Review by Booklist Review
Expanding on a general topic they introduced in Ape (2007), Jenkins and White present several dozen endangered or even extinct animals in the same eye-catching album format. Though Jenkins provides background information on each species' habitat and the causes of its current plight in an informal, approachable way ( The world's quite a big place, you know. But it's not that big ), White's pencil and oil drawings steal the show. She brings readers eye to eye with creatures as diverse as a kakapo, a golden-arrow poison frog, a white rhino, a sawfish, and a Rodrigues flying fox, each modeled in realistic detail with fine-lined pencil strokes and enhanced by pale golden highlights that harmonize with the creamy paper and minimal backgrounds. Each portrait comes with an identifying caption that includes basic facts. Though the use of multiple typefaces in various sizes gives some spreads an overdesigned look, the riveting art more than compensates, and an annotated list of online resources and a topical index at the end add proper finishing touches.--Peters, John Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Magnificent artwork and a careful balance of good and bad news are the strengths of this examination of endangered species from the team behind Ape. Tigers are not the only threatened species Jenkins follows; he also discusses partula snails (the victim of a plan to introduce new snail species to the Pacific islands where they live) and white-rumped vultures (whose numbers have been decimated by toxic drugs administered to the cattle whose carcasses they eat). By contrast, he also includes the comeback story of the American bison. Conversational text ("People also noticed that the vultures they did see... often looked all droopy and miserable, as if they were sick. Was there some disease, like vulture-measles or the flu, spreading across India?") explains difficult nuances of politics and sociology with verve. White's animals-meticulously drafted and shaded with the subtlest of earth tones-could almost walk off the page. The book's large trim size allows the inclusion of many sketches of creatures in a variety of positions, while intelligent design and typography decisions make each page worth lingering over. An excellent resource. Ages 5-7. (Feb.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-Telling the stories of several critters on the verge of extinction, Jenkins clearly indicates how the actions of humans can cause the demise-and sometimes conservation-of a species. With conversational text and majestic pencil and oil-paint illustrations, this handsome picture book eloquently brings the plight of endangered animals home to young readers. (Mar.) (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 a gracefully organized overview of how some of our endangered fellow creatures are doing, Jenkins begins with five, such as the dodo, that "coped so badly [with human changes] that they're not here anymore," then groups others by the kinds of pressures that threaten them. The tiger, inconveniently dangerous for humans, is running out of room, as are Asian elephants and sloth bears; partula snails are eaten by a non-indigenous snail, introduced to control yet another invading species; Indian vultures are being poisoned by medicine given to cattle, but customs, regulations, and corporate consciences may change too slowly to save them. Still, some animals that have been to the brink are now secure (American bison), while others are only provisionally safe (kakapos). Jenkins's engagingly informal narrative voice is lucid and supported by such essential facts as habits and habitat. White's pencil and oil paint illustrations fill the large pages with creatures whose marvelously expressive eyes bespeak their kinship with us all. Though the pictures are mostly in sober black and white, an occasional blush of color focuses attention and dramatizes creatures at risk (a noble, pensive tiger) or reclaimed. A pair of half-in-color kakapos, oblivious to the predator eyeing them, is particularly poignant. Altogether, it's a stunningly beautiful book as well as an eloquent appeal and consciousness raiser. There's a brief index of key words and a list of websites of animal conservation organizations. joanna rudge long (c) Copyright 2011. 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.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
(Informational picture book. 5-9)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
