The Lion Queens of India

By Jan Reynolds

Award-winning photojournalist Jan Reynolds offers readers a fascinating glimpse into the world of the endangered Asiatic lions and the female forest rangers who fight to save them.

Description

In the far west of India, in Gir National Park, dwells one of the rarest big cats on Earth: the Asiatic lion. Known for its distinctive belly flap and the bushy tassels on its tail, the Asiatic lion once roamed from the Mediterranean Sea to the Bay of Bengal. But human hunting and expansion into their territory eroded the lions’ numbers, until only twelve remained alive.

Now more than six hundred lions stalk the forest and savannahs of Gir — thanks in part to the work of the “Lion Queens,” a team of female rangers who specialize in caring for the Asiatic lions. Join Rashila and her friends on a journey around the park as they visit the lions in their habitats, monitor the web of life that encompasses all of the animals, and work with local villagers to preserve harmony between the human and animal populations. Readers will discover not only the many factors that influence the lions’ lives, but what they can do to help ensure the lions’ survival.

Illustrated throughout with compelling photographs, The Lion Queens of India is an inspiring portrait of the lives of these female rangers and animal conservation efforts across the world.

About the Creators

Jan Reynolds

Jan Reynolds is an award-winning author and photographer whose work has appeared in numerous publications, including National Geographic, The New York Times, and Outside magazine. All seven books in her Vanishing Cultures series of photo-essays for children were recognized as Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, and she is also the author of Celebrate! Connections Among Cultures; Only the Mountains Do Not Move, and The Lion Queens of India. Reynolds holds the world record for women's high altitude skiing, was part of the first expedition to circumnavigate Mount Everest, and performed a solo crossing of the Himalayas. She lives with her family in Stowe, Vermont. Please visit her on the web at janreynolds.com.

Awards

  • Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction Recommended

    National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)

  • Eureka! Nonfiction Children's Book Award Honor

    California Reading Association

  • Delaware Diamonds Awards

    Diamond State Literacy Association

Reviews

  • "Young readers will be inspired by these women who show an unwavering commitment to preserving the wildlife, no matter what it takes."

    - Kirkus Reviews
  • "What is most apparent in this excellent narrative nonfiction book is the author's warm admiration for Rashida Vadher, the Forest Guard, and the lions themselves. . . The importance of the women's work is highlighted consistently, especially in the back matter. A book like this can inspire inquiry projects in classrooms or simply be enjoyed for its content."

    - Booklist
  • "A rare, positive look at saving a species from extinction aimed at younger readers. A useful resource for young children interested in big cats and suitable for classroom units."

    - School Library Journal

Hardcover

  • ISBN 9781643790510
  • Publication Date Sep 22, 2020
  • Trim Size 8 × 10 in
  • Weight 0.875 lbs
  • Page Count 32
  • Interests

  • Audience Children
  • BISAC Category 1 JNF / Animals / Lions, Tigers, Leopards, etc.
  • BISAC Category 2 JNF / Animals / Endangered
  • BISAC Category 3 JNF / People & Places / Asia
  • Themes Animal / Biodiversity / Plant Adaptations, Animals, Asian / Asian American / AAPI, Breaking Gender Barriers, Collaboration, Courage, Cultural Diversity, Empathy / Compassion, Environment / Nature, Geography, Human Impact On Environment / Environmental Sustainability, Informational / Expository Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Occupations, Photographic Illustrations, Responsibility, STEM / STEAM
  • Reading Levels

  • Age Range Ages 6 - 8
  • Grade Range Grades 1 - 3
  • Guided Reading R
  • DRA 40
  • Reading Level 4
  • Bebop Reading Fluent
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