Animal Expert Dr. Nick Crumpton
Illustrated by Rob Hodgson
Published by Thames and Hudson: June 15, 2021
Review
Tasmanian tiger. Great auk. Passenger pigeon. I knew of them, but not about them. Now T and I are better informed. Narrated by Danny Dodo, a detective who has investigated the cause of several species' extinction, this large, bright picture book engages a young audience by making long-dead animals present and personal. Danny introduces a representative from each species, like Aunty Sophie the sloth lemur, informing the reader of species' traits and inviting a more tangible connection. T likes Awesome Angelo the golden toad, for example, because "he's so cute and has big eyes and is red."
Tasmanian tiger. Great auk. Passenger pigeon. I knew of them, but not about them. Now T and I are better informed. Narrated by Danny Dodo, a detective who has investigated the cause of several species' extinction, this large, bright picture book engages a young audience by making long-dead animals present and personal. Danny introduces a representative from each species, like Aunty Sophie the sloth lemur, informing the reader of species' traits and inviting a more tangible connection. T likes Awesome Angelo the golden toad, for example, because "he's so cute and has big eyes and is red."
T has had a lot to say – from commenting about the effects of climate change on Antarctic penguins to how the book relates to a documentary we've watched to asking for more books on sea cows. It is rewarding to see how engaged he is with the content; sometimes I have to remind myself of this when the frequent interruptions make it a challenge to read aloud. Not too much of a challenge, however, as information is presented in small chunks of inset text on each two-page spread. T wanted to read this straight through, but it doesn't have to be done that way – the format invites browsing. The final pages feature a few endangered animals and an action plan with small and big steps to slow and possibly even prevent extinction.
Danny Dodo's Detective Diary is a unique and valuable addition to the conservation canon.
Danny Dodo's Detective Diary is a unique and valuable addition to the conservation canon.
You might also like Survival and A Wild Child's Guide to Endangered Animals.
Note: A review copy was provided for the purpose of an honest review. All thoughts are our own.
Comments
Post a Comment