Bringing Back the Wolves
by Jude Isabella
Welcome to another
Book Review with MyChild!
Books are critically important in our family – the saying around here goes, “I am always willing to spend money on books and Legos.” As a refresher, MyChild is 8-years-old, in second grade, reads on her own, and her current favorite books to read are the DogMan series and the Pig the Pug books.
I have had the privilege of review a couple Advance Reader Copy books through NetGalley and when I was recently searching for some new books to read, there were a few children’s books available. Of course, I could have just read these on my own and provided a review, but why not involves someone of the intended audience demographic. Here we go.
Bringing Back the Wolves:
How a Predator Restored
an Ecosystem
by Jude Isabella
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book
from Kids Can Press through NetGalley.
Opinions expressed in this review are completely our own.
This book is currently available for pre-order. Publication date is March 3, 2020.
Book Description:
An unintended experiment in Yellowstone National Park, in which an ecosystem is devastated and then remarkably rehabilitated, provides crucial lessons about nature’s intricate balancing act.
In the 1800s, hunters were paid by the American government to eliminate threats to livestock on cattle ranches near Yellowstone National Park. They did such a good job that, by 1926, no gray wolf packs were left in the park. Over the following decades, virtually every other part of the park’s ecosystem was affected by the loss of the wolves — from the animals who were their prey, to the plants that were the food for that prey, to the streams that were sheltered by those plants — and the landscape was in distress. So, starting in 1995, in an attempt to reverse course, the government reintroduced gray wolves to the park. Over time, animal populations stabilized, waterways were restored and a healthy ecosystem was recreated across the land. It’s a striking transformation, and a fascinating tale of life’s complicated interdependencies.
Jude Isabella’s thoroughly researched, expert-reviewed text and Kim Smith’s beautiful nature art bring science to life in this captivating story of renewal. Readers will recognize just how complex an ecosystem is and learn about the surprising interconnectedness of its members. Biodiversity, ecosystems, the food chain, habitats, needs of living things and the importance of human stewardship of the environment are all covered through this real-life example, offering direct links to earth and life science curriculums. Food web infographics help reinforce the information. A glossary and index add to the book’s usefulness.
Our Review:
Mom: I have read and learned about the 1995 reintroduction of the grey wolf into Yellowstone National Park throughout the years.
I don’t know that anyone thought it would be quick fix, but the experiment is still something vital to learn about to understand the inter-connectivity of all of us living on this planet.
This book has offered a resource to kids as an introduction to the ecosystem and the “web” the author uses to illustrate the links between us all. While the overarching theme is the Yellowstone-specific ecosystem, the book provides many “fun facts” and tips along the way.
MyChild: I thought it was interesting that just by the wolves being out of the park, so many things changed – even the birds were changed.
MyChild: Obviously, I liked the part near the end where almost all of the animals had come back to the area and things were going well, but I think my favorite thing was learning how ravens follow the wolves and tease and play with the puppies.
The Final Verdict
Our rating: 5 stars
Would we recommend? Yes
#BringingBacktheWolves #NetGalley
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