Me . . . Jane

Me Jane is such an endearing story, and fantastic introduction into the early life of this acclaimed woman. My daughter asks for this book over and over and I’m so happy to see it offer her a real and capable role model. The relatable little protagonist and her stuffed friend Jubilee are charming, and their story is engaging and wholesome. The illustrations in this book layer childlike drawings, painting quality scenes, and field guide style watermarks that serve to add excitement and depth to the voice of the story. McDonnell creates a compelling and heartwarming design and gives his child reader a gratifying origin story for a great heroine. It is surely a book deserving a place in any little girls(or boys) collection.

What an enchanting book! Patrick McDonnell's charming illustrations are at their best, and he tells the story of an inquisitive child turning her dreams into reality in simple but touching language. What's more, is that he incorporates Jane's actual sketches from childhood into the story! This is an excellent addition to the book both for it's value to the story and as an example for kids to use drawing as a way to express their observations of life around them. A great read for any child, this book encourages them to follow their inherently creative, inquisitive instincts to find answers to anything they're curious about, as well as to foster a love and respect for animals and our environment. It's a wonderful tribute to Jane Goodall, of course, and any adult who respects her work would enjoy it as well.

This book is awsome! It's such a sweet story, and because originally I checked it out from the library on a whim I didn't realize until the end that it was about Jane Goodall. I ended up buying it because my daughter who was 9 months old at the time really really loved this book. SHe is 15 months old and for some reason just loves the story. It's pretty basic, so it is a good read even for a small child, but is still a great story overall. The illustrations are awesome, and the underlying message about following your dreams is a timeless one.

A gorgeous book inspired by Jane Goodall. The drawings are stunning and full of sensitivity. A book that encourages children to follow their dreams. Whenever friends get a baby, this is my birthday present!

Great message to girls everywhere that you can do anything if you have the desire and perseverance to do it. Beautiful illustrations taken from nature drawings Jane did herself. Such a creative story we read it over and over. It’s a good introduction to the genre of autobiographies that kids have a hard time sometimes getting into. Even though the reading level is for little ones it’s still a great book for older readers we’ve given this book as a birthday book gift a few years in a row!

This is a beautiful book that honors the childhood of Jane Goodall. It is simple and dreamy. The only problem with it is that the author did not put any emphasis on Goodall’s hard work and focus as a young adult to achieve what she did. It simply states that she dreamed of working with animals, was interested in animals as a child, and then *poof* woke up to that dream as an adult. As an educator and a parent, I would have liked to see more focus put on her hard work to make such a difference.

My child read this at school and asked us to buy it for him. Such a cute book and a great story. The artwork is amazing. What’s not to love about this amazing woman’s story! Definitely add this to your little ones library!

Nice images, kid friendly language. Well written. My daughter loved the story.

Une vie au milieu des grands singes, le rêve. Merci Jane !

Jane had a stuffed toy chimpanzee named Jubilee (first page). She cherished Jubilee and took him every where she went. And Jane loved to be outside (picture on the right side). She watched birds making their nests, spiders spinning their webs, and squirrels chasing one another up and down trees (picture on the right side). Jane learned all that she could about the animals and plants she studied in her backyard and read about in books (picture on the right side). One day, curious Jane wondered where eggs came from. So she and Jubilee snuck into Grandma Nutt's chicken coop (picture on the right side). Hide behind some straw, stayed very still (picture on the right side). .. and observed the miracle (picture on the right side). It was a magical world full of joy and wonder, and Jane felt very much a part of it (picture on the ride side). Jane often climbed her favorite tree, which she named Beech. She would lay her cheek against its trunk ans seem to feel the sap flowing beneath the bark (picture on the right side). Jane could feel her own heart, beating, beating, beating (picture on the right side). With the wind in the hair, she read and reread the books about Tarzan and the Apes, in which another girl, also named Jane, lived in the jungles of Africa (picture on the right side). Jane dreamed of a life in Africa, too... (picture on the right side). A life with, and helping, all animals (pictures on both sides). At night Jane would tuck Jubilee into bed, say her prayers, (picture on the right side) ... and fall asleep (picture on the right side) ...to wake one day... (picture on the right side) ... to her dream come true (photo of Jane chacking hands with a small chimpanzee)...

Who would have thought that a picture book could be both a bedtime story and inspirational biography? In the hands of Patrick McDonnell, comic creator of Mutts , this picture book is sure to become a classic for readers of all ages. The title is a clever play on, "Me Tarzan, You Jane." Me...Jane tells the story of Jane Goodall as a little girl and her toy gorilla, Jubilee. Jane loves the outdoors and dreams from an early age of being able to help animals. McDonnell brings the world of young Jane to life in a wonderful combination of his drawings, antique bookplate illustrations, photographs, and even some of Goodall's own drawings. Me...Jane is a captivating read, and the image at the end with Jane Goodall waking up to her dream come true is perfect.

Jane Goodall and her scientific research in Africa was a childhood inspiration and hero for me. How thrilled I was to discover this delightful picture book aimed at young children to introduce them to this amazing lady and her accomplished life. The illustrations are just gorgeous and right at the very end instead of an illustration there is a photo of Jane Goodall reaching out her hand to a chimpanzee and the reader discovers that the story is about a real person...it's such a wonderful moment !

Lo he comprado para mi bebé de 15 meses pero creo que lo voy a guardar para cuando sea mayor por dos motivos: es precioso, de esos libros que han de perdurar; las hojas no son resistentes y no creo que llegaran a los dos años. Es un libros sencillo, pero que muestra con encanto cómo surgió la pasión por los primates de esta maravillosa mujer. Incluye dibujos de su infancia. Es una joya.