Animals of the Concrete Jungle

Wild City
Written by Ben Hoare & Illustrated by Lucy Rose
Age Level: 4-8 Years
Published October 6, 2020

They’re mostly harmless.

Two things are true for most of us these days: 1. We desperately miss travel, and 2. We’ve reconnected with Nature. I fell in love with this book because it helped satisfy my pent up wanderlust while also honoring my renewed appreciation for the outdoors. It’s also fun, fabulously illustrated, and full of really cool facts. 

Get ready to travel to 17 cities around the world and discover what creatures thrive in each urban environment. Did you know that the fastest bird on Earth, the peregrine, lives right in Manhattan where it likes to perch on landmarks like the Brooklyn Bridge and the Empire State Building? Or that the parks of Bangkok are home to monitor lizards that can grow as long as an adult human? In addition to spotlighting different cities, the book also features a dozen 2-page spreads that group urban dwelling animals by common characteristics, like animals that are migratory, nocturnal, predators, or living underground. 

“Foxes are smaller than you might think - many pet cats are heavier!”

After learning that the coast of Vancouver is home to humpback whales and orcas in the summertime, I’m dreaming of a vacation to its beautiful shores. But in the meantime, we are satisfying our travel cravings by lingering over these vivid illustrations and using our imaginations.