Wild animals of the South by Dieter Braun

cover image

Flying Eye Books, 2017. ISBN 9781909263970
(Age: All) Highly recommended. How beautiful is this book! Wild Animals of the South looks at many of the animals that live in the southern hemisphere. Africa, South America, Asia, Australia and Antarctica each receives a chapter that highlights many of their indigenous creatures. A map of the world clearly shows the areas covered in the book and a simple drawing indicates where each animal lives.
Dieter Braun has created stunning stylised pictures using muted colours on naturally coloured paper. Each animal is given both the common and scientific name. The focus of the book is on the illustrations, as only a few animals receive a paragraph of information. Even the index is one of the most beautiful I have seen with an illustration for each entry.
Dieter is a freelance illustrator and children's book author from Germany. He strongly believes in the importance of the role of the human race in ensuring that the wonderful creatures illustrated in this book do not become extinct.
'Humankind could exist without tigers, tapirs or ocelots, but it would be wrong to assume that we are the most important creature on Earth. We are intruders in the animal kingdom and with every animal that dies out, our life on this planet loses a part of its power and colour and beauty.'
Dieter has shown how remarkable our world is and the animals are so stunningly created that the reader is in awe of their 'power, colour and beauty'. I would readily buy another copy of this book to turn into framed prints. It is an art exhibition in a book.
Dieter has also created the companion book Wild Animals of the North.
I would highly recommend this book for purchase. For whom? Everyone!
Jane Moore

booktopia