(2) 4-6 Patent chronicles the Australian and Tasmanian governments' attempts to save Tasmanian devils from a fast-spreading, almost one-hundred-percent fatal disease propelling the species toward rapid extinction. After outlining the causes of the disease (with clear diagrams and photographs of chromosome abnormalities) and the scientific research, Patent takes readers to several devil sanctuaries, nature preserves, and labs to observe the progress being made in both reintroduction programs and vaccines, carefully explaining their methodologies. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2019

(3) 4-6 Photographs by William Muñoz. This visually loaded nonfiction book balances science and anecdote to explore how dogs and humans have evolved symbiotically. Ample source notes reveal the vast research underlying Patent's highly readable text, which is made even more accessible through its short sections, frequent tables, and many photographs (including Instagram-worthy interaction shots introducing each part). Reading list, websites. Ind.

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(4) K-3 Photographs by William Muñoz. Eclipse, a real Seattle-area dog, "narrates" this account of the time she got on a city bus before her human "buddy" Jeff (the book's coauthor) could, and then had the smarts to get off at the dog park. So began a routine that made Eclipse famous. What follows the bus-riding stuff seems like padding, albeit padding illustrated with child-pleasing color photos of doggie doings. Websites.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(2) 4-6 Scientists in the Field series. Photographs by William Muñoz. Readers learn basic osprey information from Montana Osprey Project scientist Erick Greene's presentation to a high school group. Patent thoroughly describes the raptors' behaviors as well as field and laboratory research conducted by the scientists. The pages are filled with current and historical photographs; biographical sketches of scientists and students; and details about the region's ecological history. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2015

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Jeannie Brett. From Egyptian chariot racers to samurai mounts to draft horses to circus performers, each spread features a brief you-are-there text facing a watercolor, gouache, pastel, and colored-pencil illustration of a horse bedecked in appropriate finery. The inclusion of examples across cultures and centuries is comprehensive. A final spread identifies horse body parts and tack. Reading list, websites. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(3) 4-6 This book extols the virtues of working dogs and their amazing noses. Patent relates how dogs, with a sense of smell forty times stronger than humans possess, have been trained for tasks such as detecting drugs and bombs, rescuing humans in disasters, helping locate endangered animals, and recognizing potential medical emergencies. Large full-color photographs accompany the informative and fascinating narrative. Reading list, websites. Ind.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(2) 4-6 Photographs by William Muñoz. Patent describes Native American lifestyles in the era of dog-drawn travois, then the astonishing explosion of culture that came with the arrival of horses. Simple, precise language and clear organization help readers fully engage with the material, which is enhanced by Muñoz's sweeping photographs, historical plates documenting turn-of-the-century Plains Indians, and art from both white and Native sources. Reading list. Ind.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2012

(2) 4-6 Military Working Dogs have done everything from aiding the wounded during WWI to sniffing out explosives in Iraq and Afghanistan and helping humans cope with posttraumatic stress disorder. Patent's accessible text traces the history of dogs in American wars and then outlines how a puppy becomes an MWD. "Hero Hounds" sidebars tell of individual heroic dogs. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Sam Bloom | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2012

(3) K-3 Photographs by William Muñoz. Patent tells the story of puppy Audie, one of forty-nine dogs rescued from NFL player Michael Vick's Bad Newz Kennels in 2007. The text describes Audie's physical and behavioral rehabilitation, his socialization, and his participation in agility work; the writing is mostly straightforward with some anthropomorphizing ("Audie loves to see his Vick dog friends"). Vivid photographs accompany the text. Reading list, timeline, websites.

