Book Review: Wild Languages of Mother Nature

"Wild Languages of Mother Nature: 48 Stories of How Nature Communicates" by Gabby Dawnay, illustrated by Margaux Samson Abadie, is a captivating exploration of the diverse and intricate ways that animals and plants convey information. This beautifully illustrated book is part of the Nature's Storybook series and presents 48 engaging stories that delve into the communication methods of various species.

From bees performing intricate waggle dances to rhinos using dung to leave messages, each story in this book introduces readers to the remarkable and often surprising ways different creatures communicate. The book shines with its ability to seamlessly blend informative content with engaging storytelling, offering insights into the reasons behind these natural interactions.

The vibrant and detailed illustrations are a standout feature, bringing the stories to life with their rich colors and dynamic representations. The use of dialog bubbles between animals adds a playful and whimsical element, making the information more accessible and enjoyable for readers of all ages. This artistic approach not only enhances the visual appeal but also helps to convey the book's educational content in a fun and engaging manner.

"Wild Languages of Mother Nature" is an excellent resource for both children and adults. It offers valuable insights into animal and plant communication, presenting complex concepts in a manner that is both educational and entertaining. The book's layout, with its clear and concise explanations paired with eye-catching illustrations, makes it an ideal addition to any library or classroom.

Overall, this book is a delightful read that encourages curiosity and fosters a deeper appreciation for the natural world. Its blend of informative text and captivating artwork makes it a valuable tool for sparking interest in nature and science. Whether used as a reference or enjoyed for leisure, "Wild Languages of Mother Nature" is a worthy addition to any nature enthusiast's collection.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. A beautifully illustrated book with amazing stories of Mother Nature.

What an amazing read for both kids and adults. Through stories of how nature communicates, students will get immersed in the study of animal communication. This is not only a great reference text, but a study of its own as well.

Really strong book for older primary school students, that conveys all the tricks, wonder and power of animal and plant communication. Starting with land mammals (well, and the humpback whale) we see chimps use body language, kangaroos rely on vibrations they cause in the topsoil to learn of threat, rhinos drop their messages from the rear end, and so on. If only the author (or someone) had decided not to communicate through the annoying medium of speech bubble, for this process may at times add extra information, but more often than not is a flippant, cartoony aspect and just something that makes the page look too busy. We could have got the onomatopoeia in another way, and got the critters' gist just as well from another medium.

That said – when is a bear not roaring but bellowing? Perhaps this ought to be a different entity entirely, as that lesson in bear wasn't clearest. But still, I really liked this, for all the small samples of clumsiness – the art is wonderful, both showing us natural comic book-styled narrative progression with the help of the numbered paragraphs and yet getting something a touch more cinematic and realistic than many such books. And ultimately this wins because it can still find ways to teach me new things – the mealtime gorilla song, for one, the pitcher plant eagerly engaging with bats for their guano another. For the junior mind we have zombie ants thrown in as well, to prove that species and their interactions can really be an engaging subject. A strong four stars.

Lots of different ways for nature to communicate that we don’t even think of! This would be something fun to read like a page or two a day!

Book Review: Wild Languages of Mother Nature by Gabby Dawnay, Margaux Samson Abadie (Illustrator)

Rating 5 Stars

In "Wild Languages of Mother Nature: 48 Stories of How Nature Communicates" by Gabby Dawnay, illustrated by Margaux Samson Abadie, readers are taken on a captivating journey through the intricate and fascinating ways in which animals and plants communicate in the natural world.

The book is a delightful addition to the Nature's Storybook series, offering 48 enchanting stories that showcase the diverse methods of communication found in nature. From bees performing waggle dances to rhinos leaving messages with their dung, each story introduces children to the astonishing ways in which different species connect and convey information.

It's the perfect blend of informative content with engaging storytelling. Readers not only learn about the various communication techniques used by wildlife but also gain insight into the reasons behind these interactions. The book weaves together nonfiction information seamlessly, ensuring that young readers come away with a deeper understanding and appreciation for the natural world.

Just one of the standout features of "Wild Languages of Mother Nature" is its vibrant and captivating illustrations. The colorful artwork brings the stories to life, making them both visually appealing and educational. The inclusion of dialog bubbles between animals adds a fun and comical element, enhancing the overall reading experience.

As someone who appreciates a well-crafted book, I was immediately drawn to the eye-catching cover and found myself thoroughly enjoying the range of species featured within the pages. The book introduced me to new and fascinating creatures, making it an engaging read for both children and adults alike.

In conclusion, "Wild Languages of Mother Nature" is a must-have for any young animal lover. It combines educational value with entertainment, making it an ideal gift that will spark curiosity and wonder about the natural world. With its beautifully told stories and stunning illustrations, this book is a true gem that celebrates the beauty and complexity of nature's communication systems.

