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(3)
K-3
Penguin Young Readers: Smithsonian series.
A comprehensive overview of the bison's life cycle and habits is organized into chapters and short paragraphs. A leveled text geared toward "fluent readers" smoothly introduces vocabulary and touches on the importance of the animal to Native Americans, the near extinction of the species, and conservationists' efforts to bring them back. Quality photos (some captioned) appear throughout. Young readers will come away well informed. Glos.
(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)
YA
Hope's summer in Montana gets exciting when she meets a young rancher named Cal. Their romance-turned-survival-adventure strangely echoes events from an old diary she finds, that of eighteenth-century Emily and her own love interest, Nate. Both romances feel somewhat flimsy, and Native representation can be simplistic at times. But with such a vivid setting, readers will feel transported to rural Montana.
(3)
K-3
Do You Really Want to Meet...? series.
Illustrated by
Daniele Fabbri.
In each book, readers accompany an inquisitive child on a journey to observe wild animals in their natural habitat. Bold cartoon illustrations and the second-person text add to the immediacy of the experience. Peppered with facts, warnings, and questions, the texts focus mainly on the dangers of interacting with wild animals rather than on their habitat, diet, and behaviors. Map, reading list, websites. Glos. Review covers these Do You Really Want to Meet...? titles: Cape Buffalo, Kangaroo, Lion, Moose, and Elephant.
(4)
K-3
Magic Readers series.
Illustrated by
Candice Keimig.
These books are formulaic but offer some interesting facts. Rather than providing the same information on dolphins and buffaloes in varying levels of complexity, the volumes in each pair introduce different concepts. The repetitive illustrations consist of photographs of the animals against watercolor backgrounds for a bizarre look. Level 1 volumes (Dolphins; Buffaloes) include some labels on the illustrations to highlight vocabulary words. Review covers these Magic Readers titles: Dolphins, Dolphins in the Ocean, Buffaloes, and Buffaloes Eat and Grow.
(4)
K-3
Magic Readers series.
Illustrated by
Candice Keimig.
These books are formulaic but offer some interesting facts. Rather than providing the same information on dolphins and buffaloes in varying levels of complexity, the volumes in each pair introduce different concepts. The repetitive illustrations consist of photographs of the animals against watercolor backgrounds for a bizarre look. Level 1 volumes (Dolphins; Buffaloes) include some labels on the illustrations to highlight vocabulary words. Review covers these Magic Readers titles: Dolphins, Dolphins in the Ocean, Buffaloes, and Buffaloes Eat and Grow.
32 pp.
| ABDO
| January, 2013
|
LibraryISBN 978-1-61783-569-8$18.95
(4)
4-6
Checkerboard Animal Library: Animal Icons series.
Color photographs combine with easy-to-read but choppy texts to introduce these animals. Each book traces the animal's rise to "iconic" status by providing historical context and cultural significance along with information about physical characteristics, habitat, behavior, and protection efforts. Sidebars and maps impart additional information (including a much-needed definition of icon). Glos., ind. Review covers these Animal Icons titles: Armadillos, Buffaloes, and Coyotes.
48 pp.
| Enslow
| August, 2012
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-7660-4007-6$21.26 New ed. (1996)
(4)
4-6
Courageous Heroes of the American West series.
All originally published under different titles, the updated editions of these brief biographies, written in short, easy-to-read sentences, outline the lives of adventurous individuals who helped shape the American West during the nineteenth century. Black-and-white photographs and drawings add some interest to the text-heavy pages; the lurid cover illustrations are unappealing. There are four other fall 2012 books in this series. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Courageous Heroes of the American West titles: Bill Pickett, Buffalo Bill Cody, Calamity Jane, Daniel Boone, Davy Crockett, Richard King, Sacagawea, and Sam Houston.
(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Daniel Jennewein.
In this follow-up to Is Your Buffalo Ready for Kindergarten?, an offstage narrator spends the book cajoling a girl to indulge her pet buffalo's yen for drum lessons ("Encourage him!"). The book owes a nod to the If You Give a Mouse a Cookie franchise, but Vernick sustains her riff nicely. Jennewein gets it and makes the characters harmless-looking, fun-loving goofballs.
32 pp.
| Dutton
| May, 2010
|
TradeISBN 978-0-525-42215-0$16.99
(2)
K-3
Illustrated by
Wendell Minor.
In George's compact ecodrama, we first see the buffalo slaughtered to decimate the Indians and open the prairie to settlers. Moving to the somber Dust Bowl migrants, we then turn to the reversal: the discovery, instigated by President Theodore Roosevelt, of three hundred remaining wild buffalo. With illustrations that both document and dramatize, it's another small triumph from a seasoned team. Websites. Bib.
