Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 04/15/2022 *Starred Review* Wildebeests feast on shorter swards, / oxpecker birds are stowaboards, / gnus trample roots in shaggy herds, / spreading manure for growing grass. Bulion offers a series of connected stanzas that document the annual migration of large herbivores through the Serengeti. In early winter, winds from the Indian Ocean bring rains to the volcanic soils of northern Tanzania. As the grasses return, so do zebras (tall-grass grazers), followed by wildebeests and gazelles (short-grass feeders), and giraffes (acacia leaf eaters). Bulion also details the activities of several non-migrating species (dik-diks, hyraxes, aardvarks, black mambas, secretary birds, dung beetles) as well as large carnivores (cheetahs, jackals) that live on the Serengeti. Poems appear on the top left side of each spread, while smaller-print sidebars provide additional information. Throughout, the emphasis is on the interdependence of these species, all linked in an intricate web. Stadtlander's gouache-and-pastel illustrations highlight earth tones, with indigo and orange used for contrast. Employing a naturalistic style, many spreads depict panoramic views. Young readers will be particularly interested in the art featuring termite mounds and kopjes, structures not found in North America. Back matter explains utendis (a four-line poetic form common in Swahili and used here) and provides a glossary and further resources. Attractive and informative, this will please browsers and information seekers alike. - Copyright 2022 Booklist.