Urban Jungle

Publishers Big Picture Press do not disappoint: they produce very big books full of wonderful pictures and this one by Vicky Woodgate is no exception. Urban Jungle is an oversized non-fiction book which explores the fauna of the world's major cities. Did you know that Spinybacked orbweavers can be found in Lima, Peru? Or that Milk sharks patrol the waters around Mumbai? Or that Vancouver is home to Bobcats, Coyotes, seals, bears, skunks, turtles and Rufous hummingbirds? With each turn of a page the reader encounters the surprising inhabitants of some of the world's busiest cities and surrounding urban areas. Each page begins with a clear geographical summary of each city, a map of where in the country or continent it can be found, and a plethora of stylistic animal illustrations. A particularly nice touch is the 'Animal Stories' box that can be found on each page where a particular animal is highlighted, sometimes with a funny story that made the news and often with tales of historical significance or surprising facts about the creatures. The book is split into sections based on continent and each part opens with a double page map - it doesn't skimp the geography side of things. Urban Jungle definitely isn't just a book about animals; it's a brand new beast combining an Atlas with a natural history book, although it perhaps couldn't be used as either - it must be treated as something different. With publishers pushing he boundaries of what non-fiction books look like this is an exciting time to be a child who loves to gather facts. With maps and animals being popular obsessions for primary aged children, this book is sure to be a hit both at home and in the classroom and will hold up to repeat reads, such is the wealth of information contained. 112 pages / Ages 7+ / Reviewed by Aidan Severs, teacher.

Suggested Reading Age 7+