Today we’re celebrating the Book Birthday of Author/Photographer Kelly Crull’s
new nonfiction picture book,
THE BLACK MAMBAS:
The World’s First All-Woman Anti-Poaching Unit
(Millbrook/ Lerner), which released April 1st.
About the Book
Author and photographer Kelly Crull traveled to South Africa to see firsthand how the Black Mambas Anti-Poaching Unit are making a difference―for animals and for their communities. In THE BLACK MAMBAS, Crull tells the incredible story of this ground-breaking, all-female Anti-Poaching Unit from their perspective, giving readers an unforgettable look at these environmental heroes.
A portion of the proceeds from this book will be donated to the Black Mamba Anti-Poaching Unit.
“The most exhilarating parts of the book, however, follow the Black Mambas on patrol as they observe wildlife up close, search the bush for snares, look for signs of poachers, and even plan and carry out a poacher ambush―all without guns. Documenting these courageous accomplishments are thrilling, large-scale photographs of the Black Mambas in action and the animals they serve to protect.. . . A joyful tribute to these dauntless women.”―starred, Booklist
About the Author
In second grade, Kelly Crull’s teacher gave him a blank book and told him to fill it with his own story. He filled an entire bookshelf at his school library with them. His joke book had a waitlist! Even when he was not in art class, Kelly would fill his notebooks with doodles and sketches. Once, he had to make a bug collection for science class—and instead of catching bugs from his backyard, he crafted his own collection of exotic insects out of paper.
These days, Kelly’s books include his non-fiction picture book debut, Washed Ashore: Making Art from Ocean Plastic (Millbrook/Lerner, 2022). Readers may remember his Washed Ashore Book Birthday celebration on the blog a few years ago.
Let’s ask some Questions!
Inspiration
Q 1. What made you decide to write a book about the Black Mambas?
Kelly Crull: I was first drawn to the Black Mambas because of their courage. They were the first women to become park rangers in their country and formed the world’s first all-woman anti-poaching unit. And get this, they patrol the bush unarmed and on foot in a wildlife reserve known for the Big 5: lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and African buffalo!
As I dug deeper, however, I realized their story is about so much more than stopping poaching—it’s about protecting wildlife, empowering women, and strengthening communities. Their work challenges traditional ideas about conservation by showing that protecting animals isn’t just about catching bad guys sneaking into the reserve.
Photos by Kelly Crull — THE BLACK MAMBAS (Lerner/ Millbrook)
Being Part of the Solution
Kelly Crull: Those “bad guys” are often their neighbors—people just trying to feed their families. The Mambas’ job isn’t only about law enforcement. It’s about education, awareness, and creating opportunities so more people can be part of the solution. I saw this firsthand when I tagged along with them on a school field trip where they introduced children from local villages to the wildlife living right in their backyards.
Can you imagine going on a school field trip and seeing elephants and rhinos in their natural habitat? Now that’s wild! I wanted to share the Mambas’ story in a way that would inspire kids to see conservation differently.
Research
Q 2. What was the research like for this project? I see that you traveled to South Africa. What’s the most surprising discovery you came across?
Kelly Krull: Researching this book meant more than just reading articles and interviews—I wanted to experience the Black Mambas’ world firsthand. Over five years, I spoke with rangers, their families, and colleagues, but the most powerful part was spending ten days with them in South Africa.
The advantage of being a photographer is that I have to go to them and immerse myself in their world to be able to take the photos for the book. My camera has always been a means to build relationships with my subject, so that I am able to do my best to tell their story. I walked fence lines at sunrise, scanned the bush at night from the back of their truck, removed snares, and joined them on a game drive with children from local villages.
Kelly Crull: This book isn’t just about the Mambas—it’s shaped by their voices, their experiences, and our time together. I’m proud that most of the words in the book are taken directly from my conversations with them.
Surprises
The most surprising thing I discovered in South Africa was that truly wild places still exist—places teeming with life. I loved being somewhere so full of animals, where it felt like they were the ones running the show, not people. For once, I wasn’t just observing nature—I was stepping into their world. And it was wild!
