Prairie Dogs

Children's Literature - Carolyn Steinla

Bold and beautiful illustrations permeate the pages of this factual book about prairie dogs. Emery and Durga Bernhart give us a clear and interesting look at the Prairie dogs¦ physical characteristics, social behavior., and reputation. Once considered a pest, the prairie dog is now a member of the endangered species club. Is there enough food on the range for both the cows and the prairie dogs? According to the writer¦s conclusion, it¦s too soon to tell. This delightful book encourages the obvious: prairie dogs are our friends.

School Library Journal

Gr 2-3--This picture book gives a balanced and thoughtful portrayal of this rodent. Focusing on the black-tailed prairie dog, a species once common in the western part of the United States, the book describes the animal's life cycle at length, including defense systems, mating cycles, and feeding habits, as well as its role in the ecosystem of the grasslands. Bernhard goes on to discuss how the prairie dog's reputation as a pest began, and what is being done to save it from extinction. This is a solid and well-written introduction, with added appeal in the gouache drawings of these creatures going about their typical activities in a natural setting. Other indigenous species are included, such as the black-footed ferret, which may take shelter in the prairie dogs' burrows, with cutaway pictures of the burrows on the endpapers. Libraries looking for volumes to flesh out nature study collections, especially those focusing on threatened species, should find this a welcome addition.--Melissa Hudak, Northern Illinois Medical Center, McHenry, IL