Hunting

Children's Literature - Paul Walter

"The silence was heavy while Hank and Jenny crouched next to the cold pond. Jenny's hunting dog, Buddy, sat quietly on alert for a flock of birds. The only sound was the damp morning breeze rustling the tall reeds.... Just then, Buddy burst out of the reeds.... His movement sent the startled ducks flying into the air." The snippet from this title in the "Outdoor Adventure!" gives a taste of the author's true enthusiasm for the sport. The book's layout, with earth-toned action shots of aimed rifles, drawn bows, and birds in flight, some of which are about to be bagged, hits home the author's awed devotion to the outdoors. Unfortunately, some aspects of the layout also distract. Small, italicized, sometimes camouflaged picture captions and footnotes cause the reader to squint, and bolded key terms are defined in a culminating glossary rather than footnote form. The text is straightforward but vivid with some nice verb use, and, while most sentences are simple, sentence beginnings are nicely varied. Organizationally, the book makes sense, building from sections on where and what to hunt, through descriptions of how to hunt, and finishing with information about responsible, respectful hunting practices and conservation. Following the text and the glossary, the publishing company's website is offered up for further information about hunting. Unfortunately, the site is difficult to navigate, not all links are active, and the links are generally aimed at older audiences. The opening Hank, Jenny, and Buddy duck scenario ends with neither Hank nor Jenny getting off a single shot, instead just reveling in the thrill of the hunt and the outdoors. All in all, this title produces the same results; it's in the thick of things but never quite lands the trophy. Reviewer: Paul Walter