Nocturne: Creatures of the Night

In this exquisite collection of portraits of 42 nocturnal animals, photographer Scott sets her subjects against dark backgrounds that give the images quiet dignity and power, while making the animals’ fur, feathers, quills, and skin all the more luminous. A serval cat stares intently at readers, a bat bares its teeth, and a cecropia moth’s fuzzy, vibrant wings fill a full spread. Intriguing information about the animals accompanies the photos: “Hedgehogs are extremely vocal. They communicate their preferences and moods using a repertoire of grunts, chirps, hisses, and squeals.” The brilliance of the photographs is in their minimalism, allowing the animals to dictate the mood of the compositions. Ages 7–12. (Sept.)