An Exploration Never To Be Forgotten
A Review of "Explore! Animals of the South African Lowveld"
By Dr. Gary Pratico
 

Review of Marguerite Parino's " Explore! Animals of the South African Lowveld" . This new book is probably one of the best ways for young readers to encounter and experience the animals that define for many the heart and soul of one of our world's most majestic landscapes, the South African Lowveld.  Among the twenty-one exotic animals that are presented, many are familiar (elephants, lions and giraffes), but others are virtually unkown (steenbok, klipspringer and waterbucks) Though young readers (elementary through middle school) are the targeted audience, the author will capture the attention and interest of readers into the late senior years.  Reckoning herself as a "citizen scientist", the author has travelled at length over ten years throughout Limpopo and Mpumalunga South Africa and presently she and her husband manage a game lodge in that region.  These are among her many creditials that have produced this engaging, entertaining and highly informative presentation of animals that have captured the fascination of people worldwide.  This book is an invitation to explore, learn and be surprised by this exotic managerie. Written with clarity, complemented with beautiful photographs, the author explores and paints the appearance, distinctive characteristics, behaviors and habitats of these animals.  Every reader, regardless of age or level of familiarity with this topic, can expect to be surprised and delighted to become more familiar with each of these remarkable animals. And for young readers who are encountering this world for the first time, it will be a feast seeing, hearing, tasting and even smelling the wonder, beauty and danger of the African Lowveld.  This is an honest and authentic presentation of these animals.  Their lives and inclinations are not sanitized and the author does not write an apology fo their behaviors which can be endearing but they can also be brutal and unsettling.  Many of them are hunters, predators and scavengers and they need to kill to live and feed their young.  Appropriately, while not making the brutality an emphasis, the author does not diminish or neglect the reality.  And in this, we are given an authentic and honest portrait of these animals.  Whether a teenage or in the throes of old age, this book is an eye-opener and, delightfully at times a jaw-dropper.  It is with unqualified enthusiasm that I recommend "Explore! Animals of the South African Lowveld" . The author has promised more to come and I can't wait.