Cougar Kittens

Ted McGee is an associate professor of English at St. Jerome’s
College, University of Waterloo.

Bald Eaglets and Cougar Kittens are small but genuine contributions to
the cause of wildlife conservation. Both books include notes on the
species’ declining numbers and on the current conditions of their
survival; but there is nothing heavy-handed about these notes or about
anythings else in the books. The author’s main focus is on portraying
the everyday aspects of the eagle’s and cougar’s life (such as
eating and playing), habitats, and characteristics. Although the books
concentrate on the animals’ first days or weeks as new members of
families, there are also glimpses of developments to follow as the
kittens and eaglets mature.

For picture books to succeed with young readers, striking illustrations
are required. Unfortunately, in Cougar Kittens the pictures’
impressionistic backgrounds, softly focused images, and strange purplish
light combine to distance the figures one wants to see. Bald Eaglets is
far more successful because it includes several illustrations of the
birds in close-up; these pictures are intriguing and reward close
inspection. In the light of these comments, Bald Eaglets is recommended
and Cougar Kittens is recommended with reservations.