The story of two English brothers who combined photography and their love of nature to create the first nature book ever. This picture book relates their story in a kid-friendly way: readers will be intrigued by the brothers' various camoflage tricks and all the work they put into their project. Delightfully, the book closes with the actual photos, a nice and informed feature after getting to know their story.

I love this story, about two men who spent their 'free' time taking pictures of birds nests ... in 1890's. ( )

Brothers Richard and Cherry Kearton were raised on a farm in Yorkshire, and grew up attuned to the natural world around them. From birds' nests to spiders' webs, they "marveled at the architecture of living things," and sought to unravel the puzzle of the world around them. When necessity forced them to London, where they both went to work for Cassell Publishing House, they took to spending all of their weekends in the country, indulging in a new hobby: the photography of birds and their nests. Building incredible disguises for themselves - a "tree trunk" made with poles and cloth, and decorated with leaves, a hollow ox made from a wooden frame draped with ox-hide - they captured photographic images of scenes that few had had the opportunity to see. Their British Birds' Nests, published in 1895, was the first work of natural history to be entirely illustrated with photographs, and was unlike anything that had been printed before. It also launched both brothers into careers as naturalists and photographers...

I had never heard of either Richard or Cherry Kearten, prior to picking up this charming picture-book biography by Rebecca Bond, and I'm glad to have that omission rectified, as they seem to have had a great influence on the development of nature photography. In addition to the historical and scientific interest of the story, as well as the appealing watercolor and ink illustrations, I particularly appreciated that In the Belly of an Ox presents the idea that sometimes, even if our working life is taking us in a different direction, we can still pursue our passions, and possibly, with lots of hard work and a little luck, eventually combine the two. ( )

Richard and Cherry Kearton, two brothers, grew up on a farm in Yorkshire, England. They loved discovering things around the countryside. Everyday, they were able to find something new. When they grew up, Richard, the older brother, left for London to work at a publishing house. Later on, Cherry joined his brother in London. But because they loved the countryside, they left London whenever they could. And when Cherry took his camera with him, things started to click. Richard and Cherry found ways to take pictures of birds’ nest without disturbing them, making their photographs accurate to actual nature and unique. After 3 years, the Kearton brothers published a nature book called “British Birds’ Nest.” The book inspired people to look for birds in their natural surroundings. The brothers were happy to have done something they were passionate about.

The story follows the two brothers and their photograph adventure. The easy vocabularies and the moderate pacing of the story will get the readers hooked. The illustrations also accompany the story perfectly with soft watercolor, pen, and ink details. At the end of the book, there are photographs of Richard and Cherry talking photographs and a short story about their later life.

This story is an inspirational story that any adventurous readers would enjoy. After reading this book, readers might feel the urge to go outside to look for nests and other things. ( )

Richard and Cherry Kearton were brothers who grew up in the English country. When they grew up they both got jobs at a publisher company in London. They missed the country and visited every chance they could. On one visit Cherry took a picture of a birds nest. That is when Richard sparked the idea of taking pictures of all kinds of birds and nests and create a book. It took the brothers 3 years to collect all the pictures they wanted. To capture the most perfect shots they hid in camouflage that they created. For example, a faux tree trunk, ox, sheep, hay stack, etc. These men went to some strange extents for the perfect pictures. The publishing company they worked for published their pictures in the first ever nature book. I would like to read this story before introducing students to National Geographic Animal Magazines. That way they would know who historically started the first literature of this kind and how difficult it is to get a perfect shot of an animal. ( )