An elephant's trunk is so nimble, it can pick up a single blade of grass, and yet so strong, it can knock over a tree. Giraffes have eyelashes. Sloths hang from trees for days at a time without going to the bathroom. These are just some of the insights featured in Life-Size Zoo. Acclaimed wildlife photographer Toyofumi Fukuda visited Japan's premier zoos to capture remarkably vivid and detailed close-up photographs of 21 animals, from pandas and meerkats to giraffes, rhinos, and elephants (adult and baby). Each photograph is accompanied by a profile including body length, weight, and natural habitat, as well as fun facts about the animal.
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Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Editorial Reviews
From Booklist
A zoo tour between covers, this oversize volume brings viewers face to face with a menagerie of creatures, from anteaters to zebras. Each spread features a laser-sharp, actual-size photograph of an animal’s body, usually its face, as well as a sidebar that lists a few basic facts in a whimsical, comic-panel format. Throughout, prompts encourage viewers to notice additional details: a camel’s luxuriously long eyelashes; a tiger’s roughly textured tongue; the white tips on a tapir’s ears. Several spreads fold out to accommodate larger animals; a four-panel image of an Asian elephant, who seems to eye the viewer warily, is unforgettable. The photographs give a visceral sense of what it might feel like to touch the animals, and the words bring in more sensory detail: a rhino’s skin, for example, “looks tough . . . but it feels nice and warm.” The playful table of contents, designed as a cartoon aerial map of a zoo, and endpapers filled with full-body snapshots of the animals complete this innovative introduction to global creatures that’s perfect for group sharing. Preschool-Grade 2. --Gillian Engberg
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By HeatherHH
Format:Hardcover
This book has a wonderful concept: to present life-size photography of a variety of zoo animals to give children a proper idea of the scale. Some animals we see full-bodied photography, but with others that are too big, we see a portion of them (like part of the head of an elephant). In order to accomplish this, the book is oversized, measuring approximately 10x14 inches, and some sections have fold out pages to allow you to see things like a giraffe's entire head with its tongue sticking out.
The animals covered in this book are the aardvark, armadillo, anteater, camel, capybara, elephant, giant panda, giraffe, gorilla, hedgehog, koala, meerkat, prairie dog, red panda, rhino, sea lion, sloth, tapir, tiger, and zebra. In addition to photography, there are little factoids for each animal. For example, for the armadillo, we learn that only the three-banded kind can roll into a ball. The long hair growin on its belly is pointed out, as well as the fact that its head and tail fit together like a puzzle.
The main drawback to this book would be that it is oversized with foldout pages. This is not a book to just hand to a younger child. The age range cited is 4-8, and this is the right group to be interested (and possibly up a bit higher too), but many of them will end up hopelessly bending the fold-up pages. This book needs to be looked at with an adult managing it or only given to older children that are very careful. Still, with careful supervision, this is a wonderful book for preschoolers and elementary-aged children.
The animals covered in this book are the aardvark, armadillo, anteater, camel, capybara, elephant, giant panda, giraffe, gorilla, hedgehog, koala, meerkat, prairie dog, red panda, rhino, sea lion, sloth, tapir, tiger, and zebra. In addition to photography, there are little factoids for each animal. For example, for the armadillo, we learn that only the three-banded kind can roll into a ball. The long hair growin on its belly is pointed out, as well as the fact that its head and tail fit together like a puzzle.
The main drawback to this book would be that it is oversized with foldout pages. This is not a book to just hand to a younger child. The age range cited is 4-8, and this is the right group to be interested (and possibly up a bit higher too), but many of them will end up hopelessly bending the fold-up pages. This book needs to be looked at with an adult managing it or only given to older children that are very careful. Still, with careful supervision, this is a wonderful book for preschoolers and elementary-aged children.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
OK, this book is something special. I know that because it appealed to my teenagers...and not young teens, either-- 13, 16, 19! We got this for our young nephews originally, but were inspired to buy several, as more gifts and also to keep for ourselves. Believe it or not, this is a terrific "coffee table" book. One-to-one size pictures of animals you'd never see up close...there is even a fly on the face of one of the creatures! And it is certainly the closest you'll ever be (and live to tell it) to the open jaw of a tiger! Wow. Amazing photos, information and not expensive, especially considering it's a book of high quality photos. If I could give 10 stars I would.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is the most awesome introduction to animals. You see them close up in full size -- not the whole animal, of course, but portions, such as nose, tail, horns, etc. Every animal page has a sidebar with additional close-up information the reader might not have noticed. A brilliant book for children to treasure and refer to frequently.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
So cute
The kids loved opening up the book and seeing the close up sizes of the animals. Some of the pages are doubled to open up even more. Read more
Published 8 days ago by Judith Ann Wozniak
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing for kids of all ages
I work with kids and they love to sit and look at the pictures, name the animals, and tell me what each eats. Read more
Published 18 days ago by Heather
4.0 out of 5 stars
Up close
My grand daughters love the book. I love it because it shows detail of the animals. It was fun to discuss the different animals and their unique appearances.
Published 2 months ago by Claire Coseno
5.0 out of 5 stars
enjoyable!!
my students loved the pictures, they are so realistic and really make you feel how much more bigger these animals are!
Published 2 months ago by Dulcie Velasco
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book, great buy.
This book is an absolute must have for children. The illustrations to compare each animal to life-size are amazing. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Cynthia Friend
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing!
If you have little animal lovers in your family they will live this book. I would have appreciated more biographical info such as where each animal was from, habitat etc. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Heidi
5.0 out of 5 stars
Life-Size Zoo: From Tiny Rodents to gigantic elephants, an actual...
I gave this book to my two grandchildren, ages 2 to 5. They loved it. The size of the animals really made a hit with them..
Published 4 months ago by ??
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fun Photos!
This book has great photos that provide a fun look at a variety of animals. It's fun for adults and little ones!
Published 4 months ago by SS
5.0 out of 5 stars
Giant Animals!
My duaghter loved lying next to book and measuring how big she is compared to the animal parts that fit on pages. This and the Life-Size Aquarium book are a lot of fun. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Sita
5.0 out of 5 stars
Let's Go to the Zoo
This book was wonderful and was very well-received by the both the four-year-old birthday boy and both his parents. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Avid series reader
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