Voices of the Wild - Hardcover

London, Jonathan

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0517592185 ISBN 13: 9780517592182

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers, 1993

Synopsis

In a poetic, dramatically illustrated tribute to America's vanishing wildlife, a lone man paddles his kayak through the wilderness, while Bear, Deer, Moose, Turtle, and other creatures watch cautiously from the shore.

About this title

From Kirkus Reviews:

In a spare, stalwart first person, a dozen animals describe themselves and their wariness of a man who paddles his kayak to observe them in their northern habitat. In McLoughlin's art, the man's presence can be found in each economically constructed composition--his kayak silhouetted above an underwater beaver; in the morning mist behind a browsing moose; dramatically reflected at sunset in the eyes of a crouching lynx; the tiny light of his campfire, far beneath a gliding owl. A quietly lyrical book that effectively evokes the experience of observing these wilderness creatures with respect, and without disturbing them. The luminous double-spread paintings--with their realistic portrayal of the animals and the more romantic, impressionistic depiction of their home--are lovely; a last spread showing the man among weathered, totem-like carvings suggests that he, too, belongs in this natural setting. (Picture book. 3-10) -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

From Booklist:

Gr. 4-6. "I am Beaver gliding, diving, rising with the bubbles to a long, slender shadow-shape passing overhead." The "shadow-shape" is the bottom of a kayak paddled by a man camping in the wild. The wilderness animals--among them, bear, deer, and turtle--identify themselves in relation to the man and their environment in a series of prose poems, each illustrated by a full-color, double-page painting showing the animal as well as evidence of the man. The concluding words are the man's: "When I wake in the dark / easy on the earth / and see the shape of an owl / among the stars / I lift my voice to the silence / and give thanks / to the wild night." McLoughlin's strong wildlife paintings focus mainly on the animals, viewing them from unusual and effective perspectives. They combine nicely with the somewhat low-key text, and with some promotion the book should find a wide readership. Janice Del Negro

About this edition

• Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 1993
• ISBN 10: 0517592185
• ISBN 13: 9780517592182
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 32