(1) K-3 Illustrated by Richard Jones . When Yoshi, a real-life loggerhead turtle, hatches, she immediately crawls to the Indian Ocean and begins swimming out to sea. After five nomadic years, she becomes entangled in a fishing net (a sequence of events Jones depicts as a timeline of circles, each spotlighting her increasing distress). Unable to breathe, she begins an arduous journey to the surface, dramatically illustrated in a full-bleed, double-page watercolor spread showing Yoshi alone in the sea hauling a mass of fishing net behind her. A fisherman rescues her, eventually taking her to Cape Town's Two Oceans Aquarium, where she lives for twenty years. When Yoshi reaches sexual maturity, the aquarists initiate a program of reintroducing her into the wild; they finally do so, equipping her with a satellite tracker. To the scientists' surprise, she swims up the western coast of Africa, turns around, heads south, and returns to her heretofore unknown native beach in Australia, where she mates and deposits her eggs on the very shore where she originally hatched--a 22,998-mile journey. There's much to discuss about the interplay of instinct, perseverance, and luck in this fine book. An author's note describes Cox's inspiration--"I am intrigued by Yoshi's story because I too am a long-distance swimmer. I was the first person to swim around the rough waters surrounding the Cape of Good Hope, Africa" --and separates fact from supposition; a suggested website documents Yoshi's release.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2023

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Renato Alarcão. Seu Joao lives on an island off the coast of Brazil. When an oil-soaked Magellanic penguin washes ashore, Seu Joao takes him home, cleans him with dish soap, and names him Dindim (a grandson's attempt to pronounce the Portuguese word for penguin). As Dindim rehabilitates, the pair forms an attachment, though Seu Joao, respectful of the needs of wild animals, repeatedly tries to send Dindim back to the sea. Dindim does not leave--until one day, months later, he does. Earle's account of this true story is skillfully restrained, describing only the two characters' actions, and leaving readers to infer what human and animal feel for each other. "Seu Joao sat and drank his coffee. His lap was empty. But he remembered Dindim's silky feathers and the beat of his heart." Four months later, when Dindim amazingly returns, "the penguin waddled as fast as his little legs could carry him, right into Seu Joao's arms." Alarcao's pastel-colored illustrations capture the appeal of the people, animals, and beaches of Praia Proveta. In addition to a brief glossary, appended notes provide additional information about Seu Joao and Dindim, facts about penguins and threats to their survival, and steps that readers can take to help protect threatened species.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2023

(2) K-3 Inspired by a news article about a woman who cared for a wingless bee found in her garden, this picture book follows young Sasha, who discovers, rescues, and befriends a small bee in need. The story starts on the ground, below the flowers, tracing the path of a walking bee who has no wings. "On the warm spring day when Sasha first saw the bee, she didn't realize something was wrong. Then she saw." Though the illustrations feature joyous spring colors created with gouache and colored pencils, they effectively express the emotional distress of Sasha (and her cat Molly) and the exhaustion and misery of the little bee. Visual shifts in point of view emphasize how small and helpless it is. With support and care, the creature, eventually named Bea, thrives, but its life without wings still poses challenges. Finally, Sasha imagines and constructs a solution that allows Bea some daily flight time. While the anthropomorphism throughout is fantastical, the story is embedded in firm realism: bees have a short lifespan. "And one sad, unfixable day, Bea was gone." The final tribute Sasha pays to her friend will carry on for generations of bees while offering a jumping-off point for readers. Illustrated back matter includes information and helpful tips for those who want to support the bees who buzz around their own homes and neighborhoods.

Reviewer: Julie Roach | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2023

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Charles Santoso. Applegate and Santoso (Willodeen, rev. 9/21) pair for another creature story, this one a verse novel about an otter named Odder who lives off the coast of California near Monterey Bay. The tale is divided into three sections, beginning with "The Queen of Play," a reference to Odder's daredevil nature. But the opening poems are about sharks, foreshadowing what is about to happen. On this day Odder can't resist going a little too far, despite her more cautious friend Kairi's warnings, and is attacked by a great white shark; she manages to make her way to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The second section flashes back to three years earlier, when as a baby Odder became separated from her mother and was rescued and painstakingly taught survival skills by the aquarium's aquarists. The final section returns to the present, as Odder, too injured to be returned to the wild, becomes a surrogate parent to another otter pup that has lost its mother. Applegate grounds the story in scientific fact, slipping in ­interesting details in a lyrical way, as when she talks about keystone species, "nature's glue, / holding habitats together." "Without otters, / sea urchins, purple as a bruise, / gobble kelp forests / until the ocean floor / becomes a barren wasteland." Santoso's tender black-and-white drawings, together with the large type, will make this novel very accessible and appealing to young animal lovers. Back matter includes a glossary; an author's note about Monterey Bay Aquarium and the real-life stories on which Odder's is based; and a selected bibliography.

