Series: Love Volume #1
Format Read: eGalley
Source: the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: March 1, 2015
Challenges: NetGalley and Edelweiss Reading Challenge | What An Animal
Buying Links: Amazon*
| Book Depository* | Barnes & Noble * affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission from purchases made through these links.
Blurb from goodreads:
A day in the life of the king of the jungle, this lavishly illustrated story follows a single majestic tiger through a wordless adventure of survival as it hunts prey and defends itself from other would-be killers defending their territory. This exciting tale is told without narration or dialogue, conveyed entirely through the beautiful illustrations of Federico Bertolucci. A beautiful, all-ages title that explores genuine natural behavior through the dramatic lens of Disney-esque storytelling. Like a nature documentary in illustration.
This is a book for older children, not little ones, about African tigers. Written in graphic novel style but minus any text, it takes us through a day in the life. There are scenes of the tiger hunting food and fighting with other big cats, with some blood shed so keep an eye on younger readers. While not gory, neither is the violence off the page. There were a few animals I didn't recognize and since there's no text I had to guess. I wish there were an index to clue us in and to give us facts about tigers. What we do get are rough drafts of some of the illustrations. The artwork is gorgeous, lush and vivid, and does an excellent job of telling the story.
We follow a tiger through a day, from waking to end of the day. Ah, the end of the book is sudden and violent; you've been warned. We see him (I'm just randomly picking a gender since the book doesn't tell us) looking for food, tracking and attacking his prey, engaging in battle with other wild cats, losing but surviving a fight with a jungle animal larger than him, getting caught in a rain storm, and eventually finding a meal. While the illustrator doesn't anthropomorphize the tiger or any of the animals, the facial expressions are nevertheless expressive. My only complaint about the book is the lack of solid information via text but this lush book will take you through a day in the life and leave you more knowledgeable than when you started. Just, be aware that there are some violent and bloody scenes. I wouldn't call the book Disney-esque, unlike the blurb, but a nature documentary in book form? Absolutely.
" a nature documentary in book form?" What an interesting concept! And it sounds as though it's very well done. I agree, though, that a glossary or factual section (in text) in the back would be helpful.
ReplyDeleteThe lack of a glossary or fact section was the only real flaw in the book.
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