Counting Lions - Hardcover

VIRGINIA MCKENNA OBE starred in the iconic film Born Free with her husband Bill Travers before setting up Zoo Check in 1984. Zoo Check later became the registered charity The Born Free Foundation, which takes action around the world to rescue vulnerable animals from appalling lives of misery in tiny cages in zoos, and give them lifetime care in spacious bush sanctuaries. As well as travelling extensively around the world in her work with Born Free, Virginia has authored many books and speaks at numerous events, while supporting many other charitable organisations. KATIE COTTON studied English at Oxford University before becoming an editor and author of children's books. She lives and works in London. STEPHEN WALTON is a self-taught, award-winning artist who works as Supervisor at Bury Art Museum in Manchester, UK. After studying Geography at Manchester University, his artwork developed alongside his love of taking photographs, which resulted in his very particular style and method: when he is out and about he takes photographs which he then draws from at home. His incredible charcoal artworks can take up to a month to complete. Counting Lions is his first fully illustrated book.

K-Gr 2—This oversize counting book features 10 endangered animals drawn beautifully in charcoal. The images of lions, tigers, elephants, penguins, and more are so detailed that they appear on first look to be black-and-white photos. Each spread presents an animal, such as a single male lion, two gorillas, three giraffes, etc. Soft, moody text printed in orange accompanies the images. "One lion sits and watches his rough-and-tumble pride. He surveys the golden savanna, and a flicker catches his eye—something moving in the grass." "Four tigers rest in dappled shade. The mother raises her magnificent head. She is a warrior of the forest, heavily muscled, a flash of fire and night that brings oblivion to her prey." The end pages expand upon the status of the animals, from the endangered to those less threatened. Their general habitat is noted along with information regarding the number of the species now left. VERDICT A stunning portrait of beautiful creatures in a book with a strong environmental message.—Roxanne Burg, Orange County Public Library, CA