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I continue to be impressed with Emma Bland Smith’s unique and unexpected picture books.
Every book I have read by Smith has introduced me to a subject I knew next to nothing about. Yet, once I begin reading, I can’t resist devouring every page. She chooses fascinating topics, builds and tells her stories masterfully, and—without me even realizing it—creates a love for her subject in me.
I’m not naturally inclined to care about alligators, and I wouldn’t have expected an albino alligator’s story to be particularly compelling—but Claude is!
This book explores Claude’s birth, the rejection he faced from his own kind, the dangers he would have encountered in the wild, and the lonely existence he endured in captivity. But, as with any great children’s story, there is so much more to Claude. When scientists in the San Francisco Bay Area learn about him, they give him a new home in a special habitat. And, through trial and error, they help Claude have a full and satisfying life.
Smith details the scientists’ efforts to find Claude a companion of his own kind—and what happens when that plan doesn’t go as expected.
And, like all of Smith’s books that I have read, there are pages at the end with more technical information, photos, and suggestions for further study.
This is a wonderful story of scientific inquiry and the scientific method in action. It would be an excellent read for families visiting the zoo, a nature preserve, or any place that inspires curiosity about animals and conservation.