Available Formats
Magnificent Creatures: Animals on the Move!
By (Author) Anna Wright
By (author) Anna Wright
Faber & Faber
Faber & Faber
3rd November 2016
Main
United Kingdom
Children
Fiction
590
Hardback
32
Width 257mm, Height 257mm, Spine 7mm
375g
Anna Wright's stunning introduction to non-fiction and the natural world is enlivened by her gorgeously sophisticated and fun art style which mixes pen and ink, watercolour and fabric collage. Find out what 'pronking' is and how one jellyfish can become two in the humourous descriptions. Both educational and beautiful Anna's unique picture book shows the character of these animals beyond their familiar forms.
"A herd of South African springbok, a kaleidoscope of migrating butterflies, a murmuration of starlings, and a massive school of silver herring are beautifully rendered in this unique collection of natural science facts. Winsome pen-and-ink artwork, richly patterned fabrics, and shimmering golden accents capture the fluidity and graceful movement of animal collectives in a dozen enchanting images of feathers and fur, shells and fins, antlers and tentacles, all in perpetual motion."--STARRED Foreword Reviews
"Wright's first book (A Tower of Giraffes) was a record of collective nouns for 16 animal groups. Her second title focuses on 12 animals and their movements. Various methods of travel from place to place include swimming, jumping, running, scuttling, and flying. A few of the creatures may be new to young readers, such as southern carmine bee-eaters, starlings, and springboks, but others are well-known - zebras, fireflies, and bumblebees. The illustrations, using pen-and-ink, watercolor, and fabrics, steal the show and add whimsy to the factual text. Each animal has a two-page spread showing one or two large figures and several smaller ones placed around the pages. In three to five sentences, Wright imparts pertinent information about each of the animals. Some of this information is, at times, confusing - the author mentions that animals migrate from North America south to Mexico, though most authorities state that Mexico is in North America. Still, this is a worthwhile purchase, and children interested in animals and how they move will be drawn in." Booklist
Anna is an artist and illustrator. Her rural upbringing, in Dumfriesshire, southwest Scotland, introduced her to flora and fauna, which alongside her love of interiors, fabrics and wallpaper have shaped her work. Since exploring these influences at Edinburgh College of Art, Anna has grown her trademark style of colour and humour, from her studios in London and Edinburgh.