Written By: Jude Isabella
Illustrated by: Kim Smith
For Ages: 8-12 years
Language: English
Topics Covered: Yellowstone, Pint-Sized Professor, Life Cycles, Wolves, Nature.
Summary: This is a really well-researched book about the delicate balance of natural ecosystems. Telling the true story of how humans destroyed the Yellowstone ecosystem by hunting wolves to extinction, it also documents the rebirth and revitalization. Soon though, it began to be apparent that without large predators, all levels of the habitat suffered.
This book is really important for kids to understand their impact on the environment, and that there is still time to reverse the ill effects that humans (specifically colonizers) have caused by stripping nature of its natural predators and resources.
This book has beautiful and thorough illustrations. It talks specifically about how the reintroduction of the grey wolf to Yellowstone reinvigorated the ecosystem, and how food webs work to maintain healthy lands.
This book was kindly sent by Kids Can Press and is a submission for the #bookstagang_bestof2020 list! All opinions are my own.
Jude is the founder and editor in chief of Hakai Magazine, a magazine focused on science and society in coastal ecosystems.
As a freelancer for over a dozen periodicals, Jude concentrated on science, health, and the environment. Jude’s book, Salmon: A Scientific Memoir chronicles her discoveries and thoughts collected over a four year period in the field with scientists who study British Columbia’s coastal ecosystem.
Jude spent over a decade as managing editor of YES Mag, Canada’s science magazine for kids. She continues to write for children, authoring books with topics from the International Space Station to language.
Kim Smith is the New York Times best-selling illustrator of over 30 picture books, including Boxitects (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt/Harper Collins), the Builder Brothers picture book series (HarperCollins); the PopClassics picture book adaptations of popular films including Back to the Future, Home Alone, and E.T. (Quirk Books); and the Ice Chips chapter book series (HarperCollins Canada). In addition to illustrating picture books, Kim has also worked on children’s video games, puzzles, animation, 3D displays, posters, and magazines.