It begins with a little train-loving boy who drifts to being a conductor in his dreams. The passengers are all endangered species who beg for his help for their preservation. In Tessa Dahl's short chapter-picture book, Gwenda stays after closing and finds that the animals talk and communicate their problems. Bill, the head keeper, is understanding and sympathetic and aids Gwenda in her quest to ease their plight. The very satisfying end shows Uncle Matt behind zoo bars for his teasing behavior.
Picture books give dramatic representation to how very quickly the earth is changing.
Jeannie Baker's Window does this even without words. In thirteen full-page views from a window, we see a baby grow to toddling boy until he is married and has a child of his own. The view from his window changes from wilderness to condo-filled hills and chain restaurants. The young man moves to wilderness only to find that the destruction of the wilds follow closely. Ms. Baker's three dimensional collages are shocking and poignant.