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Through Endangered Eyes - a poetic journey into the wild

by Rachel Allen Dillon

Windward Press, Finney Co.

ISBN: 9780893170677

Hardcover, $15.50, 64 pages

Through Endangered Eyes is a stunning collection of poems, artwork and zoological facts that will make a valuable addition to any home, library or classroom shelf. The work is so beautiful, it can also make a wonderful coffee table book.

What I like most about it, though, is that it teaches children about endangered species while encouraging responsibility toward nature and our world. It’s never too early to begin teaching children about the beauty of animals and the combination of simple poems, brief yet targeted facts, and lovely artwork will delight both young and adult minds alike.

In the book, the author presents endangered species such as the green sea turtle, the African elephant, Grevy’s zebra, Bengal tiger, corroboree frog, Karner blue butterfly, Chinese butterfly, and the Mexican spotted owl, among others. In each entry, she includes a short poem and description, along with its status as an endangered species, and resource links to find out more about it.

Here’s an example:

Species: MEXICAN SPOTTED OWL

I hide myself
in tall old trees;
when I have space
I feel at ease.

Mexican spotted owls have homes spread out over a great deal of land. This owl is among the largest owls in North America. It averages about 16 to 19 inches tall with a wing span of approximately 42 to 45 inches. The females are larger than the males.

This secretive species likes forested mountains and out-of-the-way canyons with old trees that create high, hidden spaces, which are good for nesting. They nest in stick nests built by other birds, hollow spaces in old trees, caves and on cliff ledges.

Where they live:  The Mexican Spotted Owl can be found in forested mountains and canyons from S. Utah and Colorado to the mountains of Arizona, New Mexico, W. Texas and even into Mexico.

Status: Threatened

Resources:
US Fish & Wildlife - http://www.fws.gov
www.kidsplanet.org/factsheets/map.html
www.biologicaldiversity.org

But not only this. The end of the book is an amalgam of resources for teachers and lists a series of classroom activities, including things children can do to help endangered species. What better way to extend the ‘awareness’ experience?

The artwork is gorgeous. Done in acrylics, Dillon’s work was inspired by three things: mosaics, pointillism, and Aboriginal Acrylic Dot painting. This isn’t just a simple children’s book, but a beautiful art book to proudly display in a living room. Highly recommended!

About the author:

Rachel Dillon was born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin. She attended the University of Wisconsin, Madison and graduated in 1994 with a Bachelor of Science in Art, emphasizing in Graphic Design. Outside of art, she holds a special interest in evolution and extinction and took several classes in paleontology, and geology. Her passion for animals grew as she learned more about endangered species.

A note from the author:

“Learning about animals and our planet is a fundamental part of a child’s education. This book is focused only on endangered or threatened species.

“In each poem, I touch on qualities and uniqueness of each animal. As story tellers, they will introduce themselves to you, the reader, and invite you to meet them and learn more. Poetry is a beautiful way to open up dialogue and prompt questions. It also makes learning fun as an inquisitive mind seeks to understand. When knowledge is earned, it remains in the mind and heart for a longer period of time.

“In the back of the book, there is factual information specific to each species. This guide will help you decipher facts hidden in the poems. When the wonderful ?why? question is asked, you will have the answer.

“I believe all creatures in the Animal Kingdom serve a purpose and play a role that keeps the planet balanced. Although, extinction is a natural process, the current rate of species going extinct is unnatural. Our children need to understand the importance each species plays to the survival of all things. They will inherit an earth that needs habitat rebuilding and scientific intervention to maintain biodiversity. Your job not only is to make your own changes to help the planet, but more importantly, to guide your children and cherish their natural desire to make the world a better place.”

Purchase this book on Amazon.

Visit Rachel Allen Dillon’s Website.

Visit the Through Endangered Eyes blog.