(2) K-3 Illustrated by Aly McKnight. Rose, her oshiimeyan (younger sister), and their parents gather with other Métis families for the biannual buffalo hunt. This time will be different both because Rose's pa is one of the hunt's captains and because "the settlers and their iron horses had eliminated most of the buffalo"; the accompanying illustration shows Rose saying a "prayer of gratitude to the buffalo" while a train churns out black smoke, turning the blue sky gray. When scouts are unable to find buffalo after a week, Rose decides to look for them on her own. Her cleverness and bravery lead to success for the whole community. Lindstrom's (Autumn Peltier, Water Warrior, rev. 11/23) engaging text is well paired with McKnight's expansive, atmospheric watercolor and graphite illustrations. Back matter adds useful context; for example, in her appended note, Lindstrom says: "Rose's story is my version of the Little House series. So readers will know that before there was a little house on the prairie, there was a little tipi on the prairie...on the same land where the Little House stories were set." Important terms are defined, and a history of the buffalo hunt is provided. This Métis/Ojibwe perspective of life on the prairie by two Native creators is a moving tribute to a culture and people.

Reviewer: Nicholl Denice Montgomery | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2025

(2) K-3 The environmental contributions of beaver dams are well documented. But too many beavers can cause problems, particularly for humans attempting to alter the landscape for their own purposes. Such was the situation in McCall, Idaho, in 1948 when Fish and Game warden Elmo Heter sought a nonlethal way to remove the excess beaver population. Transporting the animals across mountainous terrain to the nearby preserve of Chamberlain Basin, where they had been hunted to near extinction a hundred years previously, proves impossible. But when Heter discovers a stash of parachutes left over from World War II, he wonders if he can devise a beaver airlift. He cleverly constructs boxes that can hold the creatures, be dropped from planes, and open automatically when they land. This translocation was a near-total success; only one out of seventy-six did not make it, and the rest thrived in their new location and restored the balance of the area's ecosystem. Using an earth-toned palette, Uribe's computer-generated, retro-style illustrations superbly reflect both the physical setting and the historical times. Faux artifacts such as notebook pages, hand-tied flies, and even a cliffside depiction of Native artwork decorate some pages. An author's note goes deeper into the events (including problems with translocation) and provides information about humans and animals coexisting peacefully. A bibliography of selected sources completes the book.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2024

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Karlene Harvey. Maggie Lou, full of "pee and vinegar" according to her grandfather, always gets into scrapes (some of which require stitches). The book comprises three episodic stories, broken up into chapters, about Maggie Lou's adventures in boxing, house construction, and hunting; per the appended author's note, Bowes (Métis) used her own experiences "growing up as a young girl in a colorful Métis family in Saskatchewan" as inspiration. Each tale focuses on her tenacity in learning new skills (even boring ones like boxing drills and gym cleaning) before the fun stuff happens. The stories are all action and humor, and if there is little character development, it's because Maggie Lou already has a confidence that's reinforced by her family members, who tell her, "If my mind believes it can happen, my body will believe it, too." This book will appeal to middle-grade readers who like fast-paced, lighthearted stories. Maggie Lou's connection to her immediate and extended family, her awareness of her Native roots and the Northern Michif language (glossary included), and her interests, which are not constrained by gender norms, give these tales a distinctive and refreshing flavor.

Reviewer: | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2023

(2) 4-6 Hopson's (Inupiat) debut novel is the story of the origin of the Messenger Feast, an Inupiat festival of song and dance. Pia follows in the footsteps of his two older brothers, both of whom died confronting a golden eagle. When he encounters the eagle, instead of attacking or freezing in fear, Pia accepts its challenge to learn what the Eagles can teach him. Pia brings his new understandings of song, drumming, dance, architecture, and community back to his family, to the animals who share their environment, and to the people whose stories sustain their culture. This retelling of a traditional tale benefits from Hopson's personal connection to Alaska, where she was born and raised and where she and her family live. Set in the long-ago of oral tradition and accompanied by occasional colored-pencil and ink drawings, the tale evokes the tundra in all its seasons. Hopson deftly describes smells (the autumn earth, the "dusty rot" of the Eagle Mother), tastes (berries, roasted caribou meat, bitter Arctic hare fed on willow bark), and sounds (marmot whistles, bumblebees) that bring the land to life for the reader and ground this archetypal hero's journey in the real world.

