Explanatorium of Nature

Explanatorium of Nature
Published by DK|Penguin Australia
Date: 30 October 2017
R.R.P. $45.00

 
My words will not do this book justice, because I can barely find the words for the up-close photography that gives you a look at animals and nature like you have never seen before.  The front cover of the book drew me in the first time I saw it, its beauty isn’t just in its shiny cover though, the pages within are captivating and the information will keep you immersed for hours.

What makes Explanatorium of Nature unique is how the pictures have been captured.  The photography has used a variety of sources to bring to the reader detailed images, included microscopic scanning.  Such detail enables readers to see nature and animals in a way they may never see in real life, such as the fingertips of Monkeys, the feet of an Ostrich, the tongue of a Chameleon, and the wings of a Dragonfly.

Explanatorium of Nature resonates with a broad age range, from children and adults from ages 8 to 108.  This is achieved by having pockets of information throughout each page of the book, some of which are simple facts such as The duck inflates air sacs to stay afloat, which children will understand and take in.  The other information is more detailed and goes further into talking about air sacs, which will engage older readers.  This is not to say that children will not read every bit of information on each page, it just means that there is a balance of information that appeals to different age groups/areas of interest.

Particular parts of the book that I am fascinated by are:

• Every single bit of photography – even the spiders, snakes and sharks.
• The very detailed Glossary at the end – I like explanations and it will enable children to understand unfamiliar terms.
• The front cover because it really jumps out at you.
• Explanations of Cells, DNA and Classifications.
• And, the very easy to follow and detailed contents.

There is a two page spread on the evolution of animals and plants, this may concern some readers who are familiar with the term in relation to the Big Bang.  However, this information is about how animals have changed over time to adapt to our changing world.

By reading this book I have learnt how diverse nature is, how unique each animals is, and how blessed we are to live in a world where it is possible to capture such beauty through photography and the written word.   I am thankful that this is a book people will be lost in for hours, that even though it is heavy it will be lugged around and loved, and that this has all come to us to read and see in a book rather than online.  With Christmas around the corner this would make the perfect gift for the whole family.

Thank you to DK|Penguin Australia for the opportunity to read and honestly review this book.