Author of books for kids about wildlife, nature, space, weather, and more!

Mary Kay Carson

Mary Kay Carson

Author of books for kids about wildlife, nature, space, weather, and more!



Emi and the Rhino Scientist

Mary Kay Carson with photos by Tom Uhlman


Terri Roth trudges through the thick, dark Sumatran jungle. She's looking for a rhinoceros that's been seen in the area. It's a rare Sumatran rhino, the world's smallest rhino and one of the most endangered mammals on the planet. Suddenly she spots a young female rhino through the tangle of ferns and trees. The stocky animal is covered in reddish hair, and her snout sports two stubby horns. The rhino walks right up to Terri. The scientist slowly reaches out her hand and touches the rhino's big nose. The wild rhino's curiosity and friendliness remind Terri of Emi, the female Sumatran rhino that lives at the Cincinnati Zoo where Terri works. Terri is working with Emi to help save Sumatran rhinos from extinction—one calf at a time.


Check out the Scientists in the Field website

Reviews & Accolades


Booklist Top 10 Sci-Tech Books for Youth 2008


Booklist Top 10 Books on the Environment for Youth 2008


Wilde Award Winner - Best Nonfiction


Junior Library Guild Selection


"With clearly written text, detailed and well-produced photographs and helpful maps and charts...should be welcome in high-school as well as middle-school libraries."

—Kirkus starred review


“Top-notch nonfiction...A captivating telescopic view of a unique animal.”

—Booklist starred review


"Carson provides fascinating detail...color photographs featuring Roth at work are upstaged only by those of the rhinos themselves..."

—Horn Book


The text is ful of important details, and the photographs are unfailingly crisp, bright, and full of variety."

School Library Journal


"Pair this with other animal titles...and make sure kids get a chance to view Emi real-time on the zoo's webcam." The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books