This is much more than a children's book, photographic essay, or environmental conservation work. It is an excellent teaching tool for people of all ages and continents.
Since 2013 women park rangers from different tribes and languages have chosen to train and serve as Park Rangers to protect and conserve the wild animals in South African reserves hunted by poachers and sold to smugglers.
Well suited for reading WITH someone any age from 4 and up, including ESL, and great for gifting to everyone, but ESPECIALLY to a school or your local public library!
A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Black Mamba AntiPoaching Unit.
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected eGalley on Netgalley Reader from Lerner Publishing Group | Millbrook Press ™ via NetGalley. Avail Apr 1, 2025
#TheBlackMambas by @kellycrull @millbrookpress @lernerbooks
@blackmamba_antipoaching_unit_ #photographic #poachers #SouthAfrica @TransfrontierAfrica
@hesc_endangeredspeciescentre olifants wet nature reserve @Timbavati_foundation #OlifantsWestNatureReserve #survivaltraining #LoveWildlife #Smugglingtrade
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What badass, inspiring women!

Crull takes us into the world of the Black Mambas, an all-woman anti-poaching team at the Olifants West Nature Reserve in South Africa. The reader is taken through their typical day, as they set out to patrol the reserve, check for poacher activity (and eventually catch them!), and bond with the variety of animals. Chock-full of engaging animal facts and equally awesome facts and pictures showing the Black Mambas and their crucial work, this book is sure to inform and inspire.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book covers an empowering, female-led topic, showing the power of woman and girls. Its a story not many have heard of and readers would benefit from the story of strong women. The photographs are beautiful as well.

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My Overall Thoughts/Impressions: I really enjoyed the photography in this one. The author did a great job making this a fun, adventurous book for little children who want to learn more about the all-woman anti-poaching unit. It was a fun, enjoyable read. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The Black Mambas: The World's First All-Woman Anti-Poaching Unit tells the story of a group of women who work tirelessly protecting animals in their homeland. The threat of poaching decimates local animal populations and these women head into danger, sometimes against the wishes of their families, to catch poachers and find the hidden and deadly traps they leave behind. This hopeful environmental story gives the reader a glimpse through colorful pictures of the struggles to save our natural resources.

Obviously a book meant for Kids, but easily could have had more detail regarding what the the Black Mambas do verse being a mere outline. At least he lists other sources, to look up, then read more about the group and still a decent read for the right age group.

Super informative book about a women's group in Africa that protects animals and the environment from poachers. Great color photographs.

A quick read, celebrating the Black Mambas all-female, anti-poaching unit in South Africa. This is targeted at a young audience, featuring minimal and basic text. The quality of the abundant photos is quite good. I see this book in school and public libraries where it would be a nice reference book or simply a page flipper for upper elementary and middle school students.

The author spent five years observing the Black Mambas and I suspect she could also write a more sophisticated and quite interesting book detailing the formation of the unit, the work, and the operational and cultural challenges faced by the Black Mambas, for a mature audience. I would read that book.