Nonny Hogrogian and David Kherdian are married and live in Oregon. They have worked separately and together. She is winner of multiple Caldecott Medals and he has been awarded a Newberry Honor.

The animal is an alien visitor who is introduced to planet Earth by various members of the animal kingdom who begin to see their own world with wonderment and awe.

With The Animal, award-winning author Kherdian and his spouse, award-wining illustrator Hogrogian, have created a strange and thoughtful story for both children and adults. Hogrogian’s beautifully painted illustrations of animals frame Kherdian’s philosophical yet simple prose on the topic of what it means to truly see, know, and therefore love something. The story follows the speculations of various animals (e.g., lion, goose, fox, crocodile, ostrich) as they discuss the serene actions of “the animal,” a friendly blue alien creature that resembles a cross between a unicorn and a dog. Once the terrestrial animals conclude that “seeing is loving” the alien animal ceases its in-depth observations of flowers and birds and departs in its saucer-like spaceship (Kherdian & Hogrogian, 1984, p. 33). An odd but beautiful picture book, The Animal can prompt thoughtful speculation on the connected nature of perception, knowledge, and emotion in children as young as four and fives years of age (as observed with my own children).