Nocturne. Creatures of the Night
Princeton Architectural Press/Raincoast Books
age 8-12
By Traer Scott
128 pages
Synopsis from Raincoast Books:
Whether fierce, cuddly, startling, mysterious, or some indefinable combination of all of the above, nocturnal animals never fail to fascinate. In Nocturne: Creatures of the Night , celebrated animal photographer Traer Scott takes the viewer on a journey through nighttime in the animal kingdom, revealing some of nature’s most elusive creatures. Bats, big cats, flying squirrels, tarantula, owls, kangaroo mice, giant moths, sloth, several species of snakes, and a Madagascar hissing cockroach are only a few of the animals illuminated in these lushly detailed portraits. Seventy-five full-color photographs of forty different species are accompanied by informed but accessible descriptions of each animal’s habits and habitats, and an introduction provides personal insight into how Scott captures her astonishing images.
I’m not usually one for animal books, especially non-fiction, but the Traer Scott’s photography drew me in to Nocturne. Creatures of the Night. The close-up detail of animals we don’t see but have maybe read in a story, were amazing. Shooting them on black with no environmental background to distract you enables you to focus completely on the animals.
Looking at the texture of the beavers coat, the teeth of the vampire bat, the legs on a barn owl, we couldn’t stop turning the pages. Of course Traer Scott includes a little information about each animal. Did you know an opossum can remain unconscious for up to four hours as a defense mechanism or that a Fannec fox is about the size of a Chihuahua? Kids who love to retain these little facts, like my son, will love Nocturne. Creatures of the Night. It’s a great book to understand a world we don’t normally see.
You can find a copy of Nocturne. Creatures of the Night at your local bookstore or at Raincoast Books. Visit our Kid’s Books section for other great book recommendations.