Scan barcode
A review by callum_mclaughlin
Wild Animals of the South by Dieter Braun
5.0
As with its predecessor, Wild Animals of the North, I could happily frame every page from this book and put them on my wall. Braun's art is stunning, expressive and full of character.
I really like that in the introductions for both books, he mentions the fact that so many of the animals featured are endangered, and what a tragic loss to the world it would be if we didn't save them, as the books are aimed primarily at younger readers (though I'm in my 20s and have no shame whatsoever in owning them), and the earlier we can get kids interested in the notion of conservation and empathy for other species, the better.
The facts included alongside many of the animals were genuinely interesting, no matter your age. I learned, for example, that a single humpback whale can weigh as much as six adult African elephants; giraffes have the same number of vertebrae in their necks as humans; and macaws can live for up to 60 years and mate for life. My only slight complaint therefore is that I would have liked all the animals to have some accompanying text, simply because I wanted more! I loved the book too much to mark it down though. If you love animals or art or both, you need Dieter Braun's books in your life.
I really like that in the introductions for both books, he mentions the fact that so many of the animals featured are endangered, and what a tragic loss to the world it would be if we didn't save them, as the books are aimed primarily at younger readers (though I'm in my 20s and have no shame whatsoever in owning them), and the earlier we can get kids interested in the notion of conservation and empathy for other species, the better.
The facts included alongside many of the animals were genuinely interesting, no matter your age. I learned, for example, that a single humpback whale can weigh as much as six adult African elephants; giraffes have the same number of vertebrae in their necks as humans; and macaws can live for up to 60 years and mate for life. My only slight complaint therefore is that I would have liked all the animals to have some accompanying text, simply because I wanted more! I loved the book too much to mark it down though. If you love animals or art or both, you need Dieter Braun's books in your life.