Running with Wolves

February 1, 2019

Gr 4 Up-Documentary filmmakers Jim and Jamie Dutcher write about their six-plus years living among the Sawtooth Pack of wolves of central Idaho. Not content to study the wolves' living conditions and habits from afar, the Dutchers set up camp within the 25-acre enclosure they created to more thoroughly understand wolf behavior. Their impeccable preparation paid off as they witnessed the wolves in an unprecedented up-close and hands-on manner. The writing is clear, concise, often riveting, and at times heartbreaking. The Dutchers' joy and astonishment are palpable, as is the humans' and wolves' mutual respect. The couple make informative observations about the pack's social hierarchy, sleeping and eating habits, and more. Playful, family-oriented, competitive, sensitive, and, above all, compassionate, wolves are very humanlike, the authors note. An eight-page color photo insert supplement the fascinating text. VERDICT Not just for animal lovers, this well-written, engaging book will appeal to a wide array of middle grade readers.-Melissa Kazan, Horace Mann School, NY

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