Serengeti: Plains of Grass

Taking inspiration from the utendi, “an East African, Swahili poem form with Arabic origins,” Bulion presents a vibrant picture of Tanzania’s Serengeti Plain and the animals and plants that reside there, employing lilting half-rhyme quatrains that each end with “grass.” “Bathed by rain, Serengeti blooms,/ sun-faced yellows and scarlet flames,/ waste paper flowers on tiny stems,/ scattered as handfuls across the grass,” reads text accompanying one spread of flower-strewn green, as an aside in smaller font—found on each spread—informs, “Seeds of wildflowers swell and sprout, bringing splashes of color to Serengeti’s grassy plains.” Rich gouache and pastel art by Stadtlander provides atmosphere through vintage-inflected depictions of wildlife and sweeping landscapes portraying the plains at different times of day and year. A reverent and educational portrait of “one of the most productive and biodiverse ecosystems on Earth.” Back matter features an author’s note on the form, a glossary, information on Serengeti conservation efforts, further reading, and a map of the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem. Ages 8–12. (Mar.)