Crossings: Extraordinary Structures for Extraordinary Animals by Katy S. Duffield, Mike Orodan
Published by Beach Lane Books on October 13, 2020
ISBN: 1534465790
Pages: 48
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
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With more and more interactions between animals and humans due to urban sprawl, animals are losing ways to migrate safely, be it across a road or a country. Author Duffield, upon reading an article about an underpass built specifically to aid and protect the endangered Florida panther, began to research other ways of safely delivering all sorts of animals from one area to another. World wide, crossings have been built – be they tunnels, bridges, and  overpasses to aid and protect many kinds of animals . Duffield has partnered with illustrator Mike Orodan to bring this story to young readers and future engineers and animal activists.

Simple text with side bars for those wanting more information are found on  facing pages of large vivid illustrations done with  graphite pencils and adobe photoshop that draw the reader in. They  are there watching elephants going through tunnels  in Kenya, and Fairy penguins using tunnels in New Zealand, bridges for millions of red crabs to cross safely in Australia, and tight rope bridges for the Titi monkey in Costa Rica. Because of dedicated activists urging these crossings to be built, countless animals have been saved. Younger readers can “read” the information through these large  vibrant , detailed illustrations.

This non fiction offering is both beautiful to look at and relevant and inspiring. It is a book  much needed if humans and animals are to co-exist on this planet.

Pair it with Faraway Fox by Jolene Thompson and Wild Bridges and Buildings  by Etta Kanter that explains how humans have borrowed various  forms of architecture from animals to make life better and safer.

all ages can benefit from this book

Submitted by Kathy George, Gray Public Library, Gray Maine

consider for Cream