A Notes from the Windowsill annotated bibliography by Wendy E. Betts. Copyright 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
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Last Updated 02/21/08
Animal Babies in Towns and Cities. Kingfisher, 2005 (0-7534-5841-2) $6.95 boatd
Facts and sentiment are appealingly combined in this attractive book
of animal photographs. "Look at my pointed ears," says a cute small
animal. "Who is my mommy?" The next page shows parent and child
together, as the baby animal explains, "My mommy is a red fox. I am
her cub." The photographs of the parent animals, protectively hovering
over their minature, half-formed counterparts, have great charm. (1-4)
Sweater; Longjohns; Swimsuit; Galoshes
written and illustrated by Kit Allen. Houghton Mifflin, 2003
(0-618-26370-5; 0-618-22996-5; 0-618-26371-3; 0-618-22997-3) $4.95
ea. board
At first glance, these board books didn't grab me much--but they certainly grabbed my toddler. So I decided to take a closer look.
These seasonal-themed word books feature a bald, basically stick-figure child. (Not necessarily the same one: judging by the clothes, it's a girl in Sweater and a boy in Swimsuit.) In the first half of each book, the child adds one garment or accessories at a time: rain gear for Spring in Galoshes, swim gear for Summer in Swimsuit. The second half of each book shows the child doing typical seasonal activities, enjoying a snack and having a snooze. The one-word text of the second half always starts with "S," but it freely mixes verbs and nouns, which I found irritating at first.
So why does my toddler like these books so much? I wish he could tell
me. Perhaps because the stick figure children, against bright,
simply drawn backgrounds are very basic and easy to identify with.
And the new words, like "clogs" and "scatter" are fun. The pictures
also express a lot of different emotions: the pleasure of basking in
the sun, the comforting warmth of hot soup, the ickiness of scooping
out pumpkins or being smeared with sunscreen. All in all, these are
understanding glimpses of a child's world. I think, after all, I
like them too. (1-3)
Sun Snow Stars Sky written and illustrated by Catherine and Laurence
Anholt. Viking, 1995 (0-670-86196-0) $13.99; Puffin, 1997 (0-14-055824-1)
$4.99 pb
A series of short vignettes introduces toddlers to weather
and seasons, inviting them to share their thoughts about hot, cold, rainy
and cloudy days. Not especially interesting to just read aloud, but a nice
participatory book, with lots of bright pictures of cuddly round children
enjoying the weather. (2-6)
The Very Quiet Cricket written and illustrated by Eric Carle. 1990;
Philomel, 1997 (0-399-22684-2) $10.95
Now available in board book format, this comfortable story about growing up
describes the first day in the life of a little cricket. As a glowing sun
beats down, the little cricket is born; a big cricket chirps "welcome!" but
when the little cricket rubs his wings together to answer, nothing happens,
"not a sound." As the day continues, the little cricket is greeted by many
other small creatures, but still, he can't seem to answer. Finally, in the
moonlight, he sees another very quiet cricket--and this time when he rubs
his wings together, he chirps "the most beautiful sound that she had ever
heard." A lyrical, gently repetitive text gives this story a leisurely
atmosphere that defuses frustration and emphasizes the theme of developing
at one's own pace. It's beautifully matched by the collage
illustrations--formed of numerous, differently colored small pieces joined
together--which are visually interesting without overpowering the story.
This board book edition also has an apparently original feature: an
electronic chip that produces a chirping sound when the last page is
turned. I'm not crazy about books which make noises--they usually sound
unpleasantly tinny and tend to make books seem more like toys--but I have
to admit, this time it works. (2-6)
What We Do written and illustrated by Reg Cartwright. Henry
Holt, 2005 (0-8050-7671-9) $7.95
"I'm a caterpillar. I creep.... We are lambs and we leap." That
pretty much sums it up. Pictures made of basic shapes and uncrowded
backgrounds show animals smiling as they describe, in rhyme, the
different ways they move. This is a very simple book, but I really
like how easily it reads aloud and the cheerful spontaneity of the
ending: "We are children and we play." (1-4)
Outside Inside written and illustrated by Kathleen Fain.
