School Library Journal Review
Gr 4 Up-This gorgeous book is the illustrated journal of the Lewins' trip to Uganda to see the mountain gorilla. An introduction talks about this endangered species, where the animals can be found, and describes the process of "habituation," which allows for ecotourists to visit them on a limited basis. Each page is rich with captioned, border drawings that offer glimpses at the terrain, animals, and people that the couple encountered on their difficult journey through the jungle, battling heat, bugs, and mud. Side drawings show their progress, providing humorous asides, such as the drawing of two men falling down a muddy slope with the caption, "Ted takes out a porter." Interspersed with the text are lush, watercolor double-page spreads showing the humans walking through the sun-dappled trees, and, later, the gorillas among the leaves. Readers learn about the animals' habits, their family structure, and how trackers interact with them. A final section gives facts about mountain gorillas. Throughout, the authors transmit their wonder and respect for the creatures. Although young children may be interested in leafing through and "reading" the pictures, the book's tone and vocabulary speak to more mature readers. This is a visual feast for the older set who don't often have picture books written for them, suitable for reports, but especially for browsers with an interest in ecology, animals, or travel.-Sally Bates Goodroe, Harris County Public Library, Houston, TX (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
The Lewins' first collaboration recounts their 1997 journey to southern Uganda to view mountain gorillas. Before taking readers along on their expedition, the authors explain the phenomenon of ecotourism that makes such sightings possible: trackers spend up to two years habituating mountain gorillas to the presence of humans. Writing in the present tense, the Lewins emphasize the rough conditions, noting that "the heat and humidity are dreadful" and, though their water supply is depleted, they trudge on, "caked with mud, our hearts pounding from exertion, our faces sucked in from dehydration, our hair matted down with sweat." The recounting of the first sighting of a mountain gorilla is curiously flat; the authors note that "our thirst and fatigue are forgotten," but they don't communicate excitement, much less exhilaration. The watercolor art alternates between labeled, sketchbook-type images and full-spread, realistic paintings rendered with an appreciation for light and shadow. The former offer a solid overview of the area's wildlife and illustrate selected moments in the Lewins' travelogue, while the latter situate readers at the trekkers' side. But the art disappoints in the encounters with the gorillas: the images of these animals are the least defined. Readers may come away with the feeling that one really had to be there to appreciate it. Ages 6-up. (Aug.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Horn Book Review
(Intermediate) The walk to view mountain gorillas in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest of Uganda is rigorous, to say the least. Through handsome paintings and carefully focused text, Ted and Betsy Lewin recount their 1997 venture into Bwindi, offering intriguing glimpses of both the rarely seen animals and the ambiguities of ecotourism. The introductory explanation of habituating small groups of gorillas to accommodate curious humans is fascinating. ""Slowly pulling back the tangled vegetation like a curtain, the trackers make 'ahumm' sounds to reassure the silverback. And then, there he is, this gentle four-hundred-fifty pound giant who moves through this thicket with such ease."" In this first collaboration by the Lewins, the text is perhaps more seamless than the paintings, though these are striking. Many pages feature small, swift, sometimes comic sketches of plants, animals, and human visitors. Overall, it's an intriguing odyssey and a fine introduction to the mountain gorillas, respecting their multi-faceted nature as sociable, even affectionate, animals who also kill each other for power. Concluding pages offer quick facts on mountain gorilla physical characteristics and behavior, as well as an index. m.a.b. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
Kirkus Review
This true adventure in the jungles of Uganda on the trail of the mountain gorilla will make armchair travelers shiver, and leave the squeamish grateful not to be trudging through mucky ankle-deep swamps, traversing giant fallen fig tree bridges over ravines that drop hundreds of feet into rocks and thorns, and coping with dreaded stinging safari ants. The Lewins traveled to Uganda in 1997, to the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for an opportunity to view the mountain gorillas that have been habituated. Every step of the way the authors provide thumbnail sketches of plants and animals, and a detailed description of the journey. The gorillas appear in watercolor paintings that are dramatic and realistic, for a picture-book adventure not to be missed, and, with the continuing unrest in the area, perhaps not to be replicated any time soon. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Gr. 4^-6. Using an oversize picture-book format to good effect, the Lewins recount a trip they took in 1997 to visit Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to "meet the mountain gorilla." Briefly captioned, thumbnail watercolors picture the jungle trek, and magnificent double-page spreads replicate the exotic surroundings and show the animals close up. A good deal of the text, which is told in Ted Lewin's voice, concerns the arduous but exhilarating journey to the sites, but there is also information on the gorillas themselves, with basics supplied in a double-page spread at the close of the book. The Lewins also provide historical context as well as some insight into the controversial trend toward ecotourism. The personal voice and picture-book approach will definitely win an audience, but children needing report material will want to pair this with other books for a full view of the regal endangered animal. --Stephanie Zvirin
