Plot Summary
Animal Ark features vivid photos of animals in every shape and size. The main focus is on animals that are endangered and threatened. The poem that runs throughout the entire book focuses on the unique characteristics of every creature, highlighting their individual talents and curiosities. The middle of the book features smaller images of the animals and includes lines of prose, telling about the interconnectedness of all life on Earth and emphasizing our responsibility to care for all of its creatures.
Critical Analysis
The first animal featured in its own spread is a small primate. Its light-brown fur contrasts nicely with the solid black background. The accompanying verses discuss its "eyes, full of secret places to hide and play." The book's focus on readers seeing humans and animals as a part of one bug Earthly family is clear in both the words and images seen in these opening pages. The animal's eyes are a bold orangey-brown color that do, indeed, include depths that seem more human than animal. His hand is over his mouth in a look of surprise or wonder, mirroring the playful words of the poem.
Several pages later we see a group of tortoises. Although their general physical characteristics are all quite similar, one is able to see small unique qualities when looking at the 4 of them so closely in a line. The patterns and colors of their shells are all different from one another and even the scales on their legs are of varying sizes and shapes. It is amazing to look at the positions of their heads and see what looks like their own personalities coming through the photograph. The lines on this page. "homes of courage on humble backs, this is not a race" embody the distinct qualities of these animals. Frequently they are seen as cowardly when retreating into their shells, but here they are described as courageous. Indeed, at the angle of the photograph, the shells look like impressive fortresses. Tortoises are, of course, known for being slow, which the words allude to in stating that this is not a race. However, one could also interpret those words in another way, reiterating the overlying message of the book that all creatures on Earth are one, and using the word race in its definition as a group of humans with similar characteristics.
That idea of interconnectedness is shown in an amazing way on the pages that feature a leopard and a squid. Although these are very different creatures, the images highlight their spots, which seem almost identical when displayed side by side. "Spots blend unseen so they can STALK, swim, sneak up on us." Again, the words are drawing connections between the two animals, both of whom use their spots to blend into their surroundings. This makes the reader realize that the same pattern is present in both grasslands and the ocean, furthering the idea that not only are humans and animals all connected but also different ecosystems on the Earth's surface are as well. One would generally think of the ocean and the savannah as very different places but these animals show us that they have more in common than we might think.
Differences are also pointed out, as with the pages that feature a black widow spider and a pair of baby pandas. Both pages are primarily black and white but include bright patches of red with the spider's markings and the text color on the panda's page mirroring one another. The marking is described as "a deadly tattoo". This speaks to the spider's known reputation as a "bad guy" in the animal world since their venom is incredibly dangerous. The connection here reflects the opinion of many that people who have large or bold tattoos might be more dangerous or live a life that is a bit more on the "wild side". In contrast, the baby pandas look like big, soft balls of fur. They are described as "strong, yet gentle". This makes an interesting comparison with the black widow since the small spider is a deadly creature while the larger and stronger pandas are more gentle and humans who are trained can be around them safely.
Excerpt
Chorus of Creatures
We are family. Miraculous each. The strangely inquisitive and the dangerously direct. Some nearly invisible with oversized zest. Breathing one sky. Forever connected by this peculiar and wonderful family tree. Branches that soar, swim, stalk. Butterflies, turtles, leopards.
Use
Students can look at the smaller pictures of the animals on the pages that include the poem, Chorus of Creatures. They will choose 2 animals to compare and contrast and write their own verses telling about each creature they have selected and how it is similar and different from their other chosen animal.
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