Hayley Rocco and John Rocco, recipient of a 2012 Caldecott Honor (Blackout; Hurricane), collaborate a second time (after How to Send a Hug) to introduce young readers to British naturalist David Attenborough. This mesmerizing picture book will likely captivate its audience with a powerful, accessible message and remarkable illustrations.
Hayley Rocco begins by describing a pivotal point in Attenborough's journey to naturalist: "On one of his adventures, he broke open a rock and discovered the fossil of an ammonite inside." John Rocco's illustrations of this period in Attenborough's life show a small, dull-colored segment of city juxtaposed with larger wild spaces that are vibrant and full of life. The vivid illustrations continue as Hayley Rocco guides readers along Attenborough's educational and career paths, John Rocco reversing the juxtaposition of images when the celebrated naturalist notices the cities overtaking the wild places. This striking visual message brilliantly reinforces the Attenborough quote that accompanies it: "We are replacing the wild with the tame."
Hayley Rocco changes the voice of the narrative from third person to first when she covers Attenborough's experiences as a television host, connecting readers directly to her subject and his work. John Rocco's art spotlights this message through double-page spreads that realistically portray humans' destructive behaviors (smog-producing factories, overfishing) on the left and the solutions Attenborough suggests on the right (wind and solar power, recovered oceans). A variety of resources about Attenborough and what readers can do to help the planet are appended. Wild Places belongs in the library of any child who finds joy in the natural world. --Jen Forbus, freelancer