Cheetah [Hardcover]

Taylor Morrison (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 15, 1998 | Age Level: 5 and up

In the vast plain of Tanzania's Serengeti there lives a remarkable animal: the cheetah. With its lithe body and terrific strength, the cheetah is able to reach speeds of seventy miles per hour in mere seconds. It is earth's fastest land animal. In this exciting picture book, readers have a chance to experience a day in the life of a mother cheetah and her two cubs.

Taylor Morrison spent time on a cheetah reserve studying the animals and drawing them firsthand. He has captured the energy and action of the cheetah in a series of paintings that are reminiscent of stop-action photography. His love for these intriguing animals is obvious in his rich images and attention to detail. Cheetah is a riveting look at an animal that has fascinated humans for centuries.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-3?Admiration for the strength and beauty of the cheetah is evident in this introduction to survival on the Serengeti Plain. This realistic presentation focuses on the hunt from stalking to the chase through the kill as a mother cheetah seeks to provide food for her two cubs. Eventually she succeeds, only to lose the young wildebeest to a hungry lioness. Her next kill is a gazelle, which she shares with her cubs. Similar in style and format to Toshi Yoshida's Young Lions (Philomel, 1989), the lively, simple text and dramatic acrylic paintings with close-up and panoramic views of the African plains capture the action in naturalistic settings. The youngest readers may find the content a bit strong, but the information remains true to the natural balance of nature in the wild. Barbara Esbensen's Swift as the Wind (Orchard, 1996) covers the same material and offers a more comprehensive look at the physical characteristics and behaviors of this majestic big cat.?Diane Nunn, Richard E. Byrd Elementary School, Glen Rock, NJ
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Ages 4^-7. This distinctive introduction to the world of the cheetah features a day in the life of Duma, a mother cheetah, and her three cubs. Basic information on the habits, survival skills, and physical characteristics of this endangered species is woven through the narrative, which reads like a fast-paced adventure story. The rich-in-color illustrations, acrylic paint on canvas, are action-packed and provide a sense of energy as they capture the true essence of the cheetah's dangerous existence in the deserts of Africa. A brief afterword explains the status of this endangered species and presents information on conservation efforts. Although the book lacks an index, the attractive nonfiction title in picture-book format will be a popular choice for young animal lovers. April Judge

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) (April 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 080505121X
• ISBN-13: 978-0805051216
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #413,804 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Learning with adventure, November 27, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Cheetah (Hardcover)

This is my five-year-old's favorite book. Packed with information about this distinctive species, it takes children to the Serengeti and puts them in the shoes of a mother with hungry cubs. It explains about the cheetah's anatomy, hunting habits, and social life as well as the differences between the cheetah and the other big cats of Africa. Beautifully written with beautiful illustrations.