Chronicle, 1999 (0-8118-1981-7) $5.95
This early introduction to the idea of habitats uses die-cut pages to
peek
at the animals outside and inside places like a desert cave and a
redwood
tree. It's perhaps not coincidental that the animals "inside" always
seem
to be sleeping babies. Gentle rhymes and softly outlined
illustrations
also emphasize a restful effect, with scenes landscapes in soothing
greens
and browns fully covering the pages. (1-3)
A Time for Playing by Ron Hirschi. Photographed by Thomas D. Mangelson. Cobblehill, 1994 (0-525-65159-4) OP
Animals at play, alone or with others of their kind, are the subject
of vivid colored photographs. A short but occasionally lyrical text
describes how and why
different animals play: "High up in the brances, tree squirrels play on
delicate limbs. While playing, they learn a path from tree to tree."
This is a great book for young children who are beginning to think
about using their bodies to grow strong and healthy, and the simple,
elegant design will appeal to any animal lover. (4-8)
Look Book photographed by Tana Hoban. Greenwillow, 1997
(0-688-14971-5) $16.00
The latest in Hoban's "Look" series features primarily nature photography:
animals, flowers, leaves, and one incongruous but interesting photograph of
a batch of hard pretzels. The photographs are first seen through a die-cut
circle which offers an intriguing glimpse of colors and textures; turning
the page gives the full view of the picture. When the page is turned
again, we see a distanced view of the same subject, which in turn is
covered with a die-cut page, so that once again, only a small section is
visible. Strongly colorful and sharply detailed, Hoban's photographs
encourage readers to look and look again, effortlessly absorbing concepts
of aesthetics and perspective as they do. (2 & up)
If You Were My Baby by Fran Hodgkins. Illustrated by Laura J. Bryant.
Dawn, 2007 (978-15469-090-0) $7.95 board
The familiar picture book pairing of adult and baby animals is used
here for an easy, unforced
introduction to animal habits and habitats. "If you were my baby
possum," says the narrator, "I would carry you on my back As you learn
your way in the world." "If you were my baby deer, I would help you
learn to step lightly And find sweet flowers and tender grasses."
Finally, the narrator will help his own baby
"climb your own mountains, And delight with you in nature's wonders.
But first, I'll tuck you in." The warm yet lighthearted text is
well matched by pen & ink and watercolors pictures that maintain a
mostly naturalistic air, but give friendly, curious and loving
expressions to the animals; touches of cool blues and lavenders add
brightness to the browns and greens of furs and forests. (1-4)
(Also available in hardcover.)
Sweet Dreams written and photographed by Kumiko Kajikawa.
Henry Holt,
1999 (0-8050-5890-7) $15.95
The familiar theme of animals sleeping has perhaps never been as
beautifully expressed as in this book of nature photographs. In
repose, the natural grace and dignity of the animals becomes
inexpressibly touching, from an orangutan stretched out comfortably
"in a bed of leaves," to a pride of lions sleeping "wherever they
please"--in this case, draped across tree trunks, with paws
and tail nonchalantly dangling. Notes at the end explain more fully
the facts suggested by the gentle rhyming text: lions can sleep
wherever they please because they have no predators. * (2-4)
Close to You: How Animals Bond by Kimiko Kajikawa. Henry Holt,
2008 (978-0-8050-8123-7) $16.95
This companion to the enchanting book of animal photographs, Sweet Dreams, (see review above) has a less spontaneous look than its predecessor, but is still exceptionally awww-inspiring. A tiny alligator grinning as it's gently held between its mother's teeth -- how can you resist that? A short and sweet rhyming text accompanies the tender photographs of mother-child animal pairs, as snow monkeys "stare at a friendly face" and prairie dogs "snuggle in a warm embrace." Notes at the end of the book expand on the bits of information contained in the text, explaining that the baby snow monkey and its mother spend hours staring at each others faces, and that two prairie dogs from the same clan always meet with a kiss. Sadly, they also reveal that many of the animals shown here are from endangered or threatened species.
