Magnificent Creatures

"A herd of South African springbok, a kaleidoscope of migrating butterflies, a murmuration of starlings, and a massive school of silver herring are beautifully rendered in this unique collection of natural science facts. Winsome pen-and-ink artwork, richly patterned fabrics, and shimmering golden accents capture the fluidity and graceful movement of animal collectives in a dozen enchanting images of feathers and fur, shells and fins, antlers and tentacles, all in perpetual motion."--STARRED Foreword Reviews
"Wright's first book (A Tower of Giraffes) was a record of collective nouns for 16 animal groups. Her second title focuses on 12 animals and their movements. Various methods of travel from place to place include swimming, jumping, running, scuttling, and flying. A few of the creatures may be new to young readers, such as southern carmine bee-eaters, starlings, and springboks, but others are well-known - zebras, fireflies, and bumblebees. The illustrations, using pen-and-ink, watercolor, and fabrics, steal the show and add whimsy to the factual text. Each animal has a two-page spread showing one or two large figures and several smaller ones placed around the pages. In three to five sentences, Wright imparts pertinent information about each of the animals. Some of this information is, at times, confusing - the author mentions that animals migrate from North America south to Mexico, though most authorities state that Mexico is in North America. Still, this is a worthwhile purchase, and children interested in animals and how they move will be drawn in." Booklist