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A book cover and jacket illustration for “The Curious Explorer’s Illustrated Guide to Exotic Animals A to Z” by Marc Martin. The artwork features a colourful array of animals, including parrots, a hippopotamus and a butterfly, set within a lush jungle.

Marc Martin's animal illustrations that'll take you right back to your childhood

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Date
18 April 2013

I don’t think I’ve met anyone who doesn’t love nature documentaries, and with the soothing tones of David Attenborough, it’s easy to become hypnotised by the insane scope of the animal kingdom. Marc Martin, a keen traveller and illustrator, has created a children’s book that will satisfy your thirst for animal knowledge, and it is called The Curious Explorer’s Illustrated Guide to Exotic Animals A to Z.

Each letter includes the scientific latin name for the chosen animal, so sneaking in that you find the tickling nycticebus coucang mega cute into conversation might give you some appreciative nods. Aside from that, the illustrations are beautiful and the textured colour is very reminiscent of The Very Hungry Caterpillar. My favourite illustration has to be the bird of paradise, they are so cool.

An illustration of two black birds against a pale blue background. One bird perches on a green mound with a blue crest, while a larger, rounder bird stands beside it with a fan-like crest. A black banner at the top reads “Bird of paradise Lophorina superba”.
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Marc Martin: The Curious Explorer’s Illustrated Guide to Exotic Animals A to Z

Two illustrations of extinct or exotic animals. On the left, a green chameleon is curled in a spiral among dark green leaves, with the text “Chameleon Chamaeleo jacksonis” above. On the right, a dodo stands on yellow foliage against a blue sea and sky, with the text “Dodo Raphus cucullatus” above.
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Marc Martin: The Curious Explorer’s Illustrated Guide to Exotic Animals A to Z

An illustration of a giant Galápagos tortoise and a hippopotamus side by side. The tortoise is shown from the front with its neck extended, while the hippopotamus has its mouth wide open. Text at the top reads “Giant Galápagos tortoise” and “Hippopotamus” alongside their scientific names.
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Marc Martin: The Curious Explorer’s Illustrated Guide to Exotic Animals A to Z

An illustration split into two panels. The left shows a kangaroo silhouette against a yellow and orange sun, with the text “Kangaroo Macropus giganteus” above. The right shows a slow loris against a dark, abstract purple background, with the text “Loris Loris tardigradus” above.
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Marc Martin: The Curious Explorer’s Illustrated Guide to Exotic Animals A to Z

A collage of three colourful macaws perched on thin branches against a pale blue background. The birds are rendered in vibrant shades of blue, yellow, red and green, surrounded by dark green leaves.
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Marc Martin: The Curious Explorer’s Illustrated Guide to Exotic Animals A to Z

Two illustrations of animals set against a black header. On the left, a blue narwhal is curled in a circle within a white, painterly swirl, titled “Narwhal Monodon monoceros”. On the right, a stylised blue owl sits on a circular perch, titled “Owl Tyto multipunctata”.
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Marc Martin: The Curious Explorer’s Illustrated Guide to Exotic Animals A to Z

Two illustrations of animals side by side. On the left, dark bats fly across a large yellow moon against a starry black sky, with the text “Vampire bat Desmodus rotundus” above. On the right, a walrus rests on a rock in a pale blue landscape, with the text “Walrus Odobenus rosmarus” above.
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Marc Martin: The Curious Explorer’s Illustrated Guide to Exotic Animals A to Z

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Holly Wilkins

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