Our world of wild wonders by Jevita Nilson. Illus. by Jess Racklyet

Jevita Nilson and Jess Racklyet have once again combined to create another delightful factual narrative. Their first book Our World is Full of Wonder explored magnificent natural wonders of our world. Their second book Our World of Wild Wonders explores the unique animals that live in our world.

The gorgeous blue cover showing our Planet Earth surrounded by some well-known creatures is an enticement to explore this book. The narrative begins with images of zebras racing across a double page with a whale below and an eagle above. The poetic text accompanying the soft yet vibrant illustrations on this first page goes as follows:

‘There is a world of wild wonders where mighty wings soar
in dappled skies, herds of hooves pound endless
plains, and giants glide through sun-kissed waters.
Shall we go explore?’ 

Throughout the book, readers are introduced to natural environments and the diverse animals that inhabit each place. Some of these include a murmuration of starlings in the evening skies of the British Isles, goats climbing on the sheer cliff face of the European Alps, pods of dolphins off the coast of New Zealand, an echidna searching for safety in the face of a wildfire in Australia, chameleons in Madagascar.

This book is a visual delight with the stunning illustrations perfectly complementing the expressive and highly accessible text. In the final pages is a map of where each of the twelve creatures can be found and further valuable information. There is also a glossary. This is a fascinating book to share with young children.

Teacher notes: Our World of Wild Wonders , Jevita Nilson, Jess Racklyeft, 9781486318667

Themes: Wildlife, Environments, Habitats, Adaptation, Natural Wonders.

Kathryn Beilby