My Family and the Galapagos: Like Nowhere Else on Earth

This engaging three-part series introduces marine biologist/conservationist Monty Halls, his wife, and their two young daughters, who journey from the U.K. to the Galapagos Islands where Halls has rented a home for three months on the island of Santa Cruz. The opening episode, Like Nowhere Else on Earth, introduces the family and shows them settling in. Captioned maps identify the location of the chain of volcanic Ecuadorian islands while Zoë Wanamaker’s voiceover narration complements the beautiful footage, serving up information about these enchanted islands where animals (many found nowhere else in the world) are government protected, including giant tortoises, pelicans, penguins, and sea lions, among other exotic species. Laws state that people must stay six feet away from the creatures, although sea lions roaming freely in town do not always respect this rule. Five-year-old Isla and 3-year-old Molly are showstoppers, accompanying their parents while also offering precocious perspectives on local sites, animals, and plants. Isla enjoys scuba diving with her dad in environmentally protected waters, while in another segment, wife Tamsyn accompanies a biologist to study beach pollution (one beach is pristine but another is filled with plastic that adversely affects animals). Monty’s research takes him on a boat along with other scientists to collect DNA samples from ocean sunfish, the largest bony fish on Earth. Stunning landscapes accentuate this entertaining and informative series that introduces the splendor of the Galapagos while also conveying a message about the importance of preserving life’s delicate natural balance. The other titles in the series are A Delicate Ecosystem and A Time for Reflection. Highly recommended. Aud: E, I, P. (S. Beauregard)