitat, Eszterhas offers a fascinating glimpse at the work of a scientist currently active in her field. Cliffe spends long hours observing animals in the jungle, climbs high into the trees, and learns a lot about sloths by sifting through their poop. Many sloth populations are facing habitat loss, and Eszterhas devotes many pages to efforts to preserve natural spaces and rehabilitate injured sloths, as well as some of the community outreach efforts Cliffe undertakes to encourage communities to cultivate sloth-friendly environments. Occasional QR codes link to videos of sloths in the wild, and robust back matter, including easy steps kids can take to help sloths, closes out this visually engaging volume. Kids passionate about animal conservation will love this.--Booklist -- Journal (3/1/2022 12:00:00 AM)

Author Information

Suzi Eszterhas is an award-winning wildlife photographer best known for her work documenting newborn animals and family life in the wild. Her photographs have been published in over 100 magazine cover and feature stories in publications such as TIME, Smithsonian, BBC Wildlife, GEO, Popular Photography, Ranger Rick, and National Geographic Kids. Suzi has won awards in many competitions including the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition, National Wildlife Photo Contest, and Environmental Photographer of the Year Competition. She now serves as the jury chair for the prestigious Big Picture Natural World Photography Competition. She has published 19 books and is based in California. Suzi Eszterhas is an award-winning wildlife photographer best known for her work documenting newborn animals and family life in the wild. Her photographs have been published in over 100 magazine cover and feature stories in publications such as TIME, Smithsonian, BBC Wildlife, GEO, Popular Photography, Ranger Rick, and National Geographic Kids. Suzi has won awards in many competitions including the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition, National Wildlife Photo Contest, and Environmental Photographer of the Year Competition. She now serves as the jury chair for the prestigious Big Picture Natural World Photography Competition. She has published 19 books and is based in California.

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