Wild animals of the south

Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

In a companion volume to Wild Animals of the North, Braun introduces mammals, reptiles, birds, and primates from the Southern Hemisphere, which appear in striking portraits characterized by geometric shapes, marbled and weathered texturing, and a bold, graphic impact. The book proceeds geographically through five continent-based regions. Animals share several spreads (yawning hippos and vividly pink flamingos crowd a circular swimming hole that echoes the shape of the sun above), and while all of the creatures are identified by their common and scientific names, some are discussed in greater detail in short paragraphs: "The nine-banded armadillo is one of the noisier forest-dwellers. It lets out a wheezing grunt when digging holes or defending itself and squeals loudly if it's afraid." Like its predecessor, it's a vibrant, eye-catching tribute to the planet's biodiversity. Ages 5-up. (May) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

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Review by School Library Journal Review

Gr 2-5-Another superbly illustrated collection of animals from Braun, spanning four continents in the Southern hemisphere: Africa, South America, Australia, and Antarctica. Browsers will find a splendid lineup of beasts, from a mandrill to a capybara to a southern elephant seal. There is a symmetry in form, color, and movement throughout the artwork that makes for a pleasurable viewing experience. However, the amount of information provided leaves a lot to be desired. Briticisms aside, the text lacks content and consistency, with facts sprinkled here and there and some animals receiving a paragraph and others none. Braun's Wild Animals of the North is just as lovely but contains the same issue. VERDICT A tempting compendium of beautifully illustrated animals. Large libraries may want to consider.-Nancy Call, Santa Cruz Public Libraries, Aptos, CA © Copyright 2017. 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.

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Review by Kirkus Book Review

This companion to Wild Animals of the North (2016) portrays 88 common and lesser-known wild animals native to the Southern Hemisphere.Braun's luscious, geometrically stylized silk-screen prints are the main attraction of this appealing album. Some are portraits; others give some hint about the animal's surroundings. Flamingos and hippos are shown together in a body of water, as they might be found in real life. Oxpeckers perch on a water buffalo's head. A leopard seal chases a penguin. All are identified with both English and Latin names. Forty are accompanied by a paragraph with interesting facts, usually about a curious behavior. Hyenas are "like the vacuum cleaner of the savannah"; the galah cockatoo "is an acrobat of the skies." The album and its picture index are organized by continent: Africa, South America, southern Asia, Australia, and Antarctica. (There are no New Zealand animals.) A world map showing continents opens this album, and shapes of individual continents serve as chapter dividers. The endpapers show wonderfully varied footprints. Calleja's translation is usually smooth and colloquial; English spelling and metric measures are used throughout. Braun's introduction describes humans as "intruders in the animal kingdom" and encourages our appreciation for the creatures with whom we share our planet. His work supports that goal. An impressive display of wonders in the animal world, a treat for browsers. (Informational picture book. 5-12) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

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FOREWORD The World of Wild Animals There are many millions of animals in the world: mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, insects - no one quite knows how many actually populate our Earth. More are constantly being discovered and every year many disappear, never to be seen again. Even large and powerful animals like the tiger are threatened with extinction. Humankind could exist without tigers, tapirs or ocelots, but it would be wrong to assume taht we are the most important creature on Earth. We are intruders in the animal kingdom and with every animal that dies out, our life on this planet loses a part of its power and color and beauty. In fact, we don't want to even imagine a world without all of these amazing creatures that live in forests and jungles, in valleys and mountains, in oceans and savannahs, do we? This book is dedicated to the animals in the southern half of the globe. It tells us how and where they live, what they look like, what they eat, how they find each other or hide from one another and all the other things they get up to. We'll take a look into hot tropical corners, but also make a detour into the cold of the Antarctic, where life is especially hard but sometimes more peaceful - maybe because people don't show up there so often! No matter how different all of these animals are, how different their shapes, their colors or their way of life in the highest treetops, the deepest oceans or the starkest deserts, one thing ties them together: their will to live and their freedom. Have fun in the wilderness! Excerpted from Wild Animals of the South All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.

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