THE GREAT PENGUIN RESCUE
READER REVIEWS
REVIEWS FROM WILDLIFE PROFESSIONALS
“As a penguin keeper for many years, I was honored to be asked to review The Great Penguin Rescue. Once I started reading this book, I simply couldn’t put it down. Dyan deNapoli gives the reader ‘come to life’ descriptions of what it took to clean and rehabilitate every bird, how each volunteer was trained, and the commitment it took to accomplish such an enormous task. It’s almost as if every reader was part of the rescue operation. The takeaway message of this book is simply: If we all work together, we can make a difference.” — Tammy Root, AAZK (American Association of Zookeepers), Animal Keepers’ Forum
“DeNapoli not only provides well-researched and detailed documentation of this rescue effort, but also illustrates how individuals and groups from different factions can unite to make a difference.” — Jessica Jozwiak, Editor of Penguin Conservation (PCN Volume 15 Number 1 page 17)
“I just finished reading your book and wanted to reach out to you. I was part of the Treasure spill response too. I was sent by Disney’s Animal Kingdom, where I was working in the aviculture department. The book was fantastic! It brought me back to 13 years ago; I could feel the emotion, smell the smells, everything. It was as if I was right there again. Thank you so much for writing this book! It is the closest thing to being able to share the experience with family and friends. I am making them all read it!” — Susan Congdon, former aviculturist at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
“I love the book, The Great Penguin Rescue. What a remarkable story! Dyan writes so lucidly and powerfully. Her Prologue is a model of how to start a nonfiction book, and I love the beautiful quotes at the beginning of each chapter.” — Professor Chris Palmer, American University School of Communication (Distinguished Film Producer in Residence), author of Shooting in the Wild
“I just finished reading The Great Penguin Rescue, and the author, Dyan deNapoli, is one of my new American Idols! I highly recommend this book! It is meticulously researched and exceptionally well written. Anyone wishing to learn more about these endearing birds would appreciate it. As someone who used to work with penguins professionally, I can attest that Dyan’s depth of knowledge regarding penguins is truly all-encompassing.”
“One of the most extraordinary activists I’ve ever known – her book is my inspiration. Dyan recounts her story in this true story of the world’s largest and most successful wildlife rescue. Imagine – the call goes out worldwide, and 12,500 volunteers rush to South Africa in hopes of saving the penguins.Ten years later, Dyan’s account of this rescue is riveting – a page-turner. It is an inspiring book, and it speaks to all of us involved in activism and saving our planet. It gives new meaning to the phrase, ‘making a difference’. The Great Penguin Rescue is an amazing read. You won’t put it down.” — Sandra Birnhak, Director at The Foundation for Antarctic Research
“I am currently reading Dyan deNapoli’s book, The Great Penguin Rescue. This is a wonderfully written and well-researched book describing the rescue and rehabilitation of penguins from an oil spill in South Africa. I am deeply impressed by her passion and respect for these animals as well as for the ocean. I highly recommend her book.” — Jeff Kroll, Founder of Deep Blue Discoveries
“I highly recommend this book! I was part of the rescue effort 10 years ago. The experience touched me deeply, and is documented in this book by Dyan deNapoli, who is one of the most passionate penguin caregivers I’ve had the privilege of meeting. It’s a great read, and an inspiration to take care of our precious animals. Oil tankers still wreak havoc around the world, so education and action is very much required. BUY THE BOOK, curl up with a glass of wine, and enjoy the read!” — Gerald van Wijk, South Africa, Treasure oil spill volunteer
“I was part of this rescue, and relived all the things that happened in Cape Town 10 years ago, and that keep on happening worldwide. The Great Penguin Rescue is a message of courage, endurance, love, and tenacity. Written is such a touching way – so real – that it was ‘unputdownable’, put tears in my eyes at time, and I just had to finish it. It shows what humanity can do on a voluntary basis when disaster strikes, and what people can achieve when they stand together and confront a disaster head on! Yes, we CAN make a difference, we must and we will, always! This will make a great gift to friends and family, or to yourself. The book is displayed prominently in my bookcase, and keeps reminding me of an excellent read, and soon I will read it again. Very much recommended indeed!” — Rick Meijer, Cape Town, Treasure oil spill volunteer
“The Great Penguin Rescue is a great book! Go out and buy it!” — International Organization for Penguins Protection (IOPP)
GENERAL READER REVIEWS
“When my copy of The Great Penguin Rescue arrived in the mail, I sat down with it at dinner expecting to read a chapter or two while I ate, then go back to work. I ended up reading the entire book through. I just couldn’t put it down. From the very beginning the book had me hooked, and I wanted to know every detail about this amazing set of circumstances and the people involved. Dyan does an amazing job of helping the reader be there in the moment with her. My eyes welled up with tears at many points as I read about the things the penguin and penguins went through. The book makes you realize that each one of us can make a difference if we follow our dreams and focus on our goals. Each one of us has that power to use our time to make the world a better place.” — Lisa Shae, award-winning and best-selling author of multiple books, and Amazon Hall of Fame top 1,000 Reviewer
