Tag Archives: Wildlife Conservation

MG – Operation Pangolin: Saving the World’s Only Scaled Mammal

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Eszterhas, Suzi. Operation Pangolin: Saving the World’s Only Scaled Mammal. Millbrook Press, 2022. 40 p. $23.04. 978-1-728-44295-2. Grades 5-8. 

Pangolins are an endangered species, and they couldn’t ask for a better book than Operation Pangolin to entice humans to ensure their survival. Wildlife photographer Eszterhas uses photographs liberally on wide pages, sure to elicit “oohs and aahs,” as well as “awws” for amazing baby pangolin photos.  Eszterhas begins by focusing on the story of conservationist Thai Van Nguyen, who recalls the day as a child when he saw a pangolin and her baby being captured by poachers (likely for their scales, which are mistakenly believed to have medicinal properties), and how he vowed to “save all the pangolins in the world” (5). He now runs the world’s largest pangolin rescue operation, Save Vietnam’s Wildlife. He and his staff rescue and treat injured pangolins, and Thai frequently speaks about and introduces pangolins to humans. The small numbers of pangolins and their shyness means that scientists still have many questions about their life habits, such as life span, mating habits, and duration of pregnancy. Researchers do know that pangolins have poor eyesight and a strong sense of smell; they have special muscles to close their ears and nostrils (in addition to eyes) while eating ants; their sticky tongues can be longer than their bodies; and they swallow sand and small stones to aid digestion. The photos are the focus of this book. Readers see pangolins curled into balls, eating ants, using their fingers to dig or hold onto branches, undergoing medical exams by Thai’s staff, and babies feeding and riding on their mothers’ backs. The remarkably close and clear photos, even of their scales, gives a sense of wonder and understanding of these creatures. 

THOUGHTS: This book is a winner for upper elementary and above, with facts and photographs to enthrall readers and urge them to help.  Don’t miss other recent amazing animal books by Eszterhas, including A Leopard Diary (2022) and The Adventures of Dr. Sloth (2022).

599.3 Pangolins          Melissa Scott, Shenango Area SD

Elem. – She Heard the Birds: The Story of Florence Merriam Bailey Pioneering Nature Activist

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D’Aquino, Andrea. She Heard the Birds: The Story of Florence Merriam Bailey Pioneering Nature Activist. Princeton, Architectural Press, 2021. Unpaged. 978-1-648-96050-5. $18.95. Grades 1-3.

This picture book biography is the story of a woman who made a difference. Florence Merriam Bailey grew up in the late 19th century with her family who loved nature. Her mother was an astronomer and her father took the family on a summer long camping trip where she loved to observe the forest animals. Florence’s favorite creatures were birds and she studied their behavior and songs. She strongly disliked the latest fashion in hats, which were adorned with feathers and even the actual carcasses of birds. Bailey and her classmates at Smith College initiated a successful boycott of these hats. Florence became an avid ornithologist and promoted watching birds in a natural setting with binoculars in contrast to scientists who studied them in laboratories. She was the author of a field guide and other books on birds and their methods of communication. The author’s full bleed illustrations are done using hand-painted collage, oil pastel and pencil. Readers will enjoy examining the many colorful birds that are depicted.

THOUGHTS: This book is a great choice for elementary collections. It could be used during Women’s History Month, Earth Day or in science units. Children will learn about the wonder and beauty of our feathered friends and may be inspired to do some birdwatching on their own.

921 Biography          Denise Medwick, Retired, PSLA Member
598.2 Birds     

Elem./MG – Animals Back From the Brink (Series NF)

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Animals Back From the Brink. Crabtree Publishing, 2020. $14.30 ea. $290.50 set of 14. 32p. Grades 3-6.

Bringing Back the American Alligator. 978-1-549-08040-1.
Bringing Back the Black-Footed Ferret. 978-1-725-44237-5.
Bringing Back the Blue Iguana. 978-1-725-48072-8.
Bringing Back the California Condor. 978-1-725-48073-5.
Bringing Back the Giant Panda. 978-1-549-08041-8.
Bringing Back the Gray Wolf. 978-1-549-08042-5.
Bringing Back the Grizzly Bear. 978-1-549-08043-2.
Bringing Back the Humpback Whale. 978-1-549-08044-9.
Bringing Back the Island Fox. 978-1-725-48074-2.
Bringing Back the Lesser Long-Nosed Bat. 978-1-725-44238-2.
Bringing Back the Mountain Gorilla. 978-1-725-44239-9.
Bringing Back the Snow Leopard. 978-1-725-44240-5.
Bringing Back the Southern White Rhino. 978-1-725-48075-9.
Bringing Back the Whooping Crane. 978-1-549-08045-6.

Readers will discover endangered species around the world. Each book begins with facts about the featured species including its habitat and an introduction to the dangerous factors contributing to extinction. Each book explains the scientific criteria that is used to figure out the levels of threat to each species, the historical and current threat to each species, and the problems environmental groups have had trying to protect them. Each book concludes with an explanation of future protection efforts and what the reader can do to help. The “Learning More” section of each book provides books and websites for the reader to learn more about the specific species featured.

THOUGHTS: A good supplement to an existing collection of  endangered species books and for libraries with patrons interested in this topic.

590 Animals     Jaynie Korzi, South Middleton SD