Disney Nature: African Cats: The Story Behind the Film (Disney Editions Deluxe (Film))
In this beautifully photographed companion book to the upcoming Disneynature film, naturalists Barrett and Scholey share their experience of studying a cheetah, her six cubs, and a pride of 19 lions in the Masai Mara National Reserve. The authors gracefully chronicle the animals' social and familial dynamics, as well as their struggles for survival in a sometimes ruthless environment. Centering on the "stars" of the film—an injured lioness with a six-month-old cub, and the mother cheetah—Barrett and Scholey lightly anthropomorphize their behaviors to construct a relatable narrative (as a result of her mother's injury, the lion cub wears "a habitually anxious expression"). The awesome power and inscrutability of the big cats is captivating. All ages. (Mar.)