About this book

The award-winning Scholastic Canada Biography series highlights the lives of remarkable Canadians whose achievements have inspired and changed the lives of those who followed.

As a young boy, David Suzuki loved spending time in the glorious British Columbia outdoors with his father. The racist policies against Japanese Canadians during World War II put an abrupt end to that when David’s family was sent to a Japanese internment camp in 1942. After the war, the Suzuki family was forced to leave B.C., settling in Ontario. David immersed himself in learning, earning a PhD in zoology, becoming a professor, and eventually taking his love of science education into the public sphere with his shows on CBC radio and television. His connection to nature, commitment as a scientist, and media presence found David among the first to raise the alarm on how human behaviour is endangering all life on Earth. He has worked tirelessly to bring attention and, more importantly, offer solutions to this critical issue. Climate change is one of the most important issues of our time, and David Suzuki has led the charge in education and activism in Canada for decades.

Written by award-winning author Elizabeth MacLeod, this portrait of David Suzuki couples simple yet compelling writing with comic-flavoured illustrations by Mike Deas that help bring this fascinating story to life!

Reviews

. . . MacLeod expertly integrates important themes by highlighting Suzuki’s motivations: a deep respect for nature inspired by his father, the passion for civil rights driven by his experiences as a Japanese Canadian, and a love of public speaking, genetics, and environmentalism that shaped his career and activism. MacLeod’s narrative is enriched by Deas’s illustrations, which infuse the reading experience with relatability. (Meet David Suzuki) — Quill & Quire

“ . . . Meet Chris Hadfield delves a little deeper and gives children the anecdotes that will be most relevant to them. It’s about dreaming and working hard and having fun while engaging with others about your passion.” (Meet Chris Hadfield) — CanLit for Little Canadians

“Elizabeth MacLeod has written an outstanding book. The language is flowing and exciting, and there are speech and thought bubbles that add humour and break up the text making the information easier to absorb . . . The illustrations by Mike Deas are as strong and beautiful as the story. ” (Meet Elsie MacGill) — CM: Canadian Review of Materials, 5/5 stars

"In this biography, young readers learn about the remarkable life of David Suzuki — from his boyhood fishing trips that gave him an appreciation for the natural world and his experiences in a Japanese internment camp during World War II to how he immersed himself in learning, becoming a professor and a scientist." (Meet David Suzuki) — Canadian Children’s Book Centre Best Books for Kids and Teens, Starred

Extras

See more about the Scholastic Canada Biography series.

Scholastic Canada Biography: Meet David Suzuki Discussion Guide