World Of Animals - Hardcover

Morris, D

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0224036467 ISBN 13: 9780224036467

Publisher: Random House UK, 1993

Synopsis

The acclaimed author of The Naked Ape brings his unique style to this discussion of wild animals--from the armadillo to the zebra--many of them endangered species.

About this title

From Kirkus Reviews

From the famed author of The Naked Ape (1967), who's also been a zoo curator and a TV host, a description of 20 familiar animals that's like a zoo tour with a wonderfully informed and articulate teacher who presents the animals' habitats, social patterns, peculiarities, and ability to resist man's incursions. From giant whales to little armadillos and bush babies, he includes favorites like the gorilla, chimp, giraffe, tiger, kangaroo, and zebra, adding a wealth of recently discovered or unfamiliar facts and and insights. Morris's theme is that animals should be approached with an eye unclouded by myth, sentimentality, or other preconceptions, all of which he is at pains to dispel (he comments that Disney's animal heros have flat, human-like faces, while his villains are invariably sharp- nosed). Pandas, for example, are actually fiercely solitary, while rhinos can be quite cuddly. Barrett's delicately detailed paintings mirror the factual approach in handsome portraits and in details like an elephant nursing or a platypus's ``spurs.'' Sizes are carefully noted in the text, in metric units (``metres,'' ``kilos,'' ``tonnes''). A thoroughly engrossing and entertaining survey in attractive oversize format. (Nonfiction. 4+) -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gr. 3-6. Noted naturalist Morris conducts a broad survey of two dozen "popular" animals and reconsiders those descriptive labels that "usually have nothing to do with the true animal." He tailors each three-to-four page accounting around an animal's peculiar reputation, behavior, or physical characteristics. Thus, the volume as a whole does not offer the uniform information for each species that is usually sought by report writers. Instead, the text flows like the narration of a zoo tour led by an enthusiastic and expert guide. For each animal, Barrett provides one handsome, detailed, full-page painting and one or two smaller illustrations depicting a physical trait or behavior. Although Morris promises to study the animals "on their own terms," he occasionally employs language descriptive of human emotion--speaking, for example, of "a strong bond of love" among zebras or of their "sad, solitary old age." Nevertheless, young animal enthusiasts are unlikely to be bothered by these infrequent lapses and will undoubtedly find Morris' anecdotes and descriptions to be smooth, fascinating reading. Elizabeth Bush

About this edition

• Publisher: Random House UK
• Publication date: 1993
• ISBN 10: 0224036467
• ISBN 13: 9780224036467
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 128