THE WONDERS OF NATURE

Nature and art come together in this beautiful oversized hardback edition. The art work is stunning and you’ll be introduced to unique animals both on land and sea. Arranged in seven chapters, each begins with background information followed by pages of detailed art drawings. wondersofnature

The vibrant color and up close view give nature lovers a true gift. Each chapter ends with a two-page spread called Random Directory. Here you get a short description of each animal’s uniqueness.

Chapter one starts things off with birds. Two page spreads on plumage, useful beaks, and long necks had me from the get go. My favorites were the Reddish Egret and the Royal Spoonbill.

Next up are the hens, turkeys and pheasants. I do need to see a Padovana Chicken in person some day. It’s head is full of feathers fit for a queen or better yet a rock star in the making.

Insects are the focus of chapter three. The enlarged look at a quartet of beetles is truly unique and had my eyes dancing across the pages.

Just when you think it can’t get better, in come the butterflies, both the daytime and night flying variety. A spectacular show of their color and shape.

Natural Sailors gives readers a view of starfish, the Blue-ringed octopus, and crustaceans. Another chapter follows with Coral, jellyfish, and algae. The sea is a garden to behold.

Wrapping up the tour is a festival of fish. The brilliant scales of many types of fish are displayed. The Wrasse in both the Sixbar and Six-Line variety are the most colorful fish I never knew existed. The Saint-Peter fish is the last drawing and the vibrant color made it the perfect choice for a lasting memory.

Wonders of Nature would make the perfect present for any nature lover, young or old. It’s waiting to find a home on a coffee or end table, even though it won’t stay there very long. The pull to experience what’s inside is too great.

The Official Background from Prestel Publishing

Wonders of Nature: Explorations in the World of Birds, Insects and Fish by Florence Guiraud

Bright-eyed birds, evanescent butterflies, tropical fish and other pleasures await the readers of this large format book that will appeal to young children’s curiosity about the natural world. Reminiscent of the watercolors of Ernst Haeckel, John James Audubon, and Maria Sibylla Merian, these charming and expertly rendered pictures of birds, insects, and fish will provide hours of exploration. Presented in double-page spreads, interspersed with informative texts, Guiraud’s illustrations capture the wondrous beauty that populates our oceans, forests, and fields. Her expressive illustrations create a sense of intimacy and empathy with the natural world and their exquisite detail rewards close investigation. Certain to captivate both children and adults, this magnificent book will instill in its readers a connection to the world around them and ignite a sense of wonder about all living things.

About the author: FLORENCE GUIRAUD is an award-winning illustrator and author of more than 60 books. She is the recipient of the prestigious Saint-Exupéry Prize. She lives in Anglet, France.

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