Gone Wild: An Endangered Animal Alphabet

reviewed on www.vegbooks.org
http://vegbooks.org/index.php/2010/08/12/gone-wild-an-endangered-animal-alphabet...

In Gone Wild, An Endangered Animal Alphabet, David McLimans creates a beautifully artistic animal alphabet that reminds us of the variety of animal life sharing our earth. The unique black and white animal letters (in the style of a pictogram) paired with details about the 26 critically endangered, endangered, or vulnerable species of animals earns him the Caldecott Honor. Each page focuses on a large letter sprouting ears, teeth, scales, beaks, or horns that are playfully reminiscent of the animal. Each page also includes an informative box detailing the class, habitat, range, threat, status and a mini, red wood-block style show more image of the animal. The bold, fun graphics and simple colors leaves a strong visual impact. A section at the end of the book, provides additional zoological detail, information about what is threatening each species, and a listing of websites for organizations that help endangered species.

As Mr. McLimans states in his introduction:

“The earth is an amazing, beautiful, wondrous, diverse, and fragile planet. By protecting and saving animals and their habitats, we are also protecting ourselves.”

I absolutely loved the illustrations in this book and its urging for us to learn about the broader world around us and how we humans impact it. Mr. McLimans encourages us to get to know our animal neighbors and instills the need for activism to protect them in this visual delight.

Ages 4-8. show less

Fantastic picture book for readers of all ages, this animal alphabet book will dazzle the young ones with fantastic animals twisted into letters and the older, more sophisticated readers will find fascinating the crucial data on each endangered species -- class, habitat, range, threats, and status. Terrific black, white and startling red design-work of a master, the playful presentation of starting facts is quite memorable.

My three year old picked this up to read at the library, and I was quite pleased, because I thought it would help me teach him his letter sounds and be interesting, too. Plus, I'm interested in endangered species.

The book (obviously an A to Z alphabet book) is filled with black and white illustrations of the capital letters, which has features of an endangered animal that starts with that letter, one per page. There is also a panel with a stylised picture of the animal (so you can see it properly) and information about the animal : where it comes from, how badly it is endangered, why it is in danger.

As a parent reading the book, I was impressed. It is a Caldecott Honour book, it is beautifully illustrated, with simplistic pictures show more reminiscent of woodcut illustrations, and I was interested in the information.

However, I'm not sure it is aimed at the right age; all the data didn't maintain my three year old's interest (though he initially asked questions), and though my eight year old would probably find it more informative, I'm not sure he would deign to read an alphabet book. Of course, if we owned it and had it at home, instead of reading it at the library, that might not be a problem.

In spite of that, I think it's a great book, and a wonderful idea, so I'm giving it four and a half stars. show less

Although this is an ABC book, it is not the typical ABC book that you are expecting to read to a young child. It is a beautifully crafted book where each letter is not just a regular letter in the alphabet, but a letter that has been turned into the animal that the letter starts with. All of the animals represented in this book are animals that are on the endangered species list. This is a great book to use with older children who understand what an endangered species is and the importance of learning about them to protect and save them. This book does a wonderful job of making the letter really stand out on the page because the illustrations are all done in black and white ink and in the corner or each page is a tiny box that tells you show more the specific details of the species that is endangered. show less

McLimans has taken the conventional alphabet book and spiced things up by replacing boring old "apple" with "Chinese Alligator." Each animal is then depicted as the letter they represent. This was the only issue I had with the book; a few of the animals, much like the alligator for the letter 'A', are so contorted as to be nearly unrecognizable. But there were only two or three of these where it felt like the author was really pushing it. He does, however, provide a small, stylized picture of the animal on the page alongside some relevant information.

Overall, though, a great, quick introduction to both endangered animals and the levels of endangerment. The author provides a brief introduction explaining the categories used to classify show more each animal, and then, at the end, goes more into detail as to why each animal is endangered along with a list of organizations that help endangered animals and further reading. Although this book is obviously intended for younger audiences, I feel like it could easily find its home on a biologist's bookshelf. show less

This alphabet book teaches us about 26 endangered animals through artistically crafted letters. The black and white illustrations are very well done. In the back of the book there's a glossary of the animals and the threats each faces.

As far as alphabet books go, this one is unique for me. I like how Gone Wild takes the opportunity to tell the reader about how important protecting habitat is. Moreover, we learn about other threats like air and water pollution, poaching, and deforestation.

Alphabet book that contains picture of the letter and animal that is endangered or vulnerable. The book provides information about the type of animal, where it is found in nature, and why it is in trouble. In the back, there is additional information about each of the 26 animals mentioned in the book.

I love that the letters all incorporate the animal into the letter. It would be great to have a map or globe available to children so they can locate or be shown where the countries are on the planet. I really appreciate that the scientific name of the animal is included so that children connect reading to another subject matter. This would be a great book for early science class. The brief write up of each animal is so helpful, so that you show more don't need to pull out another resource to learn the basics. This book would be a wonderful conversation starter around the subject of caring for others, including animals, and how our individual behaviors can impact others. Would be a great transition to protecting the planet and what we can do to help. I love that learning or reinforcing the alphabet can lead to rich and meaningful conversation and learning. show less