This, for me, is quite a unique take on a non-fiction animal book. It focuses mainly on the scientific approach to discovering information about animals that conservationists and scientists use: from tracking their journeys; to looking at their behaviour; to studying their bodies, all with the aim of making this world a better place for them, by us helping them to co-exists alongside us. The book focuses on 10 key animals, from a jaguar to a tiger shark to an albatross. Each animal’s section is split into about three double pages, starting with information about a particularly amazing journey that a specific named animal went on, then beautifully drawn labelled pictures with key features of the animal highlighted and finally extra information about the conservation approaches made for this particular animal. Each section also has a journal entry bringing you closer to the world of the scientist. The best thing about this book is that there are mysteries left unexplained because they are currently unexplainable. Hopefully, this will encourage some readers to one day find the answers. Also included in the book is an extensive glossary and a letter of explanation from the author herself. My eight-year-old son enjoyed the pictures and some of the facts, but some of the information was too detailed for him, so I would recommend this for ages 10+. The illustrations are fantastic: detailed but rustic, with some photographs thrown in. The colour palette chosen is varied, but soft, not taking away from the animal itself. This could easily be used by children for examples of non-fiction writing, or for research, or as a general addition to a school library.
Jamie Marshall
Life in the Wild by Lizzie Daly
Illustrated by Chiara Fedele
Dorling Kindersley
ISBN 9780241634110
Published 2024
