My Wild Life

children's nonfiction (4th-7th grades)
a practical introduction to wildlife photography, including some of the less pleasant details (insects laying eggs in one's foot, getting sick in a bag while taking aerial photos from a small plane, not having access to a toilet, keeping a pee bottle separate from one's water bottle, lots and lots of waiting). I appreciated the parts about getting help from local trackers as well as working with scientists--both of these groups are essential.

My Wild Life by Suzi Eszterhaz is a wonderful introduction to the life of a wildlife photographer. The pictures are stunning and the dialogue is informative and entertaining. This book will be a good addition for middle school readers and especially to encourage girls to try something different.

My Wild Life is a fascinating book about a wildlife photographer. Eszterhas is such an interesting person and it was so fun to get a glimpse into her fascinating life. She has allowed us to experience the range of her experiences from huge excitement to even boredom as she sometimes must wait for a long time for the animals to do something interesting. She shares many of her photographs in her book, and they are engaging and just bursting in their portrayal of the energy and lives of these animals.

I am glad I got to read this book, and I love that this has been written for children in particular! Eszterhas is passionate about her work, and she is a also a model of patience and perseverance.

Thanks to #netgalley for the advance reading copy. #MyWildLife

Suzi Eszterhas describes her career as a wildlife photographer, detailing how she preps for shots, lives in the field, works with locals and scientists and more. Her knowledge and enthusiasm for her career shine through. Colorful photos show her at work as well as the animals she photographs. This firsthand account is interest-grabbing. Eszterhas’s passion for her work is clear.

Wow, this is a cool book. Tons of pictures (a few with maps and arrows showing where they were taken) and easy to read/conversational writing from the author. You really get a feel for what it's like to be a wildlife photographer. There's even a question/answer section at the back of the book in case budding wildlife photographers have questions unanswered at the end of the book. I checked out Suzi's website and there are even more awesome animal pictures!

Thanks Netgalley for the ARC! All opinions are my own and are unbiased.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. This book was a great autobiography type about Suzi an animal photographer. I really liked seeing all the fun pictures included in the book.

I love this Wildlife book! The author explains what it takes to get the shots.
Hours and hours of waiting, for example.
The photos in this book are amazing. I have been crazy about Meerkats for many years.
It's a wonderful book I would like to have in my collection of animal and wildlife books.


Thank you so much, Suzi Eszterhas, the publisher, and NetGalley for the chance to read
and review this beautiful book!

This book was wonderful. I loved reading about Suzi Eszterhas' experiences in trying to take pictures of wile animals. I think children will love reading this book and will enjoy all the phenomenal pictures that are included. I will definitely purchase for my library!

My Wild Life: Adventures of a Wildlife Photographer by Suzi Eszterhas is a children's book about one person's journey to be a wildlife photographer. As a young girl, Suzi Eszterhas knew she wanted to be a wildlife photographer. But how did she go from snapping pictures of cats in her backyard to taking photos of cheetah cubs in Kenya? In this nonfiction picture-book biography, Eszterhas invites readers to find out what her life is like behind the lens. Photographs of animals paired with compelling anecdotes will instantly draw readers in. Each section of the book explores a unique part of Eszterhas’s job with energetic and engaging language. Along with photography tips and stories about life in the field, Eszterhas’s sections on conservation and treating animals with respect will enhance readers’ awareness of these issues. End matter includes answers to common questions Suzi has been asked.

My Wild Life: Adventures of a Wildlife Photographer is a wonderful and realistic look at what life as a wildlife photographer can be like. While there are stories about getting amazing pictures and some once in a life time experiences, like cheetah cubs getting so used to her presence on a shoot that they were playing on her jeep. She also talks about having to wear seven plus layers of clothing in the arctic, being charged by rhinos and gorillas, and having to sit in a blind long enough to have clearing labeled bottles for water, and well other things. I think Eszterhas does a good job here of showing the wonder and respect that the profession deserves, with the amount of dedication and hardship inherent in getting it right. I think the included photographs do a goo job of capturing the variety of the author's work, and that the endmatter with frequently asked questions are perfect additions to the book. I have to admit that I spent a good amount of this book thinking of my daughter, who has been saying she want to live with wolves or out in the wild for most of her life, and think I will have to show her some of the reality of such a life to see if it is really the path she wants.

My Wild Life: Adventures of a Wildlife Photographer is a great look at what is really involved in being a wildlife photographer; research, patience, danger, and all.