Reviewer: Susan Dove Lempke | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2022

(2) K-3 Photographs by Ellen Harasimowicz. This clear and engaging book documents the painstaking work of relocating a hive of honeybees that has outgrown its hive box. In Burns's conversational text, readers are introduced to Mr. Connery, who owns a "ramshackle barn" where he's discovered a colony of honeybees. He calls on the services of Mr. Nelson, a bee-rescue expert. Harasimowicz's eye-catching photographs document the entire relocation process, showing each step required to carefully move thirty-five thousand bees to a safer spot. Nelson uses a lot of patience, specially designed tools (e.g., his bee-vac: a modified vacuum connected to a traveling case), and ­Connery's assistance to gently collect the bees, disassemble their hive, and move the colony to a larger hive box on Connery's property. Details about honeybee life and behavior are smoothly woven into the discussion. An illuminating interview with Nelson explains why rescuing honeybees is important and how he's able to do his work without protective equipment. Back matter includes a glossary, a source list, further reading, and an author's note. A book that will inspire ­further curiosity about this important pollinator.

Reviewer: Laura Koenig | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2022

(2) 4-6 "Why doesn't the world have a pause button?" eleven-year-old Peter Harrison wonders. A lot is happening in his world: he's on Official Caregiver Duty for his beloved grandfather who has Alzheimer's; his best friend, Tommy, is moving away; he's nervous about starting middle school in the fall; and he's trying to save the manatees in the Indigo River near his central Florida home. Spending their days playing along the canal, Tommy and Peter are the founding (and only) members of the Discovery Club, constantly in search of animal species to document in their "Discovery Journal." Their biggest find is a huge manatee near mean old Mr. Reilly's dock. It's injured, with long scars on its back, indicating that it's been hit by a motorboat, and Peter blames Mr. Reilly. In fact, Peter's angry finger-pointing accusation of Mr. Reilly is caught by the local news, and the story goes viral. Peter's attempts to save Zoe (his name for the manatee) become the heart of the novel, and debut author Griffith adroitly weaves in the other threads of the tale around it. Peter grows up that summer and finds an apt metaphor for his life in his love of nature. His story is full of sadness, adventure, and beautiful scenes on the Indigo River. Any writer who can make readers cry about "a gray, rubbery island" of a manatee has done his job well.

Reviewer: Dean Schneider | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2022

(1) 1-3 In this moving, mostly wordless graphic novel, a young girl of Chinese descent visits her grandmother on her own; the bond between the two deepens through their shared joy in storytelling and in observing nature. Central to the story is a flamingo, a wild rescue bird that Lao Lao (the grandmother) had saved and raised years ago when she was little. Guojing's expressive digital, watercolor, and colored-pencil illustrations have a timeless, cinematic quality, switching back and forth between the grandmother's bright, tropical childhood awash in shades of yellow, pink, and blue and the gray-hued present. This contrast becomes even greater when the granddaughter flies home (via a flamingo-pink airplane) to her family's lonely apartment in an imposing skyscraper-filled metropolis. A fantastical appearance by the titular character toward the end brings this gentle tale of family love--spanning time, distance, and generations--to a satisfying, heartwarming close. With its unfussy art and few words, the story leaves room for viewers' interpretation; what's never in question is the love between Lao Lao and her granddaughter.

Reviewer: Michelle Lee | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2022

(2) PS A child and her abuela are walking in the snow when they discover an injured bird. They bring the bird home, and Abuela nurses it back to health. The bird has a cage, but Abuela lets it fly through the apartment as it recovers, to the child's (and the reader's) delight. When the creature is healed, Abuela sends it off to fly free, and it disappears into the clouds above the city. In the spring, the bird returns; the child wants to keep it, but Abuela says it should remain free but is welcome to visit whenever it wants. Spare, simple, first-person text, narrated from the child's point of view, leaves room for the sweet, collage-like illustrations to pull readers' attention into the story and hold them in this magical space. The illustrations exude the warmth and coziness of a dear relationship between a young child and loving caregiver, and this cherished relationship is enhanced by the new friend they make together. A combination of neutral and bright colors in the art creates eye-catching layers, while the straight lines of rooms and buildings balance the rounded shapes of the characters. The small yellow bird brightens up their apartment in the city, and Abuela's gentle lessons through her actions and words are easily inferred. Published concurrently in Spanish as Un pájaro en casa.

