Deer Hunting

Children's Literature - Paul Walter

From the camo-colored front cover, with the alert, ten-point buck, one can tell this is a book aimed straight at the heart of a hunting audience rather than casual readers. This is reinforced by the "The Art of Stuffing Dead Stuff" section which states, "Stuffing part of a carcass and hanging it on the wall… actually (is) the ancient art of taxidermy. The word taxidermy comes from the Greek, meaning ‘movement of the skin.'" Stalking through the other sections, the reader/beginner enthusiast finds everything from deer hunting skills to tips on conservation and even a tasty recipe for venison meatballs. Starting it all off, though, is a mini deer hunting history lesson that focuses on the Native Americans' extensive use of the deer as food, clothing, shelter, and even decoration. That section ends with a comparison of North American deer species and an explanation of the rut (mating season). Side-by-side with the simple sentences that dominate the text are muted, rugged pictures of hunters (both male and female) in full gear and full action. Aiding the beginning reader are highlighted and then footnoted key terms, asides for "Edge Facts," and annotated pictures of rifles, shotguns, bows, and arrows. A layout of deer vital areas with crosshair overlays is another nice visual touch. Somewhat redundant biographies of white-tailed deer and mule deer bring the actual text to a close, followed by a glossary, suggestions for further reading, and a guide to exploring related websites through facthound.com. The three sites offered through the FactHound code, including the American Canoe Association site, are geared more toward an adult audience but do offer appropriate (if not directly related)information and resources to explore. Overall, this title in the "Edge Books" "The Great Outdoors" series hits its mark, but just like a seasoned hunter, it does so subtly. Reviewer: Paul Walter