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Rating: This is a fairly useless review because it covers something that, if not impossible to find (there are still copies in some libraries and with some collectors, like myself), is decidedly hard to come by. Besides this, it's not about comics (at least in the classic sense of the term) but only illustrated books (even if the illustrator, who is also the curator of the work, comes from the world of "balloons").
So why talk about it?
Well, because I feel like it, right? I know it's not a good motivation, but to make up for it I'll try not to be taxonomic and "boring" as usual... (but unfortunately for you, I won't give up on telling you about my personal stories!)
Among the things I remember most fondly from my childhood were the gifts I received from uncles and grandparents (parents were too immersed in the educational role to give in too much...) and since I was already a picky little nuisance, most of them were books et similia...
Not that I complained, heaven forbid: they made me happy. Of course, they were all meant for children but almost all were informative (I started acquiring stories and comics on my own soon enough): history, geography, science, and especially animals. Needless to say, I still keep everything jealously and often find myself flipping through them (perhaps to seek emotions never fully dormant), and those I'm most fond of are the ones belonging to the collection I'm about to talk about.
"Guarda e scopri gli animali" is a series of "paperback" illustrated volumes published by the (I believe now-defunct) AMZ publishing house between '66 and '72: in total, there are 22 divided by theme (10 about European animals, divided by environment, 5 about those from other continents, 2 about those from prehistory, 1 about those "in danger," 2 about puppies and young ones, and, don't ask me why, 2 about horses).
Each volume begins with introductory pages that explain the general characteristics of the environment, continent, or type it "talks" about (in the continent volumes, the maps that place the various species in their home areas are beautiful) and then illustrates one by one the most significant creatures. Two pages are devoted to each: the first with a beautiful (almost) full-page drawing, a brief introductory text, a small section about diet, and a couple of curiosities (such as interesting physical and/or behavioral characteristics), the second with a series of drawn panels (with "foot" captions) illustrating "key" moments in the life of the animal in question. The volumes dedicated to endangered species, puppies, and horses instead have a more classic, linear, and less descriptive setup, while those on prehistoric creatures have long introductory sections explaining the Theory of Evolution and the passage of geological and zoological eras.
Of course, there are certain inaccuracies that have been refuted by zoologists and ethologists over the years (the first that comes to mind is the actual danger of piranhas), especially regarding the "thundering lizards" about which scientific discoveries have made enormous progress in the last 40 years, but the educational purpose (especially concerning respect for nature) has remained current and intact.
However, the aspect that gives the work the most value is the wonderful illustrations by Rinaldo D'Ami, sufficiently realistic without, however, giving up a simple style suitable for the young and very young (the collection was generally recommended for ages 7 to 10).
I believe if my generation was the first to grow up with a certain ecological awareness, it is also thanks to initiatives like these (which in Italy were among the first to be published) that showed "nature" as an environment certainly different but in close symbiosis and mutual dependency with the human world and with a serious and documented scientific approach.
A well-grounded affection ties me to these pages: I hope you'll forgive the nostalgia.
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