Review - David Attenborough

David Attenborough (Little People, BIG DREAMS)
by Mª Isabel Sánchez Vegara
illustrated by Mikyo Noh
Date: 2020
Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children's Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book non-fiction
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

In this book from the critically acclaimed Little People, BIG DREAMS series, discover the life of David Attenborough, the inspiring broadcaster and conservationist.

Little David grew up in Leicester on the campus of a university, where his father was a professor. As a child, he spent hours in the science library, collating his own specimens and creating a mini animal museum. When he was old enough to go to university, he studied science and zoology—but what he wanted most of all was to be close to the animals he was studying. So, he started working in television, visiting animals in their natural habitats, and telling the world the untold stories of these animals. This moving book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the broadcaster's life.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is just an okay little biography of David Attenborough. While the pictures themselves are stronger here than in some other books in the series, I'm not a fan of the random animals just appearing (sometimes anthropomorphized) in most of the illustrations. I would expect something a little more factual in a biography about a naturalist. (Also, there's a picture at the end that's supposed to be present day, yet he's drawn to look like a young man.)

The mini biography and timeline at the end are missing in my e-galley, which is disappointing. I always find these books don't give me quite enough information, and I rely on those bits at the end to help fill in some of the gaps.

Overall, this isn't one of the best books in this series, but it isn't one of the worst, either. I think it'll mostly appeal to kids who know who David Attenborough is, though; the book, unfortunately, doesn't make him come across as all that interesting (perhaps because there's no mention of conflict or of anything that he had to overcome).

Thank you to NetGalley and Frances Lincoln Children's Books for providing a digital ARC.

Premise: 4/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3.33 out of 5