Animal Families (a fun book on ‘wild cousins’)
Animal Families is a wonderful read by pop artist Matt Sewell, teaching children how to spot family resemblances, some of which are rather surprising!
You likely know that the blue-and-orange river kingfisher is related to Australia’s laughing kookaburra. But did you know that that the there are 21 fascinating animal families to read about, from the fox and bear families to dolphins, owls and cobras.
Some species (like the elephant and hummingbird hawkmoths) may not live near each other, but are part of the same family. The South American coati belongs to the same family as the North American raccoon!
Other creatures that are (surprisingly) related to each other are:
- Woodlice are the land cousins of prawns and shrimp
- Elephants and manatees (‘sea cows’ that also have trunks!)
- Chickens descend from dinosaurs!
- Whales and cows are apparently distant cousins!
This is a beautiful, beautiful book! You’ll learn about the eight species of bears (and which order they belong to), you’ll learn how dolphins are mammals (so need to breathe) but can hold their breath for up to 7 minutes. And how foxes often get an undeserving reputation, they are to be admired!
From goldfinches to chameleons and from raccoons to tiger beetles, by the time your child has finished reading this book, you will have a little David Attenborough on your hands!
Matt Sewell is one of England’s most popular authors on birds and wildlife, combining his funny commentary and expert knowledge, with lovely pop-art illustrations. His work is displayed worldwide, and his bird illustrations are even on Isle of Man stamps!
Animal Families (five illustrated tales of the wild)
Animal Families is a book of five illustrated stories, to teach children about relationships between various creatures. It also shows how they navigate the challenges of survival in the wild.
With themes of conservation, climate change and rewilding woven throughout (and non-fiction pages after every story), each tale is as educational as it is heart-warming:
- In the suburbs, a red fox encourages his subs to take their first steps towards independence.
- In Botswana, an elephant matriarch must trust the youngest member of the herd, to find water.
Becca Hall is an illustrator originally from the Lake District, who now lives in Cornwall. When not in the studio, she enjoys surfing and hiding in a cosy tea room with a cuppa and slice of cake!
