Don't Let Them Disappear

March 4, 2019
Writing in clear, compassionate prose, Clinton (She Persisted) introduces readers to 12 endangered species: blue whales, elephants, giant pandas, giraffes, gorillas, lions, orangutans, polar bears, rhinoceroses, sea otters, tigers, and whale sharks. Short fact lists identify each animal’s endangered status, from “nearly vulnerable” to “critically endangered,” and further differentiate between subspecies (Asiatic lions are endangered; African lions, vulnerable). For each spread, Clinton makes a call to readers—“Don’t let them disappear!”—and recounts threats facing the animals, including habitat destruction, climate change, and hunting by humans. Passages focus on the animals’ unique attributes (“Whale sharks are the biggest fish in the world and may be one of the few animals who never sleep”) alongside gentle art by Marino (How Do You Do?) that is more expressive than naturalistic—in one spread, three otters cuddle up among kelp fronds, smiling and content. Clinton concludes with simple suggestions for readers to help endangered animals themselves: “Tell your family they shouldn’t buy jewelry, trophies or anything else made from endangered animals.” It’s an inviting, rather than insistent, appeal to care for the planet and its most vulnerable creatures. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Tara Kole, Gang, Tyre, Ramer & Brown. Illustrator’s agent: Deborah Warren, East West Literary.

February 15, 2019
An appeal to share concern for 12 familiar but threatened, endangered, or critically endangered animal species.The subjects of Marino's intimate, close-up portraits--fairly naturalistically rendered, though most are also smiling, glancing up at viewers through human eyes, and posed at rest with a cute youngling on lap or flank--steal the show. Still, Clinton's accompanying tally of facts about each one's habitat and daily routines, to which the title serves as an ongoing refrain, adds refreshingly unsentimental notes: "A single giraffe kick can kill a lion!"; "[S]hivers of whale sharks can sense a drop of blood if it's in the water nearby, though they eat mainly plankton." Along with tucking in collective nouns for each animal (some not likely to be found in major, or any, dictionaries: an "embarrassment" of giant pandas?), the author systematically cites geographical range, endangered status, and assumed reasons for that status, such as pollution, poaching, or environmental change. She also explains the specific meaning of "endangered" and some of its causes before closing with a set of doable activities (all uncontroversial aside from the suggestion to support and visit zoos) and a list of international animal days to celebrate.A winning heads up for younger readers just becoming aware of the wider natural world. (Informational picture book. 6-8)

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May 1, 2019

PreS-Gr 2-Clinton's latest picture book is an ode to 12 animal species in danger of extinction. Those familiar with her past works will recognize the format: a collection of factual blurbs rather than one long narrative. A spread is devoted to each animal, always accompanied by a short explanatory paragraph. The text may be sparse, but there is not one wasted word. Readers will enjoy engaging with fun facts and vocabulary for animal groups (an "embarrassment" of giant pandas or a "crash" of rhinos, for example). In addition to the informational paragraph, bullet points are included for each animal which state its endangerment status, the reason for that status, and its geographic location. Marino's gouache illustrations are accurate yet whimsical and convey the personality of each animal. This book will get a lot of traction as a science or social studies curriculum addition and does not need to be read in order to be useful as a learning tool. It will also be an appealing cover-to-cover read for animal lovers. Useful endnotes include an explanation of the human-made reasons some animals are in danger of disappearing, as well as action items for those who want to do more to save them. VERDICT A sure bet for elementary school libraries.-Lindsay Jensen, Nashville Public Library

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