'Eyes' Book Focuses On Endangered Animals

"Through Endangered Eyes" is an inspiring book of poetry and paintings describing the plight of 21 endangered and threatened animals. Written with simple verse, the poems are obviously meant to appeal to children, but the book seems to be written mainly for adults to read to children. Dillon beseeches adults to take action to help save these endangered species and to encourage their children to do the same.

In her "Note to the Reader," Dillon tells parents and teachers to look to the back of the book for answers to questions the poems might prompt.

"Through Endangered Eyes: A Poetic Journey into the Wild" by Rachel Allen Dillon, 2009, Windward Publishing, $16.50, hardbound, 64 pages

For example, the golden lion tamarin’s poem mentions that her home could vanish; in the back of the book is a section on this species of monkey stating that more than 90 percent of the golden lion tamarin’s habitat has been destroyed or broken up by deforestation.

However, the sections on species tell more about these animals than why they’re endangered. Here is given a neat description of each species which includes interesting bits of information. For instance, the snow leopard does not roar; the marbled murrelet, a type of seabird, "flies" underwater, even hunting and eating underwater; and Corroboree frogs don’t mate until they’re 4 years old.

These sections also help to explain how one species’ disappearance affects other species. Chinese alligators dig holes up to 10 feet deep; if the marsh dries up, fish and tadpoles can live in these holes. If Bengal tigers should become extinct, their prey would overpopulate and possibly destroy all the grass in a given area. Both the species who eat the tigers’ leftovers and other species who depend on grass to live would then be greatly affected.

Also in the book are a list of ways to help endangered species, including writing to policy makers and recycling.

A large list of conservation organizations is given, and there are sections on how to reinforce the book’s message with children and on lesson plans.

A couple of interesting suggestions for reinforcing the book’s message are adopting an endangered animal and creating a scrapbook about vanishing and threatened animals.

Classroom ideas deal with poetry and writing, science, math and art. At the end of the book are definitions of the various levels of endangerment.

Dillon’s unusual paintings are made up of colored dots and are realistic and detailed, sure to prove intriguing to both children and adults.

Lee’s take: A distinctive way to explore endangered species.

J.J.’s take: Packed with useful tips.

LEE AND J.J. MACFADDEN are twins and voracious readers living in Bristol, Tenn. E-mail them at leeandjj.doubletake@yahoo.com.