Reviewer: Autumn Allen | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2021

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Jeet Zdung. Nguyen's graphic novel "based on a true adventure" tells the story of a girl named Chang, who is an aspiring wildlife conservationist, and her efforts to protect Vietnam's native species and natural environments. Accompanying Chang is Sorya, a sun bear rescued in Laos, who must learn survival skills before she can be safely returned to the forest. Zdung's expressive, expansive comics-style panels depict Sorya's many playful antics moment by moment, as well as the fast-paced tension in more dangerous interactions in the wild. Clever picture-within-picture illustrations from Chang's field-notebook sketches incorporate information on topics ranging from bear species to the many ways humans exploit wild animals for profit. The warmth of the characters' relationship is conveyed with a minimum of anthropomorphism. The conversational narrative is occasionally paused by gorgeous interspersed partial-to-full spreads of Vietnamese rainforest landscapes filled with the heat, moisture, and density of tropical plant and animal life. Sorya eventually returns to the wild, while Chang continues her lifelong efforts to protect the forests and their inhabitants from human exploitation done through development, farming, dams, and the illegal animal trade. Brief author and illustrator notes are appended.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2022

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Hadley Hooper. On the first page of this moving true story, readers meet tenderhearted couple Lawrence and Françoise, who stand poised to greet them. They live on Thula Thula, a sprawling South African wildlife sanctuary, on which also roam rhinos, zebra, crocodiles, and more. When Lawrence is asked if he wants to adopt a herd of angry elephants, previously hunted, he accepts. The story chronicles in riveting detail the elephants' arrival; their learning curve in adjusting to Thula Thula; their eventual acceptance of life at the preserve; and their special bond with Lawrence. Their connection is such that upon his death the elephants, sensing his absence, head to his home and camp there for three days to be with Françoise. (Have tissues handy.) The story's flawless, gentle pacing illuminates the animals' initial fear and the time, patience, and compassion it takes for attentive Lawrence to earn their trust. He talks to them, sings to them, and even tells them stories--all details sure to delight readers. Hooper fills the pages with saturated, eye-catching teal, copper, and emerald hues. Shades of rich blue and soft rose heighten the story's emotional impact, particularly the loss of Lawrence. An appended note assures readers that the elephants continue to thrive at Thula Thula.

Reviewer: Julie Danielson | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2021

(3) 4-6 In this lively, photo-packed offering, wildlife veterinarian (and eco-fashion model) Wild does more than discuss her work traveling the world to care for animals. Organized by continent, this book features profiles of over eighty species; each entry includes brief facts about an animal's habitat, behavior, diet, and threats, as well as text boxes with details about its care and "Gabby Says" anecdotes. The text also touches on geography, conservation efforts, and different cultural attitudes toward wildlife. Tips for vet training, list of wildlife conservation organizations, an extensive glossary, and an index conclude the volume.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) K-3 In this fourth book about a vulnerable keystone species (If Sharks Disappeared and others), Williams envisions the devastating impact of a mass bee extinction. The presentation opens in the verdant hills of Kent, England, where the color-saturated illustrations feature an adult and two kids (one white, one Black) tending a garden. These characters appear throughout as Williams provides a general overview of bee physiology, behavior, reproduction, and hive culture before focusing on currents threats to the species and the projected "unraveling effect" on crops, other species, and more. The friendly illustrations help to deliver Williams's urgent message effectively. More about threats, tips on how to help, a glossary, and a bibliography are appended.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(2) PS Illustrated by Karen Patkau. In this story set on the savanna (an author's note refers to South Africa), young Tetenya and his mother have been caring for an orphaned baby rhino. They have had no success finding a herd for baby Faru to join, so Tetenya sets out with Faru to look further. The story follows classic-picture-book structure for a while, with a refrain as they come across different types of animals, "but no rhinos." Sound effects add to the atmosphere, as the pair encounters, for example, "giraffes gliding through the long grass...SWISH SWISH SWISH" and "a family of guinea fowl scrounging for seeds...SCRITCH SCRITCH SCRITCH." The details give a strong sense of place, as child and rhino eat bright pink water berries for lunch and fall asleep under a Jackalberry tree--but the calm and playful interlude is suddenly interrupted by machete-wielding poachers. Tetenya thinks quickly to figure out a way of using the berries to save Faru, and the story comes to a satisfying conclusion. Patkau's digital illustrations use shadows, reflections, and bright colors against the greens and browns of the savanna to make the figures pop. The presence of an armed ranger guarding the rhinos underscores the reality of protecting creatures from poachers, as described in an appended note. But it is the warm relationship between Tetenya and Faru, and the young boy's bravery, that children will most likely remember.

