Fall Reading 2013 Urban Animals of Washington, D.C.

Isabel Hill's safari through Washington is a clever idea. She has put together photos of buildings throughout the D.C. area that show animals in the architectural details. One photo will show the scene, such as an art deco lamp beside an entryway, then a second photo will show a close-up of the animal that is part of the building. Locations range from government buildings, to churches and apartment buildings, and even the National Zoo (where you expect the animals to be inside the buildings, not on the outside). Simple rhyming text identifies each architectural feature and the animal that is represented as a part of it. There is a glossary of architectural terms at the back of the book and a listing of the buildings shown in the photos.

This could make a wonderful class project. After reading the book and studying the images, students could scout out locations in their own town with similar ornamentation and create a class book of their community's architecture. Any families going on vacation in Washington might have a safari of their own and try to track down all the buildings in the book.

I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley. The book was published on September 16, 2013. You can find out more about Ms. hill's photography and projects at her website.