Wildheart: The Daring Adventures of John Muir

John Muir was born and grew up in Scotland. He didn’t like school very much. He just wanted to spend his time in nature, learning about birds, flowers, trees, and anything in nature. While John was still a boy, his father took him and one brother and sister to America. Mother stayed behind with the other children until Father could send for them. John was a clever boy and made some wonderful inventions. After studying at a university, he took a job where he suffered a terrible accident, losing his sight. He would never see again, but eventually, his eyes healed. After that terrible experience, he decided to walk a thousand miles and see what America’s nature had to offer. He became the greatest conservationist of his time.

Author Julie Bertagna and illustrator William Goldsmith have partnered to make a cute graphic biography of this famous naturalist. It will be attractive to middle-graders, especially those who are reluctant readers. There is a real sense of fun both in the text and artwork. There is not much depth to this, but it hits the highlights which should send readers to the library to find out more about this fascinating man.