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Synopsis
Exotic environments like the African savanna have long held a fascination for young readers. This colorful picture book beautifully evokes that realm with images of giraffes, lions, hippos, elephants, and many more animals of the plains. Through cumulative, singsong verse, young readers learn how all living things in this important ecological community rely on one another for their existence. The book brings home the important lesson that when one of these animals or plants is killed off or goes extinct, the web of life is broken. Luminous paintings by Tom Leonard capture the untamed beauty of this timeless, endangered realm.
Children's Literature
On the immense plains of East Africa many of the earth's largest creatures can be seen living together. Zebras, hippos, baboons, giraffes, lions, impalas, and elephants cohabit under the burning sun. They are all part of an ecological chain that depends foremost on grass which in turn depends on rain. In a cumulative verse, reminiscent of "The House That Jack Built," young readers are introduced to the wildlife that depend on each other for existence. Handsome paintings, shimmering with the heat of the savanna, bring the vast plain to life. The careful observer will notice that each illustration hints at the next animal to be revealed in the food chain. An appended note explains just how precarious survival is for these creatures. This is an excellent choice for young children.