The book might be better served by a different design: profuse bright
colors and sharp, hard lines detract from the naturalism of the
photographs. Still, its intrinsic appeal is very strong. A good
resource for preschools and of course, Mother's Day. (2-6)
Forest Bright, Forest Night by Jennifer Ward. illustrated by
Jamichael Henterly. Dawn, 2005 (978-1-58469-089-4) $7.95 board
Count to ten twice, first with a forest by day, then with a forest by
night. In the day, a deer splashes, two bear cubs tumble and three
woodpeckers tap; at night three opposums peek, four foxes prowl and
five skunks amble. Despite the many active verbs--"chatter and
chase... chipmunks race/strut and wobble... turkeys gobble"--the short
rhyming text reads very soothingly, in conjunction with the
naturalistic but slightly dreamy pictures, making this book seem just
right for bedtime. On the other hand, you might want to allow more
time to explore some of the captivating detail in the illustrations.
The day and night sections each contain the other's opposite: an owl
sleeps while the deer splashes during the day; at night, the "owl eyes
search" while the deer curls up to sleep. The animals blend
intriguingly with their natural surroundings; I particularly like the
woodpecker that's just barely visible through a knothole. Perhaps
best of all, each page has its number somewhere blended into the
background: a sleeping salamander's tail curves into a six, moss on a
log forms an eight. These pictures are so packed with interest, the
book is probably even better in its larger picture book form. (2-8)
My New Kitten by Joanna Cole. Illustrated by Margaret Miller. Morrow, 1995 (0-688-12901-3) OP
This straightforward factual description of the first few weeks of a
kitten's life is as enjoyable as any story. With crisp, lively
photographs of every stage in the kitten's life, starting from its
first moments outside of its mother's body, My New Kitten is
immensely appealing, as well as a valuable source of information
about kitten development for prospective pet owners. (2-8)
What Is Science? by Rebecca Kai Dotlich. Illustrated by
Sachiko Yoshikawa. Henry Holt, 2006 (0-8050-7394-9) $16.95
"What is science? So many things. The study of stars and Saturn's
rings..." As a rhyming text lists the many wondrous aspects of
science, a jolly group of big-headed kids have fun exploring them:
flying in a spaceship, climbing trees, and blowing around madly in a
hurricane. There's no real factual information here, but the easy
reading rhymes and brightly colored, silly pictures make it a fun way
to introduce a science curriculum for young children. (4-8)
The Story Goes On by Aileen Fisher. Illustrated by Mique
Moriuchi. Roaring Brook, 2005 (1-59643-037-0) $16.95
A compelling rhyme scheme gives an appropriate feeling of inevitable movement to this look at the cycle of life. The story begins with a seed hidden in a small patch of earth. The seed grows into a plant, which is nibbled by a bug, which becomes a meal for a frog. Eventually the cycles completes itself when the remains of a hawk are buried by night beetles called sextons. "And then in the soil/made rich in this way/a seed will start spouting and growing some day." Over and over, the story goes on.
Childlike paint and collage illustrations with bits of print and
handwriting
on them seem an odd choice for this book about nature, but are quite
effective. Parents may want to preview this book before reading it to
their children, as some of the images, such as a farmer shooting a
hawk, could be scary. They might also want to consider the significance
of the farmer's role in the cycle--the only one who's not killing directly
for food. (3-6)
A Field Full of Horses by Peter Hansard. Illustrated by
Kenneth Lilly. Candlewick, 1994 (1-56402-302-8) $14.95; 2001
(0-7636-1434-3) $6.99 pb.
With a text rich in tender understanding of the habits and instincts
of horses, this book could make almost any preschooler into a horse
lover. The narrative describes the sensory pleasures of watching,
listening to, touching and even smelling horses; accompanying text
gives more factual information to round out the picture. The
carefully crafted watercolor illustrations are somehow less inspiring,
but do give a good idea of the natural beauty of the animals. (4-8)
I Like Monkeys Because... by Peter Hansard. Illustrated by Patricia Casey. Candlewick, 1993 (1-56402-196-3) $14.95
Adorable watercolors of playful monkeys will draw children to this
engaging book, which offers some general facts about monkeys and apes
in a diverting, rhythmical prose. The illustrations show the natural
grace and charm of the animals without resorting to anthropomorphism,
while the text gives information in a lighthearted way readers can
connect with. Beginning readers may feel like trying this book by
themselves, with a little help.
