THE FANTASICAL SAFARI: Wander through 5 of the most remote habitats to meet more than 80 amazing animals

THE FANTASICAL SAFARI: Wander through 5 of the most remote habitats to meet more than 80 amazing animals
LUCY BROWNRIDGE (illus. Kristjana S Williams)
Wide Eyed Editions (non-affiliate Bookshop.org link)
$30.00 hardcover, available now

Rating: 5* of five

The Publisher Says: Step into a world where reality and myth collide. From powerful elephants and cunning foxes to towering giants and legendary dragons, The Fantastical Safari is a vibrant, beautifully illustrated book that brings science, storytelling, and adventure together. From the bestselling author of The Wonder Garden comes the incredible The Fantastical Safari!

Step into some of the hardest to reach landscapes on earth and meet the extraordinary creatures who live there. Discover how they survive and thrive in some of the strangest, most remote and unusual places in the world.

This book uncovers the science and stories behind some of the world’s most fascinating animals - from the tree kangaroo in the highlands of Papua New Guinea to the vampire ground finch in the Galapagos Islands. Alongside breath-taking illustrations, readers will explore different destinations where every day consists of endurance, perseverance and survival for the animals and plants that live there.

With its stunning design, engaging storytelling and fascinating facts, this book encourages young readers to see the world in a whole new way. Whether exploring solo or sharing the adventure with family, this book is a gateway to curiosity, discovery and endless imagination.

Locations include:

The Mariana Trench

The Greenland Ice Shelf

The Galapagos Islands

The Highlands of Papua New Guinea

The Sahara Desert

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.

My Review: I'm deeply interested in the natural world (as long as I don't have to sleep in it). I found this interesting book about the extreme environments on our planet left me enrapt for hours after reading it...and the artwork...!

The mere existence of bioluminescence should evoke wonder in everyone who learns of it. There are many wonders in the world and this book makes them feel immediate, new, even to someone to whom their existence is not news. What must that say about the effect the package of art, text, and science will have on its six-year-old intended audience? I'd reserve it for the brightest of them, less worry about an eight-year-old or older needing significant assistance with reading it.

No one of any age needs assistance appreciating the artwork:

the most amazing place in all the world

It really amazes me that anyone can claim to be bored in a world where animals produce their own light:

And the other bits of Planet Earth are just as amazing. Frozen "wastes" or roasting deserts or humid jungles...the way life burgeons should give any thinking person a frisson of delight, a fillip of excitement at learning of it.

The artwork is packed with the sort of details that kids batten on detecting (and pointing out to you ad infinitum). It's a bargain at the price, for the pleasure and the sneaky education it will give a kid.