Almost Gone: The World's Rarest Animals

Description: Thousands of animal species have vanished in the last two centuries, and many others are almost gone. Youngsters can find out about these animals as they are introduced to basic science concepts. Full color.

Brief description:

Steve Jenkins wrote and illustrated many nonfiction picture books for young readers, including the Caldecott Honor Book What Do You Do with a Tail Like This? His books have been called stunning, eye-popping, inventive, gorgeous, masterful, extraordinary, playful, irresistible, compelling, engaging, accessible, glorious, and informative.

Review Quotes:

"Caldecott Honor Book illustrator Jenkins applies his considerable talents to the cause of conservation. Using his signature cut-and torn-paper collages, he shows 21 endangered species, accompanying each image with a few sentences about the animal's habitatt, a particular characteristic, and, sometimes, the reason for its endangered status. As usual, Jenkins' artwork is fascinating. The last spreads consider four extinct animals and three species brought back from the brink by breeding or protection programs. A map designating the range of each species concludes this nicely accomplished entry in a generally stellar series." - Booklist

"This engaging title is informative as well as visually stunning. Jenkins captures the essence of his subjects with appropriately colored, cut-paper collage illustrations on stark white backgrounds. Each endangered animal is introduced in a single paragraph that typically contains a fact or two about its range, behavior, diet, and those conditions that threaten its welfare. A middle section, 'Gone Forever, ' memorializes animals no longer on Earth with an indication of when they were last seen. In a hopeful third section, Jenkins discusses three animals that are 'coming back, ' due to the efforts to protect their habitats." - School Library Journal (starred review)