Ylla. Animal Babies. Photographs by Ylla.

Harper & Row, 1959. [Photographs by Ylla, with a charming story by Arthur Gregor.  Ylla (1911–1955), whose real name was Camilla Koffler, was considered one of the most accomplished photographers of animals in the world and published many books of her work, most intended for children. She died tragically after falling from a jeep while photographing a bullock cart race in India.] Ex-library, well read, good with good dust jacket that shows evidence of having been taped to book.  Summary:

Animal Babies, published in 1959, is a celebrated posthumous collection by Ylla (Camilla Koffler), featuring a series of intimate and expressive photographs of young animals from around the world. Compiled after her death in 1955, the book serves as a testament to her unique ability to capture the vulnerability and charm of creatures without lapsing into sentimentality.

Photographic Approach

The book showcases Ylla’s signature style, which treated animals with the same dignity and formal precision as human subjects:

• The Mother-Child Bond: A central theme of the volume is the universal relationship between parent and offspring. Ylla captures quiet, tender moments of protection and nursing across species, from domestic cats to exotic zebras.

• Texture and Detail: The black-and-white plates emphasize the tactile qualities of the subjects—the softness of a duckling’s down, the wrinkled skin of a baby elephant, and the fuzz of a newborn kitten.

• Candid Character: Rather than using forced poses, Ylla utilized her legendary patience to wait for the "decisive moment" of curiosity, sleep, or play, giving each baby animal a distinct "personality" on the page.

Visual Narrative

The book is structured as a visual journey through various habitats, including:

• The Farmyard and Home: Familiar domestic animals like puppies, kittens, and lambs.

• The Zoo and Wilderness: More majestic and rare offspring, such as lion cubs, fawns, and bear cubs, photographed with the same sense of proximity and intimacy.

Historical Significance

Animal Babies remains one of Ylla’s most beloved works, frequently praised for its high aesthetic standards in a genre often dismissed as "cute." It proved that wildlife and domestic animal photography could be both commercially successful and artistically rigorous. The book helped define the mid-century photographic picture book, influencing generations of nature photographers and children's book designers with its clean layouts and sophisticated, high-contrast imagery.