Review by Booklist Review
On the heels of his African Critters (2008), Haas, a veteran wildlife photographer, proffers another set of photos from several of his albums for adults. Here he accompanies the pictures which range from shots of a herd of wildebeests harassed by lions to Alaskan bears in a salmon stream, humpback whales cavorting in waters off Greenland, and a stork mincing oh-so-carefully past a group of watching caimans in Brazil with anecdotal commentary on the hazards and pleasures of viewing nature from an aerial perspective. Highlights include one gory shot of a crocodile chowing down on an unidentifiable haunch and Haas' renowned picture (which he swears is not Photoshopped) of a bird-shaped flock of flamingos. Though many of the animals on view are not identified in either captions or the index, this does provide young viewers with an unusual perspective on the natural world.--Peters, John Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 6 Up-Haas describes the challenges and successes he has experienced in his work and shows off some of his most famous photos, including one of flamingos standing in a formation that resembles a huge pink bird. Most pictures appear full bleed opposite the text. Plenty of white space, broad margins, and widely spaced lines contribute to the book's clean look. For each of the eight creatures featured there is a caption detailing an aspect of the animal, such as its conservation status, diet, behavior, or habitat. This is a coffee-table type of book with visuals that wow and a simple, thrilling narrative that is easily dismissed for the photos. Shelved with books on photography, it serves as a beautiful but additional purchase.-Janet S. Thompson, Chicago Public Library (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
In addition to all the gear picture-taking normally requires, National Geographic aerial photographer Haas needs a capable pilot. 'I depend on my pilot to know the area that I am photographing and to steer the aircraft away from danger. I have faced many dangers in my aerial work, such as being caught in a nasty storm, almost colliding with large birds, and being forced to land in a swamp and in a remote desert.' Yet, as the exhilarating sampling of Haas's photographs collected here demonstrates, the risks have paid off. In a refreshingly accessible, straightforward narrative, Haas describes the unique perspective on nature to which his job makes him privy. Hanging by harnesses through the doorway of a helicopter, bundled in layers of cold-weather clothes, he has captured scenes of lions hunting buffalo; a flamingo flock standing in Mexican waters, unbelievably bunched together in the shape of a flamingo; a humpback whale flipping over to reveal its belly. The text fluidly combines information on animal behavior with an account of the steps Haas takes to document it. Sometimes the light or the weather isn't right; sometimes animals disappear underwater or into the brush before Haas can get the shot; but when conditions are right, it's not an overstatement to say, the result is miraculous. Glossary, resources, and an index are included. CHRISTINE M. HEPPERMANN (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
