The more you look the more of “D’s” you see. why are there two Dinosaurs and a Camel next to them? The camel with one hump is called a Dromedary – that’s why. The section of the illustration zoomed into above is no more than a square inch in the actual book and I am still discovering all the D-things it’s packed with. One day it has just randomly occurred to me that this Princess in her cone-shaped medieval hat is clearly a reference to archetypal medieval Damsel in Distress waiting to be saved by a knight. For years I have been seeing this Princess dressed in red, leaning out of the tower wondering why was she not on “P”. There is a letter D atop of a Doric capitol column emerging from behind the smoke. It’s easy to spot a Double-Decker on the road, a Dirigible in the sky, two Domes on the towers and what looks like Destruction from some kind of explosion at the base of the tower. Have a look now at the left-hand side scene behind the window. “Youthful Yaks Yodelling in Yellow Yachts”

“Two Tigers Taking the 10.20 Train to Timbuktu” “Lazy Lions Lounging in the Local Library” “Ingenious Iguanas Improvising an Intricate Impromptu on Impossibly Impractical Instruments” “Diabolical Dragons Daintily Devouring Delicious Delicacies” It is also a huge testament to the depth and breadth of Graeme Base’s genius.Įach illustration centres around its main characters who are surrounded by a cornucopia of other things, figures and objects, all beginning with the respective alphabet letter. It abounds in references, including from Music (can you spot a nod to Jethro Tull’s “Heavy Horses” album cover?) and Politics (like “No Nukes for NZ” newspaper article on “N”) and more.įun with “Animalia” is proportional to its reader’s desire to engage with detail and is relative to the depth and breadth of their intellect. “Animalia” will appeal to your intelligence in Literature, History, Arts, and Sciences. Animalia went gangbusters in Australia and the US, and turned a hobby into a career.” Įach letter of the alphabet presents a hilarious absurd idea communicated through a complex alliterated sentence, which is then replicated visually in an insanely detailed illustration rich with graphic puns and visual riddles. Graeme Base refers to it as “the book that changed my life. First published in 1986, it has sold over 3 million copies worldwide and counting. It was included in the 1987 Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Picture Book of the Year Honour List.

“Animalia” – the creation of Graeme Base’s genius – is infinitely more than just an ABC book.

Animalia picture book