Review: Animal House

Title: Animal House

Author: Catherine Ledner

Photography: Catherine Ledner

Publisher: Hachette

Format: Hardcover, dust jacket

Language: English

ISBN: 978 0 73362 246 5

For ages: 0+

Type: Picture Book

About: Although not specifically a children’s book per se, Animal House will entrance and delight anyone from babies to grandpa. Whimsical, with stunning, vintage-inspired settings and exquisite photographs, this book will charm even the animal-wary.

Peppered with poetry and adorable peek-a-book cut-out pages, this is a true tribute to the personality of animals. Catherine Ledner has captured the most illustrious animal moments for our viewing pleasure – from the cow poking out his tongue to the lion in the midst of a delicious daydream, to the sassy strut of a hen, this is a compilation that will not fail to make anyone smile, or even coo out loud.

There is no want for detail in this book – the colour and gorgeous design are infallible, and the gentle play on animal rivalry and natural predators is delightful – pairing a stalking lion on one page with the clueless stance of a staring sheep on the opposite page. Then there’s the hen with a lift-out surprise fox, looking frisky.

I love this book – and am giving it to my pet-loving daughter for her ninth birthday. It’s going to be fun perusing the pages together.