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

I LOVE this book!! There are so many different facts about animals from all over the world. I'm an animal lover and I'm teaching my daughter to love them too. She would love this book. The illustrations were phenomenal and I really liked how the book was laid out. I actually learned a lot myself while reading it. I will define be purchasing a physical copy of this book once its published!!

Thank you NetGalley and Quarto Group for providing this ARC. I read it with my child, he’s in lower primary but he enjoyed this book enough. Though I think this book is more suitable for higher primary. While some parts are deep but others are quite repetitive, what captivated him is the illustrations throughout the book.

I loved this book! I shared it with my 8-year old and 3-year old, who absolutely loved the illustrations and the content. We read a two-page spread every night before bed, sometimes more! I would certainly recommend this entertaining collection to parents of preschoolers, early grades, and science educators.

Another absolutely brilliant book by Gabby Dawnay and once again illustrated by the talented Margaux Samson Abadie, (If you don't know the prior book I am speaking of, grab this and "Round and Round Goes Mother Nature" at the same time). Last time we looked at lifecycles. This time we are exploring how animals communicate and I learned so much. I think the beauty of these is that they are both brilliantly written and the illustrations add so much to the learning as well. They aren't just extras, they are intricate to the book and add so much depth. My only request: More books written and illustrated by this duo. We will be adding this book to our homeschool shelf alongside the other.

I read this Earc on @netgalley
This book takes us through 48 brilliant stories about how animals, plants and insects communicate.
The illustrations are absolutely beautiful some more complex than others. Throughout the book, there is valuable new information for readers of all ages about how and why certain animals communicate in the way that they do. There is information about animals from across the world how they communicate with their own species as well as others. There are the usual animals such as koalas and bears but also more unknown species such the Peruvian Warbling Antbird and the Deathwatch Beetle.
I really liked the way that the book didn’t just explain about the sounds animals make, but also the physical signs and body language as well.

Great for curious children

Very informative and interesting book that Im sure will both intrigue the curious child and any parent reading the book with them. It describes the ways different animals across the globe communicate with one another - and other species. It gives the young reader great insight into communication as a whole and a wide range of animals.

This book is comprised of 48 stories about animal communication. The illustrations are complex with ideas and concepts ranging from simple to complex. Readers of any age will be able to interact with this book and find information at any level. The graphic novel-like quality of the illustrations will engage the younger reader while imparting valuable information about how and why the natural world communicates. I would give this to any child who enjoys nature stories and children who enjoy drawing would even find creative ideas in the illustrations.

This book is an instant-buy for me after reading it on Netgalley. It shows so many amazing examples of how animals communicate with each other, using a variety of skills--not just vocalizations but body language and physical signals that animals leave for each other. This summer, I will be teaching my children about different animal families, and we will utilize this book so often when our physical copy arrives. It is amazing and informative with so much to learn on each page.

This book gave a cool, simplistic introduction into how some animals communicate. One thing I liked about the book is that it didn't just incorporate animals, it did many organisms in nature, including plants and insects. I like the limited text on each page with realistic illustrations to support.

I am a Middle and High school librarian, so this book is probably better suited for our Elementary library. I will share it with the librarian on that side of the school.

Thank you Netgalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Wide Eyed Editions. I look forward to sharing this book with our elementary librarian. I think it would be a nice edition to his library space! I may also get it for my nieces and nephews, they love the outdoors and animals!

What a fascinating book which will appeal to adults and children alike. There is so much to enjoy here from the gorgeous, detailed illustrations of different animals to the fascinating insights into how everything communicates in so many different ways that we humans are almost oblivious to. The information is clearly broken up into short manageable sections and then grouped by animal types. I loved finding out about the tarsier and the honey bee.
I can't wait to purchase a copy of this for our school library!

I truly wish that I had this book when I was a kid, although I will say that I thoroughly enjoyed it as an adult. I love how the information was broken down into small, easily understood chunks, and was super interesting and informative. The illustrations were beautiful. This is a perfect starting point for curiosity about animals, as an adult or child!

Beautifully illustrated, this book covers a vast variety of animals and natures and gives facts through fun conversations and vibrant images. This would appeal to young readers and encourage them to further their learning on animals and nature.

I love it! I always love these kinds of practical science books and this one is particularly excellent. The illustrations are detailed and fantastic and there are such great explanations of animal communication.
I highly recommend this book for almost everyone, because it would be great for a story hour, and even more fun for friends and family to read together while acting out what they're reading.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

Does your family play ‘What am I?” guessing game?
This book would be a great launch pad for those fun family times! Plants, places, animals, insects, and fish are presented in double paged spreads. I never knew there were SO MANY ways to communicate! One animal that I have not heard of before is the African Demon Mole Rat.

The illustrations are colorful and detailed. I find it easy to imagine what life is like for the creature described. I especially like the animal’s thought and comment bubbles as a fun way to reinforce what the main paragraphs are presenting.

Reading level is mid to late elementary school age. I see this book also being great for family read aloud time. Those who do not read can still have a great time with fantastic illustrations!
I highly recommend it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley for my honest opinion.