"Beautiful pictures...celebrating the wildlife of Africa. Coppard has moved beyond the savannas in Kenya to travel the deserts of Namibia, the rain forests of the Congo basin, the Okavango Delta in Botswana, and the kopjes of South Africa....cover(s) the basic ecology of Africa...Climate and natural vegetation each receive a chapter, driving home the immense diversity found in a continent...provides a very nice listing of the major national parks, listed country by country. The second, larger section examines Africa's wildlife, divided taxonomically into surveys of the hoofed animals, elephants, carnivores, primates, reptiles, and birds....good basic information and an excellent introduction to Africa and its wildlife...true strength of the book is the collection of stunning photographs chosen to illustrate the text....Introductory text, graced with the author's drawings, sets the scene for each section of images concentrating on one element in the ecosystem....YA...An absolute must for reports; good photos of the rarer creatures."--Booklist.
If you want to go on safari from the comforts of your favorite lounge chair, then this is the book to take you there. Coppard, a book editor and author, has drawn together exceptional photos of the African landscape and its flora and fauna. Every page is covered with breathtaking pictures that illustrate the diverse and abundant animals that populate the African continent. Part 1 covers the changing landscape, climate, natural vegetation, and national parks and reserves. In Part 2, Coppard groups the animals by classification: hoofed mammals, elephants, carnivores, primates, reptiles, and birds. There is an extensive index, which aids the reader in finding specific species. While the photos are the main thrust of this oversized pictorial, the text provides just enough information to whet the reader's appetite for more thorough resources. Anyone contemplating a trip to Africa will be excited at the prospect of seeing these incredible sights in person. Those who have been already will enjoy the memories the photos are bound to bring to mind. Highly recommended where nature and travel books are popular or for nature photography collections. Edell M. Schaefer, Brookfield P.L., WI Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.