“This is a great tale of a rescue that gives hope to all who care about animals – and penguins specifically – in this time when creatures all over the world are under increasing pressure. Dyan deNapoli’s book is informative, entertaining, and moving; giving the reader a view into the messy, stressful life of a rescue worker and providing critical background to help the reader understand why these African penguins are under such threat, and why effective response to this spill was so critical. An essential read for those interested in birds, marine life, and in humankind’s increasing need to manage our wild areas.” — Alvin E. Powell, author of Race to Save the World’s Rarest Bird: The Discovery and Death of the Po’ouli
“For environmentalists and animal lovers alike, this is an incredible story of how one team of penguin specialists pulled from around the world joined forces with 12,500 volunteers to rescue an astronomical number of endangered penguins. Readers will be in awe at the large-scale operation and just what it took to save these beautiful animated birds. With blood, sweat and tears, people worldwide poured in to assist in the rescue, toiling hour after hour for months, to clean, feed, and heal these injured penguins. Often heartbreaking, but mostly uplifting and inspiring, this is truly a winning true story!” — Jeannie Mancini, reviewer on Amazon
“The Great Penguin Rescue is an emotional tale of animal rescue on a scale never before seen. I was enjoying it so thoroughly that I was regretful to complete it! It’s a wonderful read on so many levels. The emotional story of the people and the penguins was well captured, and I really felt immersed in this amazing rescue effort. This book is not only a wonderful journal of an amazing event, but it is loaded with so much valuable information and resources as well – I will be keeping it on my reference library shelf, where I keep guides and encyclopedia that I regularly return to for information. The book reminds us of the power of the goodness in our species and also warns us that the work to save this species is far from done. I truly loved this book and will recommend it to anyone.” — Brian Masuga, Peppermint Narwhal Creative
“I had the pleasure of meeting the author, Dyan deNapoli, at the 2014 New England Author Expo. I mention this because her passion for penguins is sincere. She is called The Penguin Lady for a reason. I read my signed copy of The Great Penguin Rescue in one sitting. I will say this; the journey she conveys is in the tradition of the best scientific writing (E.O. Wilson), and brings her passionate interest in the plight of the South African penguins to the interested reading public. It is inspiring to know that so many people from around the world came together for these birds. The Great Penguin Rescue also reads like an adventure-drama. Against all odds, and after a lot of ups and downs, the birds were saved. The overall uplifting lesson is that people together can accomplish so much.” — Gabriel Valjan, author of The Roma series
“This book made me feel as if I were there. I felt the magnitude of the task, the compassion of all those people for the penguins, the stress and exhaustion, and the feeling of unreality upon the return home. Early in the first chapter I was engaged and could hardly stop reading in my eagerness to learn how this incredible feat was accomplished. It is a very emotional read, but in a good way, and it certainly shows that when people work together with commitment, there is very little they can’t overcome.” — Brenda, Virginia Wildlife Center Book Club
“Dyan deNapoli has done an amazing job of educating the reader about the magnitude and significant impact the Treasure oil spill had on the environment and the African penguin population. Dyan hasn’t written a cold story of facts and figures – instead she draws the reader in by sharing the emotions, frustrations, love and compassion that she, and many others, endured. Her vivid detail and description of her time spent with the rescue effort makes you feel as if you were there, and wishing you would have been. Not only does this book inspire – it motivates the reader to do their part in helping save a species. A truly wonderful read!” — Gary H on Amazon
“The book is a fast read, because it’s hard to put down – you want to keep reading to learn every detail of the rescue. I was amazed at the effort involved in running a rescue operation…and of the sacrifices the volunteers made for the penguins. DeNapoli weaves in inspiring stories of penguins she has worked with through the years, passing on a deeper and more intimate understanding of the species, and probably a greater appreciation of them as well.” — Kelly, review in Red and the Peanut: a Cincinnati Birding and Nature Journal
“An incredible, beautiful, and informative story. You will learn about the plight of penguins, the incredible devotion and skill of the wildlife-caring community, and this one event in particular. Reading this compelled me to do something for penguins, so I now give monthly to World Wildlife Fund. A great book to give young people to nurture their involvement/caring about other species. Also a great read (it really is a page-turner!) for adults!” — Mary Z Kohak, review on Amazon
“There wasn’t a part of this story where you had to struggle to find the send of purpose or emotion. Every step of the way I found myself so engaged with the words that I often found it hard to put down. My greatest impression was that we as human beings can have such a profound impact if there is someone to lead the way. The book proved that one person caring can lead others to care about wildlife. And that if we all care enough, even a crisis as vast as an oil spill can have minimal effect on our world. This story made me question what can I do now that will have a lasting impact – and how could I better use my strengths to promote a better world.” — Carrie/Izzie, Virginia Wildlife Center Book Club
The story of the penguin rescue is inspirational on so many levels, and Dyan – who participated in the rescue firsthand – writes vividly of the personal emotional journey that it took her on. This is one book I’ll be holding on to, as I will be rereading it and referring to it as a resource for years to come.” —Emily Parker, review on Amazon