This wonderful book is all about giraffes. Tall Blondes tells how giraffes astonished the first Europeans who saw them, and recounts many intriguing tales about these beasts that people made up when they were still a mystery. It moves the reader through culture and art, showing how the giraffe has paced along into modern times, still giving us things to wonder at, even as scientists and naturalists explain some of the mysteries of giraffes. (Like how do they lift their heads from drinking without blacking out?) Ending up featuring giraffes in zoos, safari parks, and even making an appearance in films. Lots of intriguing stories, myths and facts. The photographs and illustrations are beautiful, the content informative and often amusing as well. I also liked that the dimensions of the book itself mirror the subject- the copy I read was 9.5 x 6.5 inches, a narrow book that held in the hand felt taller than its fellows.And to top it all off, here's a little sketch I did of some giraffes yesterday. I read this book a few years ago, borrowed from the public library.
Rating: 3/5 ........ 167 pages, 1995
I love giraffes. There's a park sort of place a little ways away from my town, where loads of wild animals (nice ones like giraffes and antelopes and zebras) wander around free, and you ride round in trolley things and feed them. I always like the giraffes the best - they often stayed shyly far away, but occasionally they would come and poke their heads all the way into the trolleys. This book looks rather sweet!
ReplyDeleteI think this book might be based on the PBS show by the same name that I saw a few years ago. I was just telling my niece and nephew about it the other day -- the giraffes peek their heads inside the second floor windows of the manor house on the grounds! I'd like to see it again - but I'll look for the book, too!
ReplyDeleteP.S. I like your sketches!
What a fascinating book. I think I need to track down a copy!
ReplyDeleteI love giraffes! I used to spend hours staring at them in the zoo, and once, when one ate some stuff I offered it, I was over the moon!
ReplyDeleteAlso, your sketches are marvelous!
Jenny- That sounds lovely. It is a sweet book.
ReplyDeleteGwendolyn- I didn't know there was a film. I think I'd like to see it!
Holly- Me, too. It's one I'd like to have in my library. I don't have any books about giraffes!
Hazra- Every time I go to a zoo where you can feed the giraffes from a vantage point near the height of their heads, it either wasn't feeding time or they wouldn't come over. .
Giraffes are such beautiful and interesting animals. Giraffes were my brothers favorite animal growing up so we'd always spend a lot of time visiting with them at the zoo (I was a tiger girl myself). Love your sketches, Jeane!
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