Thursday, March 28, 2019

Running with Wolves by Jim and Jamie Dutcher –OPTIONAL

Running with Wolves by Jim andJamie Dutcher. 158 pages.  NON-FICTION. National Geographic, 2019 $17

Content: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL – OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

This is the true account of a national geographic study on wolves. Jamie Dutcher and his colleagues set up a giant enclosure in the Idaho wilderness and keep adding wolves until there is a pack, including the raising of multiple puppy litters. They film, study, and engage with the wolf pack in order to learn more about them. Eventually Jamie, a zoologist, joins the study and the reader hears her perspective as well. Includes lots of photographs and information on keystone species and how the readers can help.

Well I was a bit shocked to read how artificial the whole set up was. I always imagined wild life documentaries taking place in the true wild, but this was a manmade pack given road kill to eat, with puppies raised by human hands. The authors did a great job conveying the personalities of the wolves and making the reader feel present for the big events. That being said, the information about why studying wolves and preserving them as a part of their habitat was left mostly until the ending. The authors write about how there is a misperception about wolves, especially by farmers, but not how this study or the authors actions, were used to help remedy that viewpoint. I do think an upper elementary student who is interested in wolves might like this book.

Reviewer: Stephanie MLS & Author

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