Wild at Heart
The Story of Olaus and Mardy Murie, Defenders of Nature
Mardy and Olaus Murie fell in love in—and with—Alaska. Then set out on an adventure across the Arctic for Olaus’s work as a biologist, encountering the beauty and danger of the wilds along the way. They learned from Indigenous communities to appreciate the interconnectedness of all living creatures and understood that the way humans were moving in on wild land was threatening the natural world. So they shifted the focus of their work to conservation, fighting to protect the land and animals—and lobbying for the creation of what finally became the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, nine thousand square miles of protected land!
Mardy and Olaus’s story of passion and hard work will inspire all readers to fan their spark of purpose into flame. Backmatter includes additional information on Mardy and Olaus, their legacy, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and more.
| Interest Level | Grade 1 - Grade 4 |
|---|---|
| Reading Level | Grade 2 |
| Dewey | 508.798 |
| Lexile | 970L |
| ATOS Reading Level | |
| Guided Reading Level | S |
| Publisher | Sleeping Bear Press |
| Language | English |
|---|---|
| Available Formats | Hardcover (9781534112919), PDF (9781668945278), ePub (9781668945445), Hosted ebook (9781668945780), Kindle (9781668945612) |
| Copyright | 2024 |
| Number of Pages | 40 |
| Dimensions | 9 x 11 |
| Graphics | Full-color illustrations |
Kirkus - Wild at Heart
Griffith and Bron pay tribute to two biologists whose advocacy spurred the creation of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska and other protected areas across the United States…A moving salute to lives lived in service to nature.
Foreword Reviews - Wild at Heart
Their legacy of study and stewardship will inspire all nature lovers.
Booklist - Wild at Heart
Booklist Starred Review!!
This picture book starring two of the first environmental activists has enough wolves-are-circling danger, David-versus-Goliath conflict, and stunning graphics to keep readers riveted throughout…Both gripping and inspiring.
Booklist - Wild at Heart
Booklist Starred Review!
This picture book starring two of the first environmental activists has enough wolves-are-circling danger, David-versus-Goliath conflict, and stunning graphics to keep readers riveted throughout. Married couple Olaus (a biologist) and Mardy (an agriculturalist) Murie spent decades from 1927 on observing animals and nature in the Arctic, and their work ultimately resulted in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska and the Wilderness Act, both instituted in the 1960s. But this action-packed story doesn’t give dates that could bog down young readers (until the back matter); instead, the focus is on the fun Olaus and Mardy had canoeing, snowshoeing, rafting, and dogsledding, and the beauty of the Arctic wildlife and land they witnessed firsthand. A section is devoted to how Native people sheltered them, guided them through dangerous territories, and taught them how to respect the land’s resources and creatures. The illustrations, with bold, strongly contrasting colors and perspectives that leap off the page, beautifully evoke the WPA-style travel and conservation posters of the 1930s, when the Muries were exploring the Arctic. Double-page spreads showing Olaus and Murdy standing in front of Arctic animals while large men in suits stand in front of tree stumps and smokestacks effectively contrast the forces for profit (in a brown/gray hellscape) and forces for conservation (in an idyllic setting). Both gripping and inspiring.
Booklist - Wild at Heart
STARRED: This picture book starring two of the first environmental activists has enough wolves-are-circling danger, David-versus-Goliath conflict, and stunning graphics to keep readers riveted throughout…Both gripping and inspiring.
Wild At Heart: The Story of Olaus and Mardy Murie, Defenders of Nature - Teaching Guide
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Author: Evan Griffith
Evan Griffith is the author of several books for young readers, including the nonfiction picture book Secrets of the Sea: The Story of Jeanne Power, Revolutionary Marine Scientist and the novels Manatee Summer and The Strange Wonders of Roots. His stories often draw upon his love of nature and animals.
Illustrator: Anna Bron
Anna Bron is an illustrator based out of Vancouver, Canada. She studied traditional hand-drawn animation at Sheridan College and upon graduation embarked on a manifold freelance career, producing award winning children’s picture books, as well as directing and designing numerous short animated films. Her love of the wilderness runs deep in her family, her parents having first met in the Siberian woods. She grew up sleeping in snow caves, climbing mountains, and canoeing rivers and lakes. When she is not drawing, she is exploring the coast mountains of British Colombia. She lives with her partner and two budgies.
| Educational front/back matter |
| Original artwork |
| Sources for further research |
| Full-color illustrations |