Reviewer: Barbara Bader
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
July, 2010
(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Daniel Jennewein.
Though he's hairier than everyone else and too big for the swings, Buffalo successfully navigates kindergarten. He gets over his shyness, fear of scissors, and temptation to improperly use his horns by following the rules and remembering that everyone is different. Expressive childlike drawings illustrate this playful take on the first-day-of-school-jitters story.
(4)
K-3
Looking Glass Library: Barnyard Buddies series.
Illustrated by
Todd Ouren.
This series describes the lives of various animals on the farm. Most spreads deliver one to three sentences of main text and an additional one to three sentences (in smaller type) of further explanation. The animal sounds seem somewhat babyish for the informational text. The illustrations, although bright and inviting, can be too dully repetitive across volumes. Glos., ind. Review covers these Looking Glass Library: Barnyard Buddies titles: In the Buffalo Pasture, In the Goat Yard, In the Llama Yard, In the Rabbit Hutch, and In the Turkey Pen.
40 pp.
| Lee
| March, 2008
|
TradeISBN 978-1-58430-280-3$17.95
(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
Bill Farnsworth.
Based on the true story of a Salish Indian, this slightly romanticized telling explains how, in the 1870s, Walking Coyote raised orphaned buffalo calves, helping save the overhunted North American buffalo from possible extinction. Dramatic oil-paint illustrations capture the expanse of the western landscape. An afterword provides more information about Walking Coyote and about further efforts to protect buffalo.
32 pp.
| Clarion
| May, 2008
|
TradeISBN 978-0-618-72341-6$16.00
(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Lauren Castillo.
After herds of buffalo are hunted to the brink of extinction during the late 1800s, Molly begins to raise orphaned buffalo on her own. This quiet fictional story is based on fact and the soft illustrations in muted colors will transport readers back in time to the open fields of Texas. An author's note offers more information about the real Molly. Reading list.
40 pp.
| Houghton
| March, 2008
|
TradeISBN 978-0-618-99784-8$16.00
(2)
K-3
Illustrated by
Christiane Pieper.
A storm separates an elephant from his herd. Happily he's soon sporting with water buffalo. As in Tiger on a Tree, Ravishankar's rhymed text captures the ear with its engaging lilt. Noisy words (BOOM, BELLLOOOW) are printed large and integrated into digitally created illustrations that suggest woodcuts, their bold and craggy black and appropriately watery blue lending the story energy.
32 pp.
| Clarion
| October, 2007
|
TradeISBN 978-0-618-53597-2$16.00
(2)
K-3
Illustrated by
Jan Ormerod.
A girl travels the Oregon Trail with her family. Spare, poetic prose draws readers in, communicating emotions from terror of storms to joy of new life. Ormerod's muted watercolor and pastel illustrations capture the dusty trail and blur of a buffalo stampede. Text boxes, framed in cut paper and layered on the art, set off the words without distraction.
Reviewer: Robin L. Smith
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
January, 2008
(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Paulette Bogan.
Despite the wealth of culinary goodies available for serious snacking during the big football game, Rooster still feels something's missing: buffalo wings. He heads west to search for buffalo, encountering adventures and surprises (who knew buffalo wings were actually made of chicken--gulp!) along the way. Zesty watercolor illustrations highlight Rooster's comedy of errors. Recipes are included.
40 pp.
| Hyperion
| January, 2007
|
TradeISBN 978-0-7868-1820-4$15.99
(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Guy Francis.
In this story inspired by the old dance hall tune "Buffalo Gals," various animals (one a buffalo) dress up to meet their cross-species beaus at a moonlit barn dance. The broadly drawn illustrations are appropriately old-timey, while sly details (e.g., Patty Ann Pig is reading In Sty magazine) add contemporary humor. Music and lyrics are included.
128 pp.
| Scholastic
| October, 2006
|
TradeISBN 0-439-71854-6$18.99
(3)
4-6
This book traces the history of the American bison (buffalo) from the time when millions roamed North America, through their being hunted, to their near extinction, to today's conservation efforts. The readable text also highlights the historical and spiritual connection many Native Americans have with the creatures. Numerous archival and contemporary photographs and paintings add visual interest to this well-designed volume. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind.
85 pp.
| Clarion
| June, 2006
|
TradeISBN 0-618-48570-8$18.00
(4)
4-6
Photographs by
William Muñoz.
Covering an astounding scope of natural and human history, this book aims to articulate the deep, continuing connections between American Indians and American bison. Unfortunately, the breadth of information is so vast, the main points get lost in the details. A native legend introduces each section, and well-captioned photographs capture the imposing presence of the animals. Websites. Ind.