Library Journal Review

Library Journal | 15 January 2009

Paying tribute to those safe havens where life can flourish in peace, this handsome volume introduces us to 24 nature and wildlife sanctuaries in 20 countries around the world. The sanctuary movement combines the principles of conservation biology with an interest in protecting individual members of each species, whether plant, animal, or human. The authors traveled from deserts to rain forests, from mountains to seashores, and from farmlands to urban centers, and they devote a chapter to each location, revealing that particular sanctuary's unique focus. The photography is superb, but the overall result is much more than a collection of pretty pictures. The accompanying essays provide a bit of history and a glimpse into the personalitie\involved in each sanctuary's creation. The book also serves as a valuable cultural resource, as it takes a look at the cultures that host each of the locations discussed. Tobias and Morrison head Dancing Star Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to conservation and environmental education. They are also the authors of Donkey: The Mystique of Equus Asinus. Highly recommended for environmental collections. [Dancing Star is negotiating with PBS to film a documentary based on the book.—Ed.]—Deborah Emerson, Rochester Regional Lib. Council, Fairport, NY