book review, children's

Wild at Heart by Evan Griffith and Anna Bron (Review)

Title: Wild at Heart: The Story of Olaus and Mardy Murie, Defenders of Nature
Creators: Evan Griffith & Anna Bron
Type:
Nonfiction
Genre: Children’s, Biography
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Date published: August 1, 2024

A complimentary physical copy of this book was kindly provided by Firefly Books in exchange for an honest review.

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.

⤖ My Review ⬻

I really liked Wild at Heart: The Story of Olaus and Mardy Murie, Defenders of Nature by Evan Griffith and Anna Bron! I had never heard of Olaus and Mardy before, so I really enjoyed learning about them for the first time. Their story is inspiring, especially for someone like me who is very passionate about nature conservation. It was wonderful to see their bravery and commitment in protecting the wild lands they loved.

I also really liked the illustrations and the choice of colour—they felt earthy and warm, perfectly complementing the natural themes of the book. I think it’s a neat format to introduce young readers to people like Olaus and Mardy, who took the first step and were brave for the sake of conserving nature. Wild at Heart is a meaningful and beautifully crafted picture book that I recommend to readers of any age looking for a book about courage and care for the planet.

⤖ Places to Purchase the Book ⬻

⤖ Let's Chat ⬻

Thank you for reading my review! Have you read this book? What did you think? And if you haven’t read it yet, do you plan to? Let me know in the comments!

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