Common Core Informational Text – The Quest for the Tree Kangaroo by Sy Montgomery


A book cover of a kangaroo

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Montgomery, S., & Bishop, N. (2006). Quest for the tree kangaroo: An expedition to the cloud forest of New Guinea. Houghton Mifflin

This book falls under the genres of Nonfiction, Nature and Environmental Science and Biography Narrative. This book is recommended for ages eight to twelve.

Thoughts- This book immediately captured my attention when I saw the title and cover. I’m not usually a fan of informational texts as leisure reading, but this one was surprisingly fun and engaging. I was amazed that I had never heard of a tree kangaroo before. In my mind, kangaroos only lived in Australia, on land, and they definitely didn’t look like the one on the cover. I was hooked right away and eager to learn more about this unusual species. The book does a great job of exploring important themes such as culture, language, diversity, the environment, and endangered species.

Critique- This nonfiction account of the scientific expedition to the remote clouds of Papua New Guinea is told from Sy Montgomery perspective. The book follows zoologist Lisa Dabek and her team as they work together with their team and local villagers to find the elusive Matschie’s tree Kangaroo, which is an endangered animal. The book touches on themes of wildlife conservation and exploration. The author does a great job relaying the message to readers about protecting endangered species and respecting other cultures during exploration. The images of the book help give the story line a more personal feel and it makes you feel as if you are in the jungle with the team.

Discussion Questions –

Why is the Matschie’s tree kangaroo so difficult to study?

What role do the photographs by Nic Bishop play in helping readers understand the story and the environment?

What are some of the key messages the book conveys about conservation and environmental responsibility?

Lesson Activity: Draw the Tree Kangaroo’s Habitat

Students will draw the tree kangaroo in its natural habitat. Encourage them to include tree kangaroo’s sitting, climbing or eating. Trees, vines, plants, rain or clouds and any other animals featured on the book.

Lesson Objective:

Students will demonstrate their understanding of the tree kangaroo environment by drawing it’s habitat and key features.

https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/authors/sy-montgomery/

https://www.teachingbooks.net/tb.cgi?tid=8711

https://education.nationalgeographic.org

 

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