Abayomi, the Brazilian Puma

***NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book 2015***
A POIGNANT STORY OF LOSS AND SURVIVAL
In the midst of a sugar cane field, within sight of skyscrapers, a mother puma was raising her cubs. Feeding growing cubs is difficult in an urban environment. One night, she found easy prey, chickens. The angry chicken farmer set an illegal trap and caught the mother puma. She didn't survive. Now, the search was on for orphaned cubs. Would the scientists be able to find the cubs before their time runs out?
This touching story brings to life the increasing difficulty of wildlife to survive as cities encroach on their habitats. Cutting edge environmental scientists are working to create wildlife corridors, or safe travel zones from one wild spot to another. Until they succeed, Abayomi's tragic story will play out over and over.
In this "Biography in Text and Art," Harvill takes original photos as references to create accurate wildlife illustrations. These aren't generic cats, but one particular individual in detail. Pattison's careful research, vetted by scientists in the field, brings to life this this true story of an infant cub that must face a complicated world. Alone.
Named a 2015 National Science Teacher's Association Outstanding Science Trade Book, it includes information on the puma species and the conservation efforts in Brazil.
Read this heartwarming story of an orphaned puma cub and be inspired.
OTHER BOOKS BY PATTISON/HARVILL
Wisdom, the Midway Albatross: Surviving the Japanese Tsunami and Other Disasters for Over 60 Years
Starred Publisher's Weekly Review
". . .Pattison writes crisply and evocatively. . ."
"Harvill contributes carefully detailed and naturalistic illustrations. . ."
FROM THE AUTHOR
One of the most amazing things about Abayomi's story is that he was born within sight of skyscrapers, in a very urban world. Yet the farmer who owned the land where he was born said he had never, in his 40 years of farming, seen a puma. It struck me that they are invisible in the land. And the tables are turned: in order for Abayomi to successfully return to the wild, the scientists must remain invisible. I also love that Kitty Harvill, the illustrator of my last nature book for kids, WISDOM, THE MIDWAY ALBATROSS, returned to work on this book. Her illustrations are awesome.