Item Condition: Used; Good
Does not have a dust jacket (image used is a 'stock image'). Has signs that it has been damp but the pages are good.
Review:
I remember this book from when i was a child and i used to go the the reference library in my local town. I was always drawn to birds and i used to sit at the desks provided and gaze this very special book and be utterly absorbed by the beautiful drawings of magical looking birds from all around the world. Its a true work of art. Inspired i used to go home and try and draw the birds - i wasn't very good but it kept me entertained and made me appreciate just how wonderful birds are . Oddly enough my favourite birds (in real life) are usually the little grey ones - but i can promise looking at this book and the exotic birds from all around the world -well- they will take your breath away. I normally prefer my bird books to have photographs rather than drawings - but this artist is utterly superb - the pictures are out of this world and the information provided very interesting too. To find this book on Amazon as an adult and to be able to purchase it has been quite fantastic - brought back many very good memories me. Highly recommend this book to anyone who appreciates the beauty of birds. Wonderful.
This book will delight anyone with an interest in nature or any budding artist looking for superb drawings of birds .
The layout of the book is simple to follow, the birds are described and illustrated in family order. The text is clear and concise and details the geographical range of each family as well as describing in general terms the habits of the group; sometimes going into greater detail about specific members of the family.
The illustrations ( by Arthur Singer ) are superb, each page carries at least one drawing of a particular species but most pages have more than one example of each family of birds. The drawings are incredibly detailed and are beautifully executed, the birds are shown carrying out natural behavior ( as opposed to the stilted examples in most guide books) and each chapter and page is a delight to behold.
The book is a classic and would be a marvellous gift to a budding ornithologist or to the more dedicated twitcher. It should be in the collection of anyone interested in birds and will not fail to inform and enthral any reader .