Wag Wag Wag by Peter Hansard. Illustrated by Barbara Firth. Candlewick, 1994 (1-56402-301-X) $14.95
With the simplest of words and the liveliest of pictures,
Wag Wag Wag
brings the world of dogs to life. Dogs of many different breeds
sniff, roll and piddle, drool and dribble, all the while bounding
exuberantly across the pages. Firth's pencil and watercolor drawings
are a perfect mix of realism and whimsy and the easy but evocative
text will both please toddlers and entice beginning readers. An
excellent choice for sibling reading.
Guess What I Am by Louise Jackson and Paul Harrison. Illustrated by
Anni Axworthy. Candlewick, 1999 (0-7636-0625-1) $7.99
This early introduction to animal facts cleverly uses peepholes to connect
familiar domestic animals with their wilder counterparts. After readers
guess what kind of animal is like a kitten, but has stripy fur and lives in
the jungle, they turn the page to learn that tigers are the biggest cats in
the world; the peephole that once revealed the fur now shows the original
cat whimsically commenting on her distant relative. It's moderately
informative fun that doesn't get too complicated or overwhelming. The
acrylic illustrations use bright, familiar colors and contrasting "frames"
to catch the eye and visually contain each separate vignette. (3-6)
Actual Size by Steve Jenkins. Houghton Mifflin, 2004 (0-618-37594-5) $16.00
Brilliant in concept and execution, this deceptively simple book gives
readers a chance to see tremendously large and incredibly small
creatures, "actual size." Twelve inch tall pages (as shown by a ruler
on the dust jacket) are ample to show the entire Goliath birdeater
tarantula, which justifies its name by eating birds and small mammals;
other animals, such as the giant squid, can be seen only in close-up
of its eye, larger than my son's head. Readers will be fascinated by
the chance to compare their own hands to the human-like hands of the
huge gorilla and the tiny pygmy mouse lemur--or to see how well their
hand would fit inside the jaws of the saltwater crocodile, a
man-eater. The paper-collage illustrations are particularly well
designed, creating realistic textures for the smaller creatures, yet
also adding a layer of safe artificiality to the more frightening
spreads, like the teeth of the great white shark. (4 & up)
Move! by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page. Illustrated by Steve
Jenkins. Houghton Mifflin, 2006 (978-0618-64637-1) $16.00
This look at animal movements creates interest by showing some
of the ways movements are shared amongst different animals.
Each two-page spread features one movement word--climb, fly, run--used
by two different creatures; turn the page an you discover the last
creature also moves in other ways: "A snake slithers through rustling
leaves... and climbs into a tree. A praying mantis climbs a
blade of grass... then spreads its wings and flies." A white
background displays rough-textured paper collages of the animals, for
a look that is somewhat formal, but elegantly uncluttered.
Readers who would like to know more will find a paragraph on each
animal at the end of the book.
Prehistoric Actual Size written and illustrated by Steve
Jenkins. Houghton Mifflin, 2005 (0-618-53578-0) $16.00
This follow-up to the awe-inspiring Actual Size (see above) uses
the same
techniques to display large and small prehistoric creatures, such as the
4" long flying cockroach (thank goodness that's extinct!) and the
4-page-spread head of the Dsungaripterus (kind of glad that one
isn't around any more, either.) Paper-collage illustrations are
striking and shivery. An appendix gives more information about each
animal shown. (6 & up)
Water Beds by Gail Langer Karwoski. Illustrated by Connie
McLennan. Sylvan Dell, 2005 (0-9764943-1-0) $15.95
For children who like nonfiction, this bedtime book offers an
occasionally awkward but mostly pleasing combination of fact and
fancy. A boy lying in bed hugging a stuffed dolphin--in a room
enjoyably decorated entirely in marine themes--wonders what it would
be like to sleep in the deep, deep sea. Glossy, highly-colored
illustrations then show him sleep-swimming with orcas, curling up
cozily on a harbor seal, and bobbing faceup like a walrus--always with
his stuffed dolphin tucked nearby. The text soothingly describes some
interesting and surprising facts about how marine animals sleep: "Sea
otters doze above undersea kelp forests, wrapping the kelp strands
around their tummies to anchor themselves in place. When it's very
cold, they blanket their faces with furry front paws." For some
reason, the pictures aren't completely consistent--the artist seems
reluctant to depict the boy on his stomach, even when the animals
clearly are--but the ones with the most similarities between animals
and boy, such as when he is wrapped up in kelp with the otters, are
truly charming. (4-8)
And So They Build
written and illustrated by Bert Kitchen. Candlewick, 1993
(1-56402-217-X) $15.95; 1995 (1-56402-502-0) $5.99 pb
This captivating picture book shows many of the unusual shelters
created by birds, animals and insects around the world, including
round clay enclosures built by the gladiator tree frog, soil buildings
shaped like huge mushrooms built by cubiterme termites, and leaves
actually sewn together by the aptly named tailorbird. The
straightforward but refreshingly non-simplistic text explains why each
animal needs its particular kind of shelter and how it creates it; the
exquisite drawings, reminiscent in their realistic beauty of Audubon's
art, show the animals at work in their natural settings. Seeing the
animals building their amazingly sophisticated structures is simply
awe-inspiring, for children and adults alike.
