D'Aulaire's Book of Animals

D'Aulaires' Book of Animals
by Ingri and Edgar Parin d'Aulaire/ published 1940 by Doubleday, Doran & Co.

The miracle workers at The New York Review have been handpicking important and wonderful out-of-print children's titles for reprint in their Children's Collection, and the results are remarkable.

I had never seen this book until I stumbled on it in a book store today. Like most people my age, Ingri and Edgar Parin d'Aulaire's book D'aulaire's Book of Greek Myths was a staple, and my sisters and I spent hour upon hour pouring over its pages. The tale of the imprisoned man who has his ears licked clean by a snake and can then hear the voices of termites as they plot their next meal made a huge and fantastical impression on me. So seeing the words D'aulaire and animal together on one book cover today nearly made my head spin.

Far to the South live the animals that like very hot weather.
There is never cold and never winter, and the sun burns all through the year.

Originally published under the name Animals Everywhere, its a fold-out tale told in lavish illustration that tracks wildlife from the hottest of hot climates to the coldest of cold... from yawning hippo to floating narwhal. THIS BOOK IS AWESOME. Flipping through the pages I almost can't believe how awesome it it. This definitely bodes well for the rest of the books in the series, and as soon as I finish writing this post, I'm gonna be off in search!

Also by:
Ola
The Terrible Troll-Bird
D'Aulaire's Book of Greek Myths
Benjamin Franklin
Don't Count Your Chicks