Reviewer: | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2023

(2) K-3 Translated by Helen Mixter. Illustrated by Jiu Er. The motif of an orphaned wild creature taken and raised by humans is a classic trope, here embodied in a realistic story about a baby moose adopted by the hunter who had inadvertently killed the calf's mother. The setting is, matter-of-factly rather than exotically, contemporary Inner Mongolia, and the hunter, a kind old man who names the moose Xiao Han, Little Moose. Xiao Han's growing size (and hunger!) provides plenty of gentle slapstick humor as he becomes increasingly too much for the hunter and his reindeer herd; the hunter's encroaching mortality offers an additional emotional layer. Watercolor and charcoal pictures--some sepia-toned, some delicately colorful--are plentiful and detailed, with a good variety of picture sizes, from small homey vignettes, several to a page, to double-page spreads showing the magnificence of the (sometimes comical) beast and the breadth of the forest landscape.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2020

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Mónica Armiño. Based on a true story, this imaginative fictionalization follows a Pacific Northwest wolf telling his own story from birth, along a one-thousand-mile journey with hazards and setbacks aplenty, to the eventual establishment of his own pack. The novel is generously illustrated with precise black-and-white wildlife drawings and includes a map and substantial back matter (on the real wolf OR-7, wolf behavior, and other animals). Reading list. Bib.

Reviewer: Sarah Ellis

(2) 4-6 Billy discovers that his long-absent dad has a job that's both dangerous and noble: tracking down poachers who are killing threatened wildlife. His father sets his sights on a rich hunter who wants to kill both a Montana grizzly and a Florida black panther. This pulse-pounding environmentalist adventure story features nuanced characters and enduring themes about family, the environment, and the ends justifying the means.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2019

(3) 4-6 Witches of Benevento series. Illustrated by Sophie Blackall. Ten-year-old Rosa resists being restricted to nineteenth-century domestic duties and secretly trains to compete with the boys in Benevento's annual wild boar hunt. Conversely, her twin brother Emilio refuses to participate in this display of bravery and secretly learns to read. This new volume, tidily illustrated by Blackall, continues the gentle adventures and community spirit of an ancient Italian village shaped in equal parts by magic and tradition. Historical notes are appended.

Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac

(3) YA Illustrated by Rovina Cai. Bathsheba lives in a futuristic whale society that has adopted many customs of seafaring humans; they explore, hunt, and use ship-building technology. Led by Captain Alexandra, the pod "hunt[s] for a legend, a myth, a devil": Toby Wick, a human whale-killer. Their fantastical, violent quest is infused with Ness's powerfully made allusions to Moby-Dick and richly illustrated with Cai's swirly, atmospheric art.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Tim Jessell. An unnamed hunter sips coffee in the chill of the pre-dawn morning. As the sun rises, he goes out into the forest. But when he finds his prey, he is mesmerized by its beauty and chooses not to shoot. The spare text is complemented by large, realistic illustrations tinged with blue or black (night scenes) or orange hues (daytime), which create a tone of reverence.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) 1-3 Read & Bloom series. Illustrated by Eric Wight. In these two new early chapter books, a prehistoric boy deals with everyday emotions and social challenges. In Adventures, a frustrated Caveboy breaks his club playing "baseskull" but makes a new friend. In Bored, Caveboy hunts mammoths with his younger sister. The stakes are never high, but well-placed digital illustrations capture emotions and add some humor to the easy texts. Review covers these titles: The Adventures of Caveboy and Caveboy Is Bored!.

