Wildlife on Paper

July 15, 2020
Globally vulnerable animals are presented in this picture book. While there are plenty of picture books introducing readers to endangered animals, the illustrations in this one make it stand out. Author/illustrator Kundu uses crumpled paper to form the animals and then places them within digital environments and photographs the whole. The results--such as an eastern imperial eagle that soars through amber skies and a bulky polar bear on a floe--are striking. A few are not entirely successful: The snow leopard's tongue licking its chops makes it look like it's wearing red wax lips; the orangutan's arms don't look twice as long as its legs, as the narrative states. Text on each double-page spread gives information on the animal illustrated. The facts are more generalized informational tidbits rather than a cohesive narrative, although they are uniformly interesting. Eating habits, physical characteristics, and habitat, among others, are presented in a loose fashion--the selection process seeming to be what is unusual or distinctive, which is not a bad way to get young readers interested on a basic level. Backmatter contains more sources (mostly websites). The narrative has a few rough spots ("most unique"; some awkward phrasing) that mar its polish slightly. A final double-page spread showing a map of the world places the animals within their habitats. Intriguing illustrations are matched with an interesting, generalized narrative. (map, works cited, organizations to support) (Informational picture book. 5-10)

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August 14, 2020

Gr 1-4-Kundu offers a noteworthy introduction to unusual and often-endangered wildlife. The illustrations, which feature crumpled paper art and digital backgrounds, glow with light and seem more three dimensional than is possible on a page. Sixteen lesser-known animals are described, such as the Sunda pangolin. The animal, native to Southeast Asia, is critically endangered and is considered the most illegally trafficked mammal in the world. Each page spotlights one animal and provides a few compelling facts. The northern white rhinoceros, a distant relative of the horse, whitens its gray body by applying chalky white soil to its skin. The vaquita, with its large black-ringed eyes and curved lips, is often called "the smiling sea panda." It lives in the Gulf of California and is the rarest marine animal on earth. A map showing the locations of each of the animals and a thorough bibliography are included. Kundu provides a work that is valuable as a picture book and as a resource about rare animal life. VERDICT This vibrant work examines 16 unique and endangered animals. Recommended both for its unconventional visual treatment and the fascinating information that complements the illustrations.-Eva Elisabeth VonAncken, formerly at Trinity-Pawling Sch., Pawling, NY

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