The book tells Ylla’s exciting life: She was part of artists’ circles in Belgrade and Paris, during WWII she fled via Marseille to New York where she started her career again from scratch. Originally taking photos in her studio and in zoos she finally traveled to Africa and India where she died in a tragic accident during a water buffalo race. Her Animals in Africa is one of the first books on the subject.
Ylla also introduced photography to children’s literature. Her books The Sleepy Little Lion and Two little bears are juvenile classics.