Reviewer: Cindy Lombardo

(2) K-3 Photographs by Dan Hartman & Cassie Hartman. This book about the revitalization of Yellowstone takes readers through the park's backstory, revealing the complex challenges of environmental preservation. Patent begins with the park's establishment then goes on to explain the ill-fated plan to kill all the wolves and the ultimate decision to bring them back. Outstanding historical and present-day photographs of Yellowstone display its rugged natural beauty. Reading list, websites. Ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2008

(4) 4-6 Photographs by William Muñoz. Covering an astounding scope of natural and human history, this book aims to articulate the deep, continuing connections between American Indians and American bison. Unfortunately, the breadth of information is so vast, the main points get lost in the details. A native legend introduces each section, and well-captioned photographs capture the imposing presence of the animals. Websites. Ind.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(4) K-3 Early Bird Nature Books series. Photographs by William Munoz. These books introduce basic information about each mammal's physical characteristics, diet, habitat, predators, and interactions with its young and with humans. The text is sometimes vague, as in Deer, in which antler growth and use is described, yet no mention is made of why bucks fight each other to "find out who is stronger." Crisp color photos appear throughout. Glos., ind. Review covers these Early Bird Nature Books titles: Chimpanzees, Cheetahs, and White-Tailed Deer.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(4) 4-6 Photographs by William Muñoz. In his first home with a foster puppy raiser, Ira, a golden retriever, learns about being a service dog: how to wait patiently and deal with crowds and noises. Later he goes to Guide Dogs for the Blind for specialized training. Although short on details of the training process, the book, featuring appealing if occasionally unrefined color photos, is a solid introduction to service dogs. Addresses, reading list.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Deborah Milton. This account of the endangered "garden of the bears," located on Canada's Pacific coast, discusses the spirit or Kermode bear, a subspecies of the black bear (although one in ten is white). Milton's loose watercolors are often awkward, but Patent's thoughtful text highlights the interconnectedness of this rare bear with other parts of its ecosystem, such as salmon, trees, and people. Directory. Ind.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Kendahl Jan Jubb. This informative account describes the different types of reefs and the plants and animals that inhabit them, as well as environmental threats. Lush, colorful illustrations surround the text, which is presented in a narrative style, devoid of the headings often found in informational text. Such a layout offers a more flowing reading experience but may make finding specific information difficult for children. Ind.

Reviewer: Jim St. Claire

(4) 4-6 Ecosystems in Action series. Photographs by William Muñoz. Occasionally dry but informative texts, illustrated with crisp color photos, use five specific locations (Adirondack forest, Sonoran Desert, Florida Everglades, Hawaiian rainforest, and Alaskan tundra) as examples of a particular ecosystem. The books discuss geological and climactic characteristics of each area, plant and animal adaptations and interdependence, and close with negative effects of humans on the ecosystem. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Ecosystems in Action titles: Life in a Deciduous Forest, Life in a Desert, Life in a Wetland, Life in a Rain Forest, and Life in the Tundra.]

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Kendahl Jan Jubb. Lush, bright watercolor illustrations dominate this book about tropical butterflies. The informative, informal text ("Eat, grow, shed. Eat, grow, shed--that's the life of the caterpillar") describes the characteristics, habitats, and life cycles of many tropical-butterfly species, from egg to caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly. A list of approximately fifty butterflies along with their scientific names is included in the index.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) 4-6 Photographs by William Muñoz. This informative companion to Animals on the Trail with Lewis and Clark focuses on Lewis's journal entries. Using scientifically accurate terminology, he describes the specimens that he collected and the plants that the Corps of Discovery (with help from Sacagawea and other Native Americans) found for use as food and medicine. Clear color photos show plants, landscapes, and historical sites. Ind.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(2) 4-6 Photographs by William Munoz. Emphasizing Lewis and Clark's role as naturalists and scientists, Patent focuses on the wildlife they encountered, studied, documented, and occasionally named. Patent borrows heavily from Lewis and Clark's journal descriptions and brings readers up-to-date concerning the fate of various species. The sharp, full-color photos, though somewhat static, allow easy identification of the animals. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2002

(3) K-3 Early Bird Nature Books series. Photographs by William Muñoz. These two series titles introduce llamas and giant pandas, describing each animal's habitat and unique characteristics. Both volumes include clear, captioned color photos and diagrams. Conservation efforts are addressed in Giant Pandas; Llamas discusses how these animals herd sheep on farms. A note to adults includes suggested activities and gives guidance on sharing the book with a child. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Early Bird Nature Books titles: Llamas and Giant Pandas.]

Reviewer: Erin Dionne