Reviewer: Susan Dove Lempke | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2020

(3) 4-6 True Tales of Rescue series. Photographs by Shelly Ross. The rescue stories of four orphaned raccoon kits and an injured anteater pup are used to spotlight the work of two animal sanctuaries in these series entries. Accessible text, engaging photographs, and frequent informational sidebars allow readers to shadow the volunteer caregivers as they work toward the ultimate goal: releasing the animals back into the wild. One of the young creatures "narrates" part of each book. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these True Tales of Rescue titles: Anteater Adventure and Racoon Rescue.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) 4-6 True Tales of Rescue series. Photographs by Ella Baron. The rescue stories of four orphaned raccoon kits and an injured anteater pup are used to spotlight the work of two animal sanctuaries in these series entries. Accessible text, engaging photographs, and frequent informational sidebars allow readers to shadow the volunteer caregivers as they work toward the ultimate goal: releasing the animals back into the wild. One of the young creatures "narrates" part of each book. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these True Tales of Rescue titles: Anteater Adventure and Racoon Rescue.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Steven Salerno. Born Velma Bronn Johnston, "Wild Horse Annie" grows up watching her father tame mustangs. In 1971, adult Annie, with help from schoolchildren petitioning legislators, wins federal protection for wild horses. The text makes good use of anecdotes and quotes to capture Annie's personality and convey her personal challenges (including polio). Fluid, cartoonlike illustrations depict Annie's energy and subtly suggest her lifelong disability. Bib.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2019

(2) K-3 In this dramatic wordless tale, a commercial fisherman and (presumably) his son fish with a large net. When the boy notices their lines have entangled a whale, the father dives in to free the creature. Lanan's watercolor and gouache paintings are expansive and cinematic; mostly full-bleed spreads place readers at the center of the action. An afterword provides more information on whale entanglement and human-caused environmental damage.

Reviewer: Julie Danielson | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2019

(2) K-3 When a newborn black rhinoceros is abandoned in a Kenyan rhino sanctuary in 1985, conservationist Anna Merz steps in to rescue and raise the baby she names Samia. Meisel's heartening account of their relationship--"best friends forever"--is based on a chapter from Merz's adult book Rhino: At the Brink of Extinction. The narrative focuses on Samia's early years, as Anna balances her affection for the rhino with her knowledge that Samia will eventually need to survive in the wild on her own. (A recurring refrain is a version of: "One day, thought Anna, you'll be able to live on your own. But not now.") Anna provides Samia with food, shelter, and companionship but also trains her to track other animals and find her own food outside the compound, and checks that she is able to communicate with other rhinos. Antics ensue, as the increasingly hefty (and very smart) Samia tries to join Anna in her car and home (and bathtub), once even getting stuck in a dining-room doorway. Their bond lasts beyond Samia's return to the wild. Meisel's art clearly transmits human and rhino personalities, and beautifully portrays the vast Kenyan environments with depth and layering of rocks, plants, and animals in the complex landscapes. Two pages of endnotes summarize Merz's adventurous life and provide facts about black rhinos.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2020

(2) 4-6 Patent chronicles the Australian and Tasmanian governments' attempts to save Tasmanian devils from a fast-spreading, almost one-hundred-percent fatal disease propelling the species toward rapid extinction. After outlining the causes of the disease (with clear diagrams and photographs of chromosome abnormalities) and the scientific research, Patent takes readers to several devil sanctuaries, nature preserves, and labs to observe the progress being made in both reintroduction programs and vaccines, carefully explaining their methodologies. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

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

(2) 4-6 Eleven-year-old December, who unwaveringly believes she will fly, is changing foster houses. Again. But maybe new foster mother Eleanor's house will be different. December befriends a classmate in gender transition, withstands mean-girl abuse, and reluctantly grows to depend on Eleanor, who offers her space without expectation. December's complicated bird-identity coping strategy feels genuinely childlike, and Stark-McGinnis weaves it through the story with such consistency that it makes equal sense to readers.

Reviewer: Thom Barthelmess | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2019