JUNGLE ANIMALS

Tactile illustrations of jungle animals in a bold, striking palette.

Originally published in France as La jungle des animaux, this board book contains very little text—simple labeling of the animals in the illustration—but packs its punch in images. On each page, certain key pieces of the illustrations are raised. For example, the images of crocodiles reveal only their snouts and eyes slinking across the water, and the eyes are slightly raised for little fingers to touch. With essentially no words, Deneux conveys what it feels like to see a crocodile in the water and the essence of its movements. Other striking illustrations of a chameleon, panther, toucan, parrot, and (toothless, open-mouthed) piranhas make excellent use of background and contrasting colors to showcase the animals. Not every page is a knockout: The snake looks disappointingly like a worm. The birds that share a page with the crocodiles and the fish being chased by piranhas aren’t named, while every other animal is, down to ants and a spider, both of which are about to become food. Those issues aside, young readers on laps will enjoy the physical exploration of the book, while the contrasting, bold colors make the illustrations easy to see and understand.

Excellent for little hands to explore and with inviting and age-appropriate illustrations.