The Living Forest: A World of Animals

by Rien Poortvliet

Other authorsRobert Elman (Introduction), Marlies Comjean (Translator), ien Poortvliet (Illustrator)
Hardcover, 1979

Status

Available

Local notes

591.52 Poo

Barcode

4360

Collection

Publication

Harry N. Abrams, Inc. (1979), 160 pages

Description

Living as he does in a rustic cottage, Poorvliet has long been a close observer of the comings and goings of wild creatures. He has his favorites, and he presents them here in full color and entrancing detail. Accompanying the charming and sensitive drawings and paintings are essays and captions that express Poortvliet's special feeling for forest-dwelling animals. With gentle wit, unabashed love, and exceptional knowledge he explains the customs, habitats, physical features, and mating habits of boars, ducks, deer, rabbits, partridges, pheasants and foxes (a special favorite).

Language

Original language

English

Physical description

160 p.; 12.1 inches

User reviews

LibraryThing member Cheryl_in_CC_NV
Poortvliet is a naturalist and an artist, a bit like John James Audubon. That much is true, and good. And this coffee-table book does a good job of giving us some interesting details about some interesting wildlife, including information to distinguish related species between N. America & Europe,
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and to tell the difference between hares and rabbits. It's earthy and honest.

My problems with it are principally two:

The cursive font captioning each sketch was very difficult for me to read, and would also be, perhaps, for children (although I wouldn't recommend this to children younger than 8 unless they already know about animals' primary raison d'etre, perhaps because they live on a farm).

And the occasional anthropomorphism was troubling, especially when crows were referred to as evil." Um, they're smart, but I don't think they're smart enough to rub their wings and cackle "Today the rabbit hutch, tomorrow the world!"

"
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Pages

160

Rating

(13 ratings; 4.2)
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