The Sunset Switch by Kathleen V. Kudlinski. Illustrated by
Lindy Burnett. NorthWord, 2005 (1-55971-916-8) $15.95
An enticing premise and striking illustrations make this nonfiction
book as appealing as a story. As one animal lies down to rest after a
day of hunting or gathering, another, with the same diet, gets up to
begin its day... in the night. Vividly colored yet naturalistic
portraits of the animals are framed by motifs of their foodstuff:
nectar-filled flowers for a butterfly and moth, lily-pad lounging
frogs for the Snowy Egret and the Night Heron. Readers can also
search for the habitat of each animal in its companion's page.
Whether it's encouraging each animal to rest its weary head or to
shake a leg, the text has a soothing quality which makes it a fine choice
for bedtimes. Note that the cover as reproduced here doesn't do
the book justice; the actual colors are far richer. (2-6)
Baby Koala by Aubrey Lang. illustrated by Wayne Lynch. Fitzhenry
& Whiteside, 2004 (1-55041-876-9) $6.95 pb
Enticing photographs of a baby koala as it grows up are well matched
here with a clear, accessible text full of interesting facts about koala
life. The book follows the baby koala from when it's first born, looking
"like a tiny, pink, wiggly worm," to its childhood spent riding piggyback,
to explorations away from its mother and eventual independance.
Pictures of soft, teddy-bear-like koalas have built in appeal, of course,
but these of mother and clinging baby are particularly fetching.
An index is included.
(4-8)
Sea Shapes written and illustrated by Suse MacDonald. Gulliver,
1994 (0-15-200027-5) $13.95 (printed on recycled paper); Voyager, 1998
(0-15-201700-3) $6.00 pb
Illustrated with colorful sea scenes, this fascinating look at shapes shows
how their artificial forms can be found in nature. One side of each page
shows a standard shape, changing from scene to scene until it is part of a
sea creature; the other side of the page features a full-page illustration
of the creature in its natural form and environment. The collage pictures,
showing the sea in many lights and shades, are vibrant and eye-catching;
each also works as a mini-art lesson. An appendix at the end gives basic
facts about each sea inhabitant featured in the book. (2-6)
Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr.
Illustrated by Eric Carle. Henry Holt, 2003 (0-8050-1758-5) $15.95
This collaboration by Martin and Carle is very much in the style of
their previous books, Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See?
and Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?: short,
repetitive sentences are accompanied by large, vibrant animal
illustrations. This time the text focuses on movement--a green sea
turtle swimming, a macaroni penguin strutting--and all the animals
share one sad thing in common: they are all endangered. The book
ends with a dreaming child, face formed by the moon and floating
amidst stars, seeing all the endangered animals wild and free. The
repetitiveness of the text keeps it from being a very interesting
read-aloud, but the illustrations of the animals, sometimes fierce,
sometimes a little sad, evoke an empathy which will make this a
a natural starting point for discussion about
endangered wildlife. (4-8)
Our Apple Tree by Gorel Kristina Naslund. Translated by Laaren
Brown. Illustrated by Kristina Digman. Roaring Brook, 2005; 2006
(1-59643-191-1) $6.95 pb
Two odd little children take us through the year of their apple tree: winter, when the children sleep curled up in its branches, but nuthatches are looking for little bugs under its bark; spring, when bees gather pollen from the apple blossoms; summer, when the apple tree grows its apples; and fall, the time for apple art and applesauce and apple pie. When the last leaves fall, the children once again curl up to sleep on the branches of the tree they love.
