Submitted
A towering jungle of color, imagination, and literacy now fills the stairwell of the Oberlin City Library. The Jungle Books, a hand-drawn and hand-painted mural by local artist and educator Ladd Wendelin, spans more than 300 square feet and rises 14.6 feet at its highest point, transforming the space into an immersive visual story about the joy of reading and a love of the natural world.
The mural depicts 265 individual animals representing 54 species, from mammals and birds to reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates. Wendelin completed the mural without using projectors, stencils, or tracing devices. Over approximately 1,400 hours across 584 days, he worked directly on the wall using only rough scale sketches as a guide, developing what he calls “painted drawings” that merge realistic detail with expressive character.
“I wanted the mural to feel like something you step into and become a part of, not just some painting on a wall you passively observe,” Wendelin said. “Just as the mural is a world unto itself, I felt it was important to encourage people to seek out the new, undiscovered worlds found in books.”
An Oberlin native, Wendelin is a self-taught artist, educator, writer, and former mayor whose influences range from natural history, theatre, film, music, and television. Much of his work is shaped by his childhood exploring the Kansas plains and by his commitment to community-centered art.
Begun May 3, 2024, and completed Dec. 8, 2025, The Jungle Books is Wendelin’s most ambitious project to date. Designed for children and adults alike, the mural encourages viewers to slow down, look closely, and experience books through the lens of the natural world.
The mural is now open to the public at the Oberlin City Library, located at 104 E. Oak. Interviews, photographs, and additional information are available upon request.
For more information about The Jungle Books, visit: