Safari

by Robert Bateman

Book Overview

The world's preeminent wildlife artist, Robert Bateman invites young readers to join him on a trip to Africa to observe different animals and to learn something about their behavior. Bateman captures... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0670879703
• ISBN13: 9780670879700
• Release Date: January 1998
• Publisher: Penguin
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.

Customer Reviews

The wonders of nature rendered through art

The photorealistic artwork of Robert Bateman is incredible and mesmerizing. In fact, as I flipped through the book the first time, I thought the artwork was a mix of photographs and paintings. This is what the catalog description says on the verso page (back of title page): "Paintings and brief text present some of the animals found in Africa...." Further down: "The works in this book...have been published as limited edition prints by...." Then I really looked, but some are so realistic as to defy belief. I'm looking at the painting on the Dedication page. The fur on the backs of three lionesses looks so real. The yellowed grass on the savanna looks real. Bateman's dedication reads: "For young people everywhere: may you love nature--and protect it." This particular book celebrates the beauty and dignity of the animals of Africa, which Bateman believes will one day disappear. But he is hopeful of their salvation because safaris today are planned as photographic ones rather than big game hunting. On this safari Bateman took his family with him. One of the great joys of their trip was going into the rain forest and getting close to the great gorillas. In another photograph of Bateman he is sitting close to an orphan cheetah and sketching it. A painting of that cheetah appears in the book. The book is devoted to a full-page painting of each featured animal, plus a smaller one, a half-page of information, then a block of basic facts (habitat, height, weight, food, and range). Animals included are elephant, leopard, giraffes, wildebeest, lion, cape buffalo (the most dangerous of all African animals), zebras and kudu, cheetah, dik-dik and impala, rhinoceros, and gorilla. On the last page Bateman sits thoughtfully before an elephant painting and makes a plea for people to save wildlife and wild places.

Safari

This is a beautiful wildlife art book for children in elementary and middle school; adults will enjoy it also but might like the larger version. The book includes the natural histories of each animal in Bateman's realistic paintings and may be a useful resource for home libraries.

Children love this book

This is a great book for children who like animals. The book inspires children to draw. My six year old son and I have enjoyed this book and have spent many hours reading it over and over. The drawings are incredible. Your "animal loving" child will love it, too.

This book is excellent for children of all ages.

The initial attraction of this book is the wonderful artwork, but further investigation reveals a thoughtful and fresh look at nature. Robert Bateman tells you enough about himself and his lifes work to make you curious about him. Most importantly, he provides the reader with a close up and personal view of animals we rarely experience. He provides a quick run down of the facts of each animal and where it lives in a small information box. The text provides some very unique information on the animal. I found his information on how a giraffe runs to be facinating. A great read for children (and adults) of any age who appreciate nature and beauitful art.