I knew Suzi Eszterhas‘s photos shine. I’d seen many of them. So when I picked up Moto and Me (Owlkids Books), I expected to love them. What I didn’t expect, is for her voice to shine just as brightly…and it does.

 

During the day, lots of animals wandered in and out of camp: hippos, hyenas, and even a friendly bull elephant.  …But the most exciting animal encounter I had was with a tiny, helpless wildcat named Moto…

Moto’s family lived on the Masai Mara’s savanna, which in like a sea of grass.

Suzi begins with how she came to Africa as a photographer, and became a foster mom for an orphaned baby serval. She is careful to explain that Moto was never meant to be a pet, and had to be taught the skills to live in the wild. She chronicles, in words and pictures, that journey. Back matter includes a page of serval facts.

This book has wow-power, and though it is not a 5-minute read, could be read in its entirety to older students, or used in classes in sections over the course of a couple days. Sections could also be chosen to stand-alone. A definite pick for zoos, organizations that foster wildlife, and those who are promoting the “keep wildlife wild” message.

Ages: 7-10     

Grades 1-5

40 pages