“Africa time”
Q 3. How did you go about photographing this project? Were there any challenges or obstacles?
Kelly Crull: I wrote the story ahead of time based on my interviews with the rangers and put together a rough book dummy using reference images I found online. I was working with the design team at Lerner, and we had a good idea of the shots we wanted.
But when I got to South Africa, I quickly realized we were, as the rangers said, on “Africa time.” Luckily, I’d spent twenty years living in Spain, where life is more spontaneous, so I stepped into my “Spain self” and went with the flow—ready for whatever came my way. I had no idea I’d get to photograph an actual black mamba snake, for example, but there it is in the book.
Kelly Crull: The rangers let me know upfront that there was no guarantee I’d be able to photograph all the wildlife I hoped to see. But when I arrived at the place I’d be staying and saw baboons on the roof and hippos wading in the river nearby, I knew everything was going to be just fine. I still can’t believe all the animals I photographed on that trip! I came home with over 20,000 photos—so many didn’t fit in the book.
BONUS PHOTOS–Special Secret –!
Actually, do you want to know a secret? If you get a hardcover copy of The Black Mambas, take off the dust jacket. The case cover underneath is filled with photos from my trip that didn’t make it inside. That little “Easter egg” might just be my favorite part of the whole book.
Which came first?
Q 4. When you first thought about creating children’s books, were you an author first or a photographer?
Kelly Crull: I’ve always written the text and drawn the pictures together. It’s hard for me to separate the two. I just don’t think that way. I create my stories in Keynote and sort out the words and pictures at the same time.
My mom reminded me the other day that the very first story I wrote and illustrated was in 1st grade. My teacher wanted to submit my story to a local writing contest for schools in the area, but they didn’t have a category for students younger than 2nd grade, so my story wasn’t accepted.
Takeaways
Photos by Kelly Crull — THE BLACK MAMBAS (Lerner/ Millbrook)
Q 5. What do you hope readers will take away from this fascinating book?
Kelly Crull: My hope for every book I create is that it takes on a life of its own, speaking to readers in ways I never could have imagined. The Black Mambas taught me to look closer, to question assumptions.
At first glance, the rangers’ mission seems simple: protect animals from poachers. But their work goes far beyond that. They don’t carry weapons; instead, they educate children, build trust in the communities surrounding the reserve, and create jobs that make conservation a source of pride and economic growth. They’ve found a way to protect wildlife by including people in the solution—not removing them.
Q 6. I love that you describe the animals as our neighbors. Could you say a little more about this?
Kelly Crull: I think we sometimes forget that we share the planet with all kinds of incredible creatures—that animals aren’t just “out there” in the wild, they’re part of our communities and ecosystems. Calling them our neighbors is a way to remind ourselves that we’re connected.
Kelly Crull: The animals around us shape the world we live in, just like we shape theirs. For the Black Mambas, that idea is very real—many of the people who live near the reserve are also the ones most impacted by conservation efforts. It’s not about drawing a hard line between people and wildlife, but about finding ways to live alongside each other with respect and care. I think that’s something kids really understand, maybe better than adults sometimes.
BONUS part 2
Check out the Black Mambas Teaching Guide here.
Q 7. Are there more projects in the queue that you can share?
Kelly Crull: I have another picture book coming out next year that’s perfect for anyone who’s ever dreamed of meeting a real dinosaur (and honestly—who hasn’t?). I should probably warn you, though, there is a real dinosaur at the end of the book… but he might not be what you expect!
Endless thanks to Kelly Crull for joining us on the blog today.
To learn more about Kelly Crull and his books (and cool photos & illustrations), check out KellyCrull.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/kellycrull
BlueSky: @kellycrull.bsky.social
TwitterX: @KellyCrull and Instagram: kellycrull
Next up on the blog:
We chat with Sandra Nickel about her inspiring new picture book,
SEVEN, A MOST REMARKABLE PIGEON,
illustrated by Aimée Sicuro (Candlewick),
Comments
No comments on this post yet.