Originally published in Sweden, this is an appealing combination of fact
and whimsy.
It strikes me as being just on the edge of overly cute and some people
will surely think it crossed over, but the small people who live in
the tree, who sometimes shrink enough to curl up on an apple or rest
inside a leaf, have an offbeat charm that works for me. (They remind
me a bit of some of Tove Jansson's Moominvalley characters.) The
translation into English is unusually readable and the unfamiliar
qualities of the illustration here just seem fresh and funny: I love
the
apple party" featuring a moose, a deer, a pig in pearls, and a cow
with a spring bouquet on her head. (2-5)
Pumpkins written and photographed by Ken Robbins. Roaring
Brook, 2006 (1-59643-184-9) $14.95
The life cycle of pumpkins, from seeds sown in the spring to bountiful
squashes of all shapes and colors to be carved into
jack-o'-lanterns in the fall, is documented here. (Pumpkins are a
food aren't covered.) Down-to-earth
photographs in natural settings accompany an informative text that is
simple enough to read aloud easily, yet also has a touch of
snap and personality. Basic instruction for making a jack-o'-lantern
are included, and the book ends with a spread of varied, glowing
jack-o'-lantern faces. (4-8)
Winter Lullaby by Barbara Seuling. Illustrated by Greg
Newbold. Harcourt, 1998 (0-15-201403-9) $16.00
It's not exactly a lullaby, but this short book does have a
soothing quality, and would make excellent bedtime reading. Each
two-page spread, illustrated in a glossy, hyper-realistic style, asks
a question about animals in winter: "When ice covers the
mountain lake like a crust, where do the fish go?" The
next spread reassuringly answers in a brief rhyme: "They
swim below, where warm streams flow." A nice first
introduction to winter facts. (2-5)
About Reptiles by Cathryn Sill. Illustrated by John Sill. Peachtree, 2003 (1-561-45233-5) $7.95 pb
Attractive, naturalistic paintings are paired here with clear,
concise descriptions of very basic reptile facts.
Reptiles, we learn, need warm temperatures. They move by crawling, or
by swimming. Some have short legs... or no legs at all. This book is
short enough to make a pleasant read-aloud for a younger child, or an
interesting early reader. Notes at the end give extra information about
the pictured reptiles. (4-8)
Lots and Lots of Zebra Stripes written and illustrated by
Stephen R. Swinburne. Boyds Mill, 1998 (1-56397-707-9) $15.95
There's a surprising amount that can be learned from patterns in
nature:
geometric shapes, principles of symmetry, life-cycles. But this
gentle
little primer doesn't push a lot of facts; instead the straightforward
text
and eye-catching photographs merely encourage readers to observe
different
patterns, inevitably sparking curiosity and appreciation. It's a book
that
so many questions to discuss: Why are spider webs spiral? What shape
are
the blocks on a giraffe? Why do tree stumps have rings? The
questions
arise naturally from the mysterious loveliness of the patterns, and
even
readers who learn nothing else will be easily convinced that
"patterns
make our world a beautiful place." (3-8)
Guess Whose Shadow? written and photographed by Stephen R.
Swinburne. Boyds Mill, 1999 (1-56397-724-9) $15.95
Pictures speak louder than words in this dynamically illustrated book.
While the text talks simply about the nature of shadows, the
accompanying
color photographs glow with light and action as they illustrate the
basic
concepts. Part of the book is a guessing game, showing photographs of
the
intriguing shadows of items like toy airplanes or lawn flamingos.
This is
an eye-catching introduction to the concept of shadows, and the many
games
that can be played with them. (3-8)
Animal Faces by Kyoko Toda. Translated by Amanda Mayer
Stinchecum. Photographed by AKira Satoh. Kane/Miller, 1996
(0-916291-62-6) $16.95; 2000 (0-916291-99-5) $8.95 pb
Extremmely entertaining as well as educational, this charming book from Japan shows that all animals are unique individuals. Each two-page spread is devoted to a particular type of animal represented by 21 different photographs. A brief description of the animal is followed by a question for readers to ponder as they look at the photos: "What helps you tell one giraffe face from another?" "Can you spot the orangutans who look ready for mischief?" (All all of them, I thought.) The astonishing variety of expressions the different animals display is quite fascinating and makes the touch of anthropomorphism in the text easy to forgive.
