THE FLYING ARK Carolyn Jackson Illustrated by Graham Bardell Toronto, Oxford University Press, 1990. 32pp, cloth, $14.95 ISBN 0-19-540737-7. CIP Kindergarten to Grade 3/Ages 5 to 8 Reviewed by Marion Scott. Volume 18 Number 3 1990 May This non-fiction picture-book is about a subject unique to the picture-book genre - animal air travel. It begins with a brief overview of the hows and whys of transporting animals by air, then features fifteen different animals and their flight requirements. Of the fifteen, most are zoo animals and would be familiar to the picture-book reader. Many also pose interesting transportation challenges for their handlers. Included are the gorilla, panda, giraffe, elephant, dolphin and flamingo. A page, or occasionally a double spread, devoted to each creature contains a large illustration, a paragraph or so of flight information, and a box with more general and amazing facts. The author and illustrator present the information in a light and entertaining manner. The artwork is colourful and amusing and portrays the absurd side of animals travelling by airplane. The book is quite attractively produced and is suitable for recreational reading, rather than for projects. It may not hold young children for a cover-to-cover reading, but does lend itself to browsing. I would not consider this a necessary purchase, but school and public libraries might find it interesting to try in their picture-book or animal collections. Carolyn Jackson is a freelance writer who has not previously worked on children's picture-books. Illustrator Bardell has worked on CBC children's specials and illustrated for educational publishers. Marion Scott, Toronto Public Library, Toronto, Ont.