Above, below and long ago Animals, plants and fossils in hidden places

This handsome book, written by biologist Bright and originally published in the UK, introduces middle-grade readers to a number of animals and plants that are seldom or never seen, either because they live far above or entirely beneath Earth's surface or because they became extinct so long ago that only their fossils remain. Within the text, information about these creatures is well organized, very readable, and sometimes fascinating. Bright, who is a member of the Royal Society of Biology, has previously written books on wildlife for adults and children. He has also served as an executive producer for the BBC's Natural History Unit and its Science Unit. Emmerson's distinctive illustrations--linocut prints in limited, naturalistic colors--have a timeless look. In the back matter, he explains how the pictures were made: beginning with the traditional method but sometimes using digital tools in the final stages. Introducing many unusual creatures, this book is an inviting choice for kids who enjoy the BBC's esteemed documentaries on wildlife.

A select gallery of elusive flora and fauna, from living and extinct fossils to an orchid that only blooms underground. Bright doesn't stick too closely to his "hidden places" premise, instead including several easy-to-find creatures, such as horseshoe crabs and barn swallows. But nature lovers won't mind, since his 24 profiles are long on mysteries and surprising facts--and are accompanied by Emmerson's vivid, multihued linocut portraits. In sections titled "Above," "Below," and "Long Ago," the author offers introductions to creatures as ubiquitous as brown rats and as rare as the yellow-rumped leaf-eared mouse, which lives on the slopes of one volcano in the Andes and at a higher altitude than any other mammal in the world. Though the entries are brief, readers will come away with clear pictures of why each of Bright's chosen subjects is unique and also about what remains to be discovered about many, such as how seeds produced by the western underground orchid are distributed or just what that Andean mouse can find to eat at such heights. Emmerson portrays the plants and animals in lively, naturalistic poses against detailed or textured backgrounds ranging from deep seas and black caves to bright, steep mountain crags and crowded cityscapes. Stimulating ventures into some of the world's less accessible locales. (map, glossary, illustrator's note, index)(Nonfiction. 7-10) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.