My friend, Mo, sent me an e-mail the other day raving about D’Aulaires’ Book of Animals, and when Mo recommends something, you know it will be good. So I went straight away to my local bookshop and bought it. At the check-out in Daunt Books, the woman told me it was her favorite children’s book and raved about the beautiful illustrations. So imagine how excited I was to get home and take the wrapper off! (Not very many books come in a wrapper these days, which was yet another indication of its distinction!)

D’Aulaires’ Book of Animals was written and illustrated by the celebrated husband and wife team of Ingrid and Edgar Parin D’Aulaire in 1940 and introduces young children to more than 50 different animals of every continent. The pages of the book unfold to reveal an 8-foot-long panorama of beautiful animal life lithographed in full color form. The reverse side of the pages shows the animals at nighttime in the very same settings. The simple text provides information about the way the animals act, the world they live in, and the sounds they make. The book is beautiful — both for young children and for adults. It deserves a special spot on your bookshelf, or even on your coffee table!

-Courtney