Magnificent Creatures: Animals on the Move!

Gr 3-5--Readers fond of or curious about animals will find fun and perhaps a bit of confusion in Wright's album featuring the migration habits of 12 species from around the world. The striking cover features a portrait of a springbok with sparkling gold segments in its horns and face and a coat of flowery fabric. Wright's purpose is to share "the everyday joy, drama, and flamboyance of the animal kingdom." Each entry contains a broadly descriptive paragraph and an array of handsome animals, usually in motion across white or tinted pages. Wright is highly adept in her ink drawing and collage. Here the strong animal sketches are energetic, sometimes uncolored, and generally true to life. The use of cloth-and-paper collage and colored and metallic inks has varied results. Some animals--starlings, monarch butterflies, bumblebees, herring--are fairly realistic, while for others the patterned fabric gives others a fanciful, delicate appearance. The artistic renditions of the giant red crabs of the Indian Ocean, the jellyfish, and snow geese, among others, might amuse some viewers and seem surreal to others. The animals all move, sometimes in mind-boggling numbers, to find food, in seasonal migrations, to lay their eggs, and to find mates. The closing invitation to readers to continue their own observation of animals in motion is a bit lost, set low in the dark background of the final firefly entry, Beautifully rendered and worthy in intent, these inviting views and quick introductions could be nice for shared reading by adults and children. VERDICT Likely of greater interest to adults than kids. Caregivers, teachers, and librarians might use it to stimulate thinking, discussion, and even art appreciation.--Margaret Bush, Simmons College, Boston