Nextinction

Famed illustrator Steadman’s follow-up to 2012’s Extinct Boids continues where its predecessor left off, attempting to draw attention to endangered species. Though his trademark fanciful approach is still intact, with wild spots and lashings of color in his bold, colorful illustrations, his portrayal of the birds themselves is slightly more literal and reverential than in the first volume. Some birds, such as the spoon-billed sandpiper, blue-throated macaw, eskimo curlew, ivory-billed woodpecker, and a mournful California condor, are rendered more realistically, while others, such as the yellow-beaked red-legged bluet and its companion, the flightless boid, are rendered in the explosive, splattery style for which Steadman is known. The accompanying text by filmmaker Levy adds personality and insight to the book as he shares snippets of dialogue with the notorious artist while educating readers about many of the birds themselves. Even readers with only a passing interest in birds are sure to come away with a greater appreciation for avian diversity as well as the need to preserve endangered bird species. Illus. [em]Agent: Nat Sobel and Adia Wright, Sobel Weber Associates. (Sept.) [/em]