A Meerkat Diary: My Journey into the Wild World of a Meerkat Mob

Gr 2-5–Eszterhas has created another fascinating look at wild animals. Readers are introduced to a meerkat “mob” living in the Kalahari Desert in Botswana. Written as a diary of 12 days spent observing one meerkat family, including several adorable baby “pups,” the narrative skillfully weaves in animal facts, humor, and high drama. Readers learn how meerkats live in underground burrows; eat bugs, beetles, and scorpions; and take care of their young, which is a job shared by many. A mama meerkat rescues one of her pups from a flooded area, an adult warns the others of a predator (an eagle flying high above), and young meerkats fight over tasty bits of food. The humans have their share of drama, too, slogging miles through thick mud one day and finding themselves in the middle of a zebra stampede on another. Pages are filled with large, readable text and numerous photographs of the animals and their habitat, displayed scrapbook style on a cheerful green and yellow background. Maps and sidebars are scattered throughout, containing additional information. Accessible for independent reading, this would also make a great read-aloud for younger students, spread out over several days. Back matter includes information about the two African guides, one a meerkat habituator who spends time with the animals getting them used to human contact, as well as a glossary and information about the Wildlife Conservation Network.