In honor of International Women’s Day this 5 Heart Rating goes to Jane Goodall. What an example to the world this woman has been her whole life.
I probably wouldn’t know as much as I do about Jane Goodall if it weren’t for my daughter’s early childhood interest in her. According to Wikipedia, Goodall is a British primatologist, ethologist (“The scientific and objective study of animal behaviour, usually with a focus on behaviour under natural conditions, and viewing behaviour as an evolutionarily adaptive trait.” Had to look it up.) and anthropologist. She is also the founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and the Roots & Shoots program, and she has worked extensively on conservation and animal welfare issues. She has served on the board of the Nonhuman Rights Project since its founding in 1996. And if that’s not enough, she is a UN Messenger of Peace. For all these reasons and more, I am not a bit surprised that my peaceful, loving daughter admires Jane Goodall so much.
I Am Jane Goodall, by Brad Meltzer, illustrated by Christopher Eliopoulos, an adorable book about this incredible woman’s life, deserves a 5 Heart Rating on its own but I am mentioning it here if you would like to learn more about this incredible woman or give the book as a great gift. It’s available on Amazon.
Funny story – while my daughter was serving in the Peace Corps, I sent this book to her for Christmas not knowing whether she would actually receive it since she was in a very VERY remote part of Africa. I took a picture of the book and the inscription I wrote just in case it didn’t arrive. Which it didn’t.
Fast forward a couple months later and my daughter and I were on a nature trail in Nashville and came upon one of those “Leave a Book, Take a Book” boxes. I have always thought this is such a great idea but never looked inside one so I stopped to see what was inside. And there it was, right on top of the pile, a brand new copy of the book. I took it and gave it to my daughter. It’s a great little book!
On this day of honoring women my thoughts, gratitude, and respect go to Jane Goodall. Thank you for all you have done and continue to do for the world and thank you for being such an example of peace, love, and understanding.
For more information about Jane, go here: http://www.janegoodall.org
