Friday, January 29, 2016

This Strange Wilderness: The Life and Art of John James Audubon by Nancy Plain - ADVISABLE

Plain, Nancy This Strange Wilderness: The Life and Art of John James Audubon, NON-FICTION 112 pgs. University of Nebraska Press, 2015. $19.95. Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (hunting).  

John James Audubon documented the birds (and eventually the mammals) of North America in brilliant life sized paintings. His life’s journey as an artist, conservator, hunter and ornithologist is presented in a historical context, and the narrative is clear, concise and accessible.  


This is an engaging read, beautifully illustrated with Audubon’s own paintings and other period art.  The text is interspersed with passages from Audubon’s journals, which makes the read a bit more difficult, however, this full color biography is appropriate at all school levels.  Includes an appendix which includes historical sites, museums and wildlife societies; a glossary, bibliography and index.  The look of the book, however is very academic which may limit the appeal for younger readers.  

EL - Optional   MS, HS - ADVISABLE  Lisa Librarian

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