Animalium, Welcome to the Museum

Reference picture book, 91 pages. A natural history of animals - a museum in book form. Published in 2014 by Candlewick Press. Children's Book of the Year by the Sunday Times.

Katie Scott &
​Jenny Broom

Scott illustrates children's books in a style heavily influenced by traditional medical & botanical illustrations - and the details are stunning.

Broom is the author and editor of a number of children's books many of which have been translated into French. A second title, The Wonder Garden, is also reviewed at Stories Matter.

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Book Recap

Laid out with galleries - instead of chapters - the book offers a beautiful view of the animal kingdom. Beginning with invertebrates - the only thing they have in common is what they don't have: jointed spines -- to mammals, the plates and text are fascinating for anyone who wants to learn about animal evolution and biodiversity.

Each two-page spread focuses on just one type of animal and includes a description, a plate of multiple examples and a key to the plate.

Learning Ideas

Family Read Aloud Time
Similar to Botanicum, this is not a traditional storybook, but a book the family will return to over and over as children grow.

Learning at Home
The potential to use this book for a year-long study based on the Tree of Animal Life illustration in the introduction is tremendous! Whether you prefer hands-on/real-life activities or a more literature based-approach to your home learning, Animalium  is versatile enough for either type of unit study about plants.

Classroom Options
A must classroom reference book for primary and upper elementary science study.

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