Reviewer: Rebecca Fox

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline. A lyrical tale of a medieval child's day hunting with her falconer father and their hawk is illuminated by lavishly detailed acrylic-gouache illustrations. The simple text (with a rhyming "This is the..." construction) is supplemented with extensive sidebars explaining the sport of falconry and raptor behavior and an appended historical note. An underrepresented subject executed with skill and care. Reading list, websites. Ind.

Reviewer: Jessica Bushore

(3) 4-6 Kai dreams of being a hunter but is shunned by his prehistoric village for his clubfoot and friendship with the wolves who nursed him. He decides to raise an orphaned pup, but a string of misfortunes forces Kai and Uff to leave the village and fend for themselves. A warm, genuine boy-and-wolf bond develops naturally as both mature through their ongoing partnership.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(3) YA Fourteen-year-old Mercer dreams of training raptors like his falconer father, but he's never really given much thought to other animals--including the dogs his mother performs medical research on. When Mercer meets Lucy, a beautiful girl whose parents are devoted animal-rights activists, he begins to examine his own complicated beliefs. The ancient tradition of falconry gives this authentic coming-of-age story a unique angle.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(3) K-3 Great Outdoors series. These simply written primers on outdoor recreation succeed in introducing young readers to each experience, including the equipment and clothing required for the sport, general instructions, safety and emergency procedures, and the best venues or locales for it. Color photos with descriptive captions and question-and-answer sidebars complement the brief but informative texts. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Great Outdoors titles: Canoeing, Duck Hunting, Rock Climbing, Camping, Freshwater Fishing, and Hiking.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(2) K-3 While hunting, Mr. Bobbin can't stop himself from warning the animals. The result is more A Sick Day for Amos McGee than Bambi. The gently worded text is so benign that the illustrations' peaceful soft blues, greens, and tans feel appropriate--guns may be a startling sight in a picture book, but the full package is the opposite of scary.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax | Horn Book Magazine Issue: February, 1962; November, 2016

(1) 4-6 Birchbark House series. In this fifth entry, Ojibwe boy Makoons, his twin Chickadee, and their warm multigenerational family make a new life on the Great Plains. Throughout, there are poignant moments, including a sense of foreboding as buffalo begin to disappear. Soft black-and-white drawings accompany this finely crafted corrective to the Eurocentric narrative of America's past. A note on the Ojibwe language and pronunciation guide appended. Glos.

Reviewer: Monica Edinger | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2016

(4) K-3 Photographs by Brent Stapelkamp. Photographs by Cecil the lion's former "keeper" elevate this text, which refreshingly focuses on Cecil's life and not his tragic death. Particular attention is paid to his unusual alliance with a rival to share their territory. While sometimes heavy-handed, the book may spark discussion about conservation and hunting. Back matter includes facts about lions, the Hwange National Park, and the aftermath of Cecil's death.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(3) YA Eurona Duology series. Hunters from the five lands of Eurona compete to slay the monstrous beast terrorizing Lochlanach, which some believe is punishment for oppressing the magical Lashed Ones. The winner will marry the eldest princess, redheaded Aerity, who's drawn to angry, secretive hunter Paxton Seabolt. Romantic yearning brews beneath scenes of hunting and athleticism in this duology-starter inspired by the Grimms' "The Singing Bone."

Reviewer: Amy Bennett-Zendzian

(2) YA Sensory details transport readers to 1970s Birch Park, Alaska. Escaping abuse and neglect, Dora finds a haven in Dumpling's family's fish camp. A few stolen nights with Ray Stevens lands Ruth scared, alone, and pregnant on a bus to Our Lady of Perpetual Sorrow. Four distinct first-person narrative voices breathe life into the adolescent protagonists, whose engaging individual stories are enriched by their intersections.

Reviewer: Lauren Adams | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2016