Becoming a Good Creature

Sy Montgomery, author of Becoming a Good Creature, describes the lessons she’s learned over the course of her life from creatures both large and small. Looking back, her first teacher is a puppy who patiently teaches her how to pay attention. As she grows older and her passion for animals grows, Sy travels to Australia to live among the emus in the wild. There, she observes their ways and discovers a bit about her own as well. The gorillas in Africa bless her with a lesson on respect. From others, she learns not to be afraid and to seek truth, value family, and allow for forgiveness. These amazing wonders offer her hope and change her vision of the world.

This is a true story based on the author’s authentic experiences across the course of her lifetime. Her journey is unique in that she lives among some of the beautiful creatures she studies. Her ingenuity seeps through the pages of this thoughtful picture book that’s filled with eye-catching watercolor illustrations that highlight her expeditions. Children will find them precious and alluring. The target audience is children aged five to nine and the reading level is approximately third grade. In addition to being interesting, this autobiographical account encourages readers to behave with a sense of humanity and acceptance.