Heather Montgomery
Heather L. Montgomery writes for kids who are wild about animals. The weirder, the wackier, the better. An award-winning science educator, Heather uses yuck appeal to engage young minds. During presentations, petrified animal parts and tree guts inspire reluctant readers and motivate reticent writers.
Heather has a BS in biology and an MS in environmental education, she lives on the border of Alabama and Tennessee, and she has published seventeen nonfiction books.
Roadkill changed her life.
Reviews
Sick! The Twists and Turns Behind Animal Germs
“Rejecting the notion that the study of cell biology need ever be dull, Montgomery personifies the pathogens and parasites that parade through this alliterative and mind-expanding overview of how wild animals have evolved ways of resisting—or learned to live with—disease organisms. From chimps observed self-medicating intestinal worm infections by eating certain leaves to “Victor Vulture’s” mysterious immunity to “Presley Perfringens” and every other member of the often-deadly bacterial Clostridium clan, her examples not only offer exhilarating case studies of science and of the scientists she interviews in action but also make a convincing argument for thinking about our relationship with our teeming microbial neighbors less as a war of extermination than a give and take with potential benefits for both sides. Some readers may wish their school was like the one in Brussels where students found a previously unknown antibody in a vat of camel’s blood in their supply closet; all will come away with better understanding of our complex biosphere and of how Netty Neutrophil and other components of living creatures’ innate and acquired immune systems work together.”—Booklist
“How do germs make animals—and people—sick, and what defenses do bodies have? With this kid-friendly introduction to immune systems and the enemies they battle, Montgomery adds to an impressively entertaining body of work. Organized around different animals, the chapters follow scientists noticing odd happenings in the face of infection—or animals avoiding expected infection entirely. Montgomery highlights the questions these scientists ask: What’s the connection between frog temperature and infection survival? Why do ants kill infected pupae? How do injured gators survive their bacteria-heavy environment and vultures their contaminated food? The author traces the scientists’ logic as they test various hypotheses; she then demonstrates how we can learn from these findings to devise new strategies to help people. Keeping her tone conversational, occasionally relying on anthropomorphizing, and framing her stories as mysteries, Montgomery makes even the most complex concepts concrete and digestible—young readers won’t just understand the microbiology at play; they’ll enjoy the subject, too. Illustrations throughout also enhance clarity as well as (especially in short comic panels) keeping the book fun. Gross facts (“Chimps pee and poop right off the sides of their daybeds!”) are just the cherry on top of this book that brims with child appeal. A pathologically good time.”—Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review
What’s in Your Pocket
“This cleverly conceived and appealingly executed title addresses young readers directly, connecting their noticing and collecting habits to those of others who continued to observe, collect, and organize in adulthood. Montgomery introduces a grandly diverse array of nine naturalists, researchers, and explorers from Maria Sibylla Merian, who studied butterflies in the 17th century, to Bonnie Lei, whose present-day research focuses on sea-life conservation. Three are people of color, and the majority are female. The young George Washington Carver collected seed pods; deep-sea explorer William Beebe collected birds’ eggs; and young Jane Goodall put worms under her pillow! Other profiles include Charles Darwin, tree-canopy explorer Margaret Lowman, herpetologist Diego Cisneros-Heredia, and fossil hunter Mary Anning. The vignettes from childhood are engaging, well paced, and smoothly told. Short introductions to the adult scientists follow, in a smaller font. In her author’s note, the writer introduces the concept of naturalist intelligence. Lechuga’s friendly illustrations feature the brown-skinned girl with Afro puffs and overflowing pockets shown on the cover as well as the scientists as children, then as adults, in appropriate times and places. The backmatter includes more about the grown-up scientists and the author’s own sensible “rules for collecting,” which involve respect for nature, the people she lives with, and herself (safety). The illustrator reminds readers that habits of observation are something she also shares with scientists. Inspiration for nature-loving children.”—Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review
“Who hasn’t wandered a beach or forest and tucked a sparkling stone or bit of flora into their pocket? Montgomery’s terrific picture book suggests that this kind of casual curiosity can spark a lifelong love of science and nature. A series of humorous anecdotes give brief introductions to the extraordinary lives of nine scientists, plus scientific tidbits. The stories have delightfully surprising outcomes, as a worm-loving kiddo grows into primatologist Jane Goodall, and a burgeoning bug collector turns out to be Charles Darwin. Plenty of lesser-known names are included, too, from different time periods and varied backgrounds: in the seventeenth century, Maria Sibylla Merian discovers that butterflies grow from caterpillars, while a modern-day Bonnie Lei continues work on sea animals. In Lechuga’s appealing illustrations, which vividly capture the wonder of childhood explorations and the beauty of the natural world, kids poke around in tide pools, spy on slugs, and stuff their pockets full of seeds. It’s an altogether charming concept, convincingly demonstrating how childhood enthusiasms can be much more than passing fancies. Helpful back matter expands on each featured scientist and suggests additional reading, recommends field guides, and offers important guidelines for responsible collecting in the wild. Sure to inspire children—and their grown-ups—to get outside and respectfully delight in the incredible world around them.”—Booklist, Starred Review
Who Gives A Poop?
"Feces have lots of great stories to tell, and . . . Montgomery is an ideal spokesperson to forward news from the fetid field."—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, Starred Review
"A well-stirred slurry of facts and fun for strong-stomached 'poop sleuths.'"—Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review
"This narrative stomp through animal poop is equal parts informative and grotesquely fascinating."—School Library Journal , Starred Review
Something Rotten
"Sure to be a hit among students. A top addition to STEM collections."—School Library Journal, Starred Review
"Budding naturalists or eco-activists will find it a smashing read."—Booklist