A Meerkat Diary - by Suzi Eszterhas (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Join the author of Moto and Me and My Leopard Diary as she spends two wild and action-packed weeks observing and photographing a mob of meerkats. Suzi's diary opens with her arrival on the Kalahari Desert in Botswana, where she and her zoologist assistant, Becky, are welcomed by Motto, a local meerkat habituator, and Villa, a naturalist guide. Over the next action-packed two weeks, Suzi and the team observe a small but mightily busy meerkat mob. Her daily accounts describe the early life of the five meerkat pups being raised by the mob's matriarch and two adult males. The pups grow from tiny creatures who wobble as they walk and are wholly dependent on their adult caretakers, to adolescents who practice killing scorpions for their dinner and have nearly perfected the famous tripod stance meerkats use when on lookout for danger. Along the way, the mob survives a heavy rainfall that floods the plains where they live, as well as manage to avoid becoming the dinner of a hungry eagle hunting them from overhead. They even escape being trampled by a galloping herd of zebras - which Suzi and Becky alsojust escape thanks to Motto and Villa's quick thinking. In addition to her observations about the mob, Suzi's narration seamlessly weaves in information about life in the heart of the Kalahari Desert - from the other wild animals that are native to the area (including a brown hyena mother and cub, an eagle, jackals, a porcupine, and lions) to an afternoon spent with some of the indigenous Ju/'hoasi people who have thrived there for tens of thousands of years. Endmatter includes a Q&A with both Motto and Villa, who play such essential roles in this adventure. Jam-packed with amazing and often adorable photos"--

Book Synopsis

A rare and adorable look at meerkat pups with renowned wildlife photographer Suzi Eszterhas

This gorgeous look behind the lens at wildlife photography offers a unique chance to enter the fascinating world of meerkats. In this companion title to A Leopard Diary, world-renowned wildlife photographer Suzi Eszterhas spends two weeks observing baby meerkats in Botswana's Kalahari Desert. In diary entry-style chapters, Eszterhas recounts how the creatures grow from tiny, wobbly meerkat pups to adolescents who hunt scorpions and have (almost) perfected the famous "tripod" meerkat stance. Along the way, the meerkat mob faces floods, hungry predators, and even a stampede of galloping zebras!

Eszterhas's narrative is accompanied by her stunningly intimate photographs of the meerkats at every stage of their lives. Throughout the book, she also incorporates facts about other animals that call the desert home and introduces readers to the local Ju/'hoansi people, who have lived in the desert for thousands of years. Her respect for the land and the people who care for it will encourage readers to approach wildlife with wonder and empathy.

A portion of the royalties from this book will go to the Wildlife Conservation Network, which works with local conservationist organizations to protect endangered wildlife in Africa and throughout the world.

Review Quotes

"[Eszterhas] expertly weaves information about the species and their surroundings into this fascinating account of her work as a naturalist-observer. An exceptional introduction to the young animal world."

-- "Kirkus Reviews - STARRED REVIEW"

"A great resource for young readers who are interested in animals and nature ... Informative, engaging, and accessible."

-- "Children's Literature Comprehensive Database"

"Filled with excellent animated photos ... Who wouldn't be charmed by these lively, appealing critters."

-- "Canadian Review of Materials"

"The narrative skillfully weaves in animal facts, humor, and high drama ... A fascinating and well-told look at a little-known African animal. Recommended."

-- "School Library Journal"

"The photographs in this book are, as you might imagine, extraordinary. You simply will not find better meerkat images anywhere else. It's the perfect length and chock full of facts."

-- "Betsy Bird, A Fuse #8 Production"

"The text is enthusiastic, accessible, and informative, and the clear, lively photographs, shared in a scrapbook-like format, bring readers up close and personal with the creatures and their habitat."

-- "The Horn Book"

"This will be pored over by browsers and popular for reports; in short, it's a must for libraries."

-- "Booklist - STARRED REVIEW"