Starred review from October 4, 2021
Many titles acquaint readers with terms of venery, but this book additionally celebrates the fact that not all species appreciate a crowd. While a water hole attracts “a parade of elephants” and “dazzle of zebras,” writes Stein (The Invisible Alphabet), “the panther arrives by herself. The panther is a solitary animal.” The octopus, the sloth, and the eagle share this solidarity of solitariness, and their far-from-lonely lives—the sloth exudes contentment, the octopus is playfully balletic, the bald eagle keenly observes the world beneath her—should be assuring, even profound, to children who similarly prefer their own company or treasure moments of alone time. And human introverts and extroverts alike will connect with debut artist Ramsey’s radiant digital animal portraits: iridescent hummingbirds dance around a bright red hibiscus, while the sleek, prowling panther shimmers in tones of purple, black, and pink, its glowing eyes piercing the darkness. An eye-catching affirmation of singular over plural. Back matter provides additional background, covering survival and instinct. Ages 3–5.
