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trish204's review against another edition
3.0
A cute little book I found in the bookstore by coincidence.
Maybe it‘s because I‘m a linguist, but I‘ve always been fascinated by what you call groups of different animals (like „a murder of crows“). And this book offered that information along with some other useful tidbits on a number of popular species.
The illustrations are all in black-and-white and the style isn‘t 100% to my liking (no idea what its official name is). Moreover, the information given wasn‘t groundbreaking or anything (not „unexpected and remarkable“ as it says in the blurp) so I often wondered if there are really people not knowing this stuff. However, if you gift this book to a child, for example, it might work well enough to get them interested and start reading non-fiction.
And, I mean, I love animals so reading more of the same information, just in a different makeup is always kinda nice and the facts presented are the more „weird“ and „funny“ type so I did enjoy the book (besides, nature is always awesome).
Maybe it‘s because I‘m a linguist, but I‘ve always been fascinated by what you call groups of different animals (like „a murder of crows“). And this book offered that information along with some other useful tidbits on a number of popular species.
The illustrations are all in black-and-white and the style isn‘t 100% to my liking (no idea what its official name is). Moreover, the information given wasn‘t groundbreaking or anything (not „unexpected and remarkable“ as it says in the blurp) so I often wondered if there are really people not knowing this stuff. However, if you gift this book to a child, for example, it might work well enough to get them interested and start reading non-fiction.
And, I mean, I love animals so reading more of the same information, just in a different makeup is always kinda nice and the facts presented are the more „weird“ and „funny“ type so I did enjoy the book (besides, nature is always awesome).
ljackman's review against another edition
4.0
Adorable.
Beautifully simple ink illustrations of all sorts of animals with accompanying fun facts.
Like a group of ravens is called a conspiracy, a group of mice called a mischief...and otters are the most romantic sleeping buddies.
And I learnt a lot of animals can't move backwards and that pigs physically cannot look up at the sky - sorry Wilbur...
Beautifully simple ink illustrations of all sorts of animals with accompanying fun facts.
Like a group of ravens is called a conspiracy, a group of mice called a mischief...and otters are the most romantic sleeping buddies.
And I learnt a lot of animals can't move backwards and that pigs physically cannot look up at the sky - sorry Wilbur...
erikfazekas's review against another edition
4.0
Ježiši, toto je milé a vtipné, všetci kakajú, nevedia cúvať, lietať pospiatky a podobne.
Také iďipiďi fakty s coolovými ilustráciami, ktoré som si chcel vykresľovať furt! A to už omaľovánkam odzvonilo.
Také iďipiďi fakty s coolovými ilustráciami, ktoré som si chcel vykresľovať furt! A to už omaľovánkam odzvonilo.
juliaschonfeld's review against another edition
4.0
"Všichni klauni se rodí jako samečci. Kdykoli pak v hejnu rybek umře samice, nejsilnější samec se promění v novou samici, aby ji nahradil." wait what
inkdrunkmoth's review against another edition
4.0
I love facts. My favourite show is QI. I watch fact videos on youtube obsessively. So when I saw the Illustrated Compendium of Amazing Animals Facts by Maja Safstrom, I had to get it and review it.
First Impression - The cover is amazing. It's so pretty! The artwork inside is just as great. I was super excited just to hold it in my hands.
While Reading - I really enjoy the facts and the images that go with them. I just wish there were more facts! But the book does do a good job at adding some facts I didn't even know, which was really nice. It turns out a lot of animals can't walk backwards. Which makes me feel a bit better because I can't do it well. The art is really pretty. I really want to share the artwork with people, but at the very least, I can share the book with them and suggest it to them.
I think this book is a great bathroom/side table book and a book for kids (probably earlier being five? I don't know, I don't have kids, but I feel like five year old's would laugh at some of these facts and enjoy them). I think that anyone of any age can enjoy this book and the art in it. It's an adorable and quick read if you enjoy random and silly facts about animals. I do recommend it for people who enjoy such things and those who don't, seeing as it's so short.
First Impression - The cover is amazing. It's so pretty! The artwork inside is just as great. I was super excited just to hold it in my hands.
While Reading - I really enjoy the facts and the images that go with them. I just wish there were more facts! But the book does do a good job at adding some facts I didn't even know, which was really nice. It turns out a lot of animals can't walk backwards. Which makes me feel a bit better because I can't do it well. The art is really pretty. I really want to share the artwork with people, but at the very least, I can share the book with them and suggest it to them.
I think this book is a great bathroom/side table book and a book for kids (probably earlier being five? I don't know, I don't have kids, but I feel like five year old's would laugh at some of these facts and enjoy them). I think that anyone of any age can enjoy this book and the art in it. It's an adorable and quick read if you enjoy random and silly facts about animals. I do recommend it for people who enjoy such things and those who don't, seeing as it's so short.
jessicawang's review against another edition
3.0
If you’ve been following along for a while, you know how much I love animal facts, illustrations, and reading nonfiction. The Illustrated Compendium of Amazing Animal Facts caught my eye the moment I saw it online. Maja Säfström is a Stockholm based architect and illustrator, and her style consists of fun, simple black and white drawings. Her new book is 120 pages of black and white illustrations accompanied by some facts, about 2-3 facts per animal. If you read as many animal facts as I do, you probably won’t learn anything new from this book, but to be honest, this isn’t the kind of book that you pick up to learn new things. I did learn a few new things though, like did you know that cockroaches don’t like to eat cucumbers and bees don’t sleep?
I think this book could actually make a pretty fun coloring book, so I will probably plan on doodling in it or maybe giving it to a friend’s daughter. Säfström also sells greeting cards, postcards, tea towels, etc, with her illustrations. I’m not a huge fan of decorative books or coffee table books, so I would recommend buying other things over buying her book since they also have a practical aspect. But if you’re a fan of looking at pretty things, this may be right up your alley.
***
I’d recommend this book to people who like trivia, people who follow illustrators on Instagram, and people whose living rooms look like an Ikea catalogue.
I think this book could actually make a pretty fun coloring book, so I will probably plan on doodling in it or maybe giving it to a friend’s daughter. Säfström also sells greeting cards, postcards, tea towels, etc, with her illustrations. I’m not a huge fan of decorative books or coffee table books, so I would recommend buying other things over buying her book since they also have a practical aspect. But if you’re a fan of looking at pretty things, this may be right up your alley.
***
I’d recommend this book to people who like trivia, people who follow illustrators on Instagram, and people whose living rooms look like an Ikea catalogue.
bibliocyclist's review against another edition
3.0
"Penguins laugh when they are tickled."
"Swifts can fly nonstop for over six months!"
"Ants have no lungs!"
"Goats have rectangular pupils!"
"Swifts can fly nonstop for over six months!"
"Ants have no lungs!"
"Goats have rectangular pupils!"