(2) K-3 The environmental contributions of beaver dams are well documented. But too many beavers can cause problems, particularly for humans attempting to alter the landscape for their own purposes. Such was the situation in McCall, Idaho, in 1948 when Fish and Game warden Elmo Heter sought a nonlethal way to remove the excess beaver population. Transporting the animals across mountainous terrain to the nearby preserve of Chamberlain Basin, where they had been hunted to near extinction a hundred years previously, proves impossible. But when Heter discovers a stash of parachutes left over from World War II, he wonders if he can devise a beaver airlift. He cleverly constructs boxes that can hold the creatures, be dropped from planes, and open automatically when they land. This translocation was a near-total success; only one out of seventy-six did not make it, and the rest thrived in their new location and restored the balance of the area's ecosystem. Using an earth-toned palette, Uribe's computer-generated, retro-style illustrations superbly reflect both the physical setting and the historical times. Faux artifacts such as notebook pages, hand-tied flies, and even a cliffside depiction of Native artwork decorate some pages. An author's note goes deeper into the events (including problems with translocation) and provides information about humans and animals coexisting peacefully. A bibliography of selected sources completes the book.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2024

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Maithili Joshi. Dahl's introduction to a little-known pioneer in aviation history tells the story of a determined, diminutive young woman in the male-dominated world of early-twentieth-century trick flying. After seeing an aeronaut perform at the North Carolina State Fair in 1907, Broadwick (1893-1978) is determined to take to the sky. At the next year's fair, she makes her debut as "The Doll Girl" and begins a career that would include more than eleven hundred jumps from balloons and airplanes and many firsts as a female aeronaut. Notably, a jump gone wrong leads Broadwick to create the ripcord that is still used today. Dahl's fast-paced narrative is interspersed with quotes from her subject ("It burned me up having to dress like a baby doll and having that name tacked on me!") and contemporaries, adding color and immediacy. (While the text does not shy away from some of the difficult aspects of Tiny's life, including her past as a child laborer, it solidly avoids other such biographical details as being a child bride and an abandoned preteen mother.) Joshi's movement-filled illustrations often show Broadwick from the back gazing into the distance, clearly a woman looking toward new horizons. An author's note offers additional history, along with a selected bibliography.

Reviewer: Laura Koenig | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2023

(3) 4-6 Dangerous Jobs in Action series. Simultaneously exciting and sobering, these fast-paced, true-life profiles of people in dangerous careers each begin by summarizing the job, indicating the risks, and presenting basic stats. Chapters then relate the nail-biting stories of people caught in life-threatening situations while performing these jobs; some survive, some do not. Well-chosen color photos and closing discussion questions accompany each entry. There are four other spring 2017 books in this series. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Dangerous Jobs in Action titles: Stunt Performers in Action, Deep-Sea Fishermen in Action, Ice Road Truckers in Action, and Smoke Jumpers in Action.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(3) K-3 Fire Fight! The Bravest series. This series profiles some of the more unusual firefighting specialties, making the volumes useful additions to library collections. Each book covers recent fires or emergencies, the specialized training required to join the force, the risks, and the necessary gear. Dramatic photos of the firefighters in action (a few women are included) add to these accessible titles' appeal for second and third graders. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. This review covers these Fire Fight! The Bravest titles: City Firefighters, Hotshots, Marine Firefighters, Smokejumpers, and Aviation Firefighters.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(4) K-3 Lightning Bolt Books: How Flight Works series. Each of these books takes a cursory look at a particular mode of transportation/flight. The choppy but easy-to-read texts are supported by engaging full- and half-page photographs in an accessible design. Briefly discussing the science and function of each highlighted aircraft, these books do an adequate job of introducing complex subjects to young readers. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Lightning Bolt Books titles: How Do Hang Gliders Work?, How Do Helicopters Work?, How Do Parachutes Work?, How Do Jets Work?, How Do Hot Air Balloons Work?, and How Do Space Vehicles Work?.

Reviewer: Jack Forman