SAFARI JOURNAL

Liberally plastered with photos and color sketches, this hand-lettered journal records a 12-year-old vacationer’s eventful two weeks in Kenya. Initially, Carey’s not thrilled about traveling to Africa with his ditzy Aunt. But after attaching himself to a Maasai game scout and his son, he not only gets to observe lions, wildebeests, leopards, and other big game, but pays an eye-opening visit to a Maasai village, loses his Frisbee to a lurking crocodile, helps nab a group of poachers, and rescues a baby elephant—all while getting an earful from his guide about how and why many of the animals are endangered. As with his Amazon Diary (1996), readers will come away both envying the young narrator for having such exciting experiences, and closer to understanding the importance of wildlife conservation. (afterword) (Fiction. 8-10)