An underlying theme of the book is the threat of extinction many animals face. The page about wolves is particularly effective: after noting that wolves have been killed off in Japan because they were thtough to be dangerous, the book asks "Do these wolves look especially dangerous to you?" while showing utterly beguiling photos of dog-life, sad-eyed creatures. (A few scary ones do help explain how they got that reputation.)
Unusually long for a picture book, Animal Faces covers 24
different animals, showing 504 different faces--each more intriguing
than the last. Not only does it provide hours of visual fun, it
leaves readers more interested in the world around them.
My Hen is Dancing by Karen Wallace. Illustrated by Anita Jeram. Candlewick, 1994 (1-56402-303-6) $14.95
The matter-of-fact narrative of this book somewhat belies the
imaginative title; this is a pleasant but fairly straightforward,
factual description of a hen's life on a farm. The pen and ink and
watercolor illustrations are equally straightforward. One important
fact is left out of the book: the difference between fertilized and
unfertilized eggs. The scene of cute little chicks hatching will
almost certainly require some frantic explanations for egg eaters.
Think of an Eel by Karen Wallace. Illustrated by Mike Bostock. Candlewick, 1993 (1-56402-180-7) $14.95; 2001 (0-7636-1522-6) $5. 99 pb
Gorgeously colored watercolor paintings and sparse but vivid writing
make the eel a beautiful thing in this stunning book.
Hand-lettered notes work in counterpoint to the text,
providing the factual basis for the poetic images.
An American Safari
written and illustrated by Jim Brandenburg. Walker, 1995
(0-8027-8319-8) $16.95; 1996 (0-8027-750-2) $8.95 pb
Unlike Brandenburg's previous books, To the Top of the World and Sand and Fog (see below), An American Safari is based, not on one journey, but on a lifetime of photographing the prairies, beginning with his first wildlife photograph, taken with a $3 plastic camera. For this book then, he was able to choose the best shots from a large body of work, and it shows: virtually every photo is a masterpiece, subject and setting working in perfect harmony to capture moments that are lively, revealing, humorous or simply beautiful. A photo of a prairie dog, miniscule against a background of grazing bison, shows better than words the peaceful coexistence between the two animals; Monarch butterflies perching on wildflowers exquisitely illustrate the crisp beauty of a prairie morning; a rattlesnake and a cactus reveal the dangerous side of the prairie, as they are captured in what looks remarkably like the same threatening pose.
An American Safari
is also a pleasure to read, although somewhat rambling: here
describing prairie life, there dipping into history, often turning to
the author's own story and to ecological concerns. It will be
especially interesting to readers interested in wildlife photography
as a career or in environmental issues (an appendix includes addresses
for the Nature Conservancy and many prairie preserves) but its general
appeal goes far beyond simple categories. (8 & up)
Sand and Fog
written and illustrated by Jim Brandenburg. Walker, 1994
(0-8027-8232-9) $16.95; 1996 (0-8027-7476-8) $6.95 pb
"I tend to turn every assignment into a natural history story. In the great Namib Desert how could I resist?"
Sent to Namibia (formerly known as South-West Africa) to take photographs of racial and political unrest, Brandenburg fulfilled that assignment as quickly as possible in order to devote himself to capturing the landscapes, animals and people of the region. This exceptionally fine picture book describes and shows what he saw: a land in which the very harshness of life has created much that is unique and beautiful, from a smoky "shroud of fog" that may give the desert its only water, to the complex mazes of huts the Ovambo communities build to confuse intruders.
