Natural World: A Visual Compendium of Wonders from Nature (Curiositree)

This first book in the Curiositree series features 67 charts exploring aspects of biodiversity. Readers need not read chronologically, but can thumb through the charts, which are organized conceptually: yellow tabbed charts address habitats and environments, orange tabs discuss particular species of plants or animals, and charts marked with blue tabs look at animal behavior and adaptation. Davey's crisp, polished digital illustrations call to mind vintage science textbook images. Despite the wealth of information, the presentation never becomes overwhelming; rather, the charts flow organically from topic to topic (charts about plants lead to ones about food chains, then to discussions of predators), subtly underscoring the interconnectivity of the wild. It's a richly layered and expertly composed volume that may leave readers with the impression of having wandered through the halls of a natural history museum. Ages 8-12. (July)

Gr 3 Up--A "cabinet of curiosities" in book form meant to be browsed through rather than read cover to cover or used strictly as a reference. While some elements of the elegant design and illustrations are a bit retro, the volume contains a wealth of up-to-date information and facts about habitats and species. Each chartlike page displays some aspect of nature, from the many varieties of feathers or leaf shapes to the ecosystems of the Arctic and rain forest. The slipcover folds out into a wall poster of birds, insects, and migrators, and three colors of ribbon bookmarks emerge from the binding to facilitate navigation. Color-coded arrows visually refer readers to other pages on related subjects. The digitally created illustrations resemble traditional media with a subtle, sophisticated palette, adding to the symbiosis of old and new design techniques. The index lists species names but not some of the concepts mentioned, such as photosynthesis or camouflage. There is a chart devoted to skeletons and skulls yet neither word appears in the index. VERDICT A unique choice as a gift book or for libraries interested in branching beyond wildlife basics.--Suzanne LaPierre, Fairfax County Public Library, VA

"For a more comprehensive discussion of the world's profuse creatures and their ways and ecosystems....with chic illustrations by Owen Davey....[and] packed with short, informative paragraphs by Amanda Wood and Mike Jolley." - The Wall Street Journal

"It's a richly layered and expertly composed volume that may leave readers with the impression of having wandered through the halls of a natural history museum - Publishers Weekly starred review

"'Natural World' reads like a book of make-believe....The hook is: They are all true." - The New York TImes Book Review