Brandenburg's color photographs are simply breathtaking, revealing the
beauty, clarity and and mystery in everything they show. Sand dunes
become glorious wind-carved sculpture; a herd of zebras seen through
dusty sun are like a phantom vision. The few photographs of people
are perhaps the best of all, because they make scenes which are very
foreign, understandable: a Herero woman carrying a sewing machine on
her head looks competent and powerful; a Herero group baptism, in
which the priest spits water upon people's head, conveys a great
feeling of spirituality and ritual peacefulness. Brandenburg's
first-person narrative is as enchanting as the photographs, so easy
and natural that reading it is like listening to a friend describing a
fascinating trip. There is no simplification for children or obvious
efforts to be "educational"--and so the information he gives seems
like just the sort of information you'd want to know. This is some of
the best nonfiction I've seen, for children or adults. * (8 & up)
To the Top of the World
written and photographed by Jim Brandenburg. Walker, 1993
(0-8027-8219-1) $16.95; 1996 (0-8027-7462-8) $6.95 pb
"Good photographs, like wolves, are elusive. Good photographs of wolves? Nearly impossible." Brandenburg then has done the nearly impossible, with this staggeringly beautiful photo essay about his spring and summer spent with Arctic wolves. These isolated wolves are so unfamiliar with man that Brandenburg was able to insinuate himself carefully into their lives, to get to know them as individuals and capture their beauty and unique character in unforgettable words and pictures.
"Wolves have very individual personalities," writes Brandenburg. "Bison and musk-oxen all behave much the same within their herds. Not wolves. It probably has something to do with their intelligence and gifts of perception." To the Top of the World introduces us to a proud alpha male, "Buster"; an intelligent, skillful alpha female, "Midback"; "Mom," a tolerant and devoted mother to the pack's pups; and scraggly "Scruffy," the bottom member of the pack, usually left behind from hunts to babysit. Although trying not to anthropomorphize the wolves, Brandenburg could not believe they do not have an emotional range as valid as ours: "Sometimes, during those days on Ellesmere, I would wonder how the wolves perceived me. Maybe they attributed wolflike feelings to my odd human behaviors. I wouldn't have been surprised."
As in
Sand and Fog (see above),
Brandenburg's unselfconscious, comfortable prose is a
pleasure to read, enjoyable for any age. His illustrations range from
deceptively simple photos of the wolves in amusingly characteristic
actions and attitudes--one fascinating shot, the only one in the book
not taken by Brandenburg, shows a wolf nonchalantly strolling by
Brandenburg as he takes a nap--to photographs of the utmost artistry,
with contrasts in color, texture and scale that are literally
breathtaking. Each photograph, from the most playful to the most
impressive, evokes an emotional as well as an aesthetic response.
Photography students, as well as those interested in animals, should
be especially careful not to miss this book, but almost anyone could
enjoy it. * (8 & up)
Wanna Bet? by Vicki Cobb and Kathy Darling. Illustrated by Meredith Johnson. William Morrow, 1993; Avon Camelot, 1994 (0-380-71722-0) $3.50
Wanna bet you can tie a knot in a bone? That you can move cardboard by
staring at it? That you can find iron filings in breakfast cereal?
That you can make fire with blood?
Kids will love this collection of easy and fun tricks based on
mathematical and scientific principles. Each trick, or experiment,
includes simple directions and an explanation of the theory behind it;
most require very little preparation or special equipment. The book
is generally safety-conscious (although one experiment involving
writing messages on skin with laundry detergent struck me as
questionable) but parents might want to emphasize safety rules before
the fun begins. (8-14)
Dirty, Rotten, Dead? by Jerry Emory. Illustrated by T. Taylor Bruce. Harcourt Brace, 1996 (0-15-200695-8) $15.00 oversized pb
Starting out by describing all the parts of the human body which are
dead--skin, nails, hair, waste products and 98% of the enamel on our
teeth--this is a fascinating look at facets of the natural world we
are often taught to regard with fear or distaste. "Death and life are
opposites," Emory tells us. "Dead and living things are dependant on
each other. You can't have one without the other." From the
digestive process to the disposal of dead bodies, this book answers a
lot of difficult questions while fostering a respectful--but not
reverent--attitude towards nature in all its aspects. Detailed
illustrations help explain the concepts and some interesting
activities are described, such as how to make compost and how to test
water for pollutants. A glossary and index are included, as well as a
list of resources for further research. Extremely sensitive readers
may have trouble with this book, but most will find it very
worthwhile. Recommended for classrooms or homes. (8-12)
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