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Booklist - 03/01/2020 At the end of the nineteenth century, the government encouraged the hunting of predators in the American West, hoping to decrease threats to livestock. Once wolves were gone from Yellowstone National Park, however, the landscape of the park changed: some animal populations became overcrowded and certain plants died out, leaving the landscape barren. In a series of well-executed, two-page chapters, this book breaks down in detail the ways wolves influence their environment, the push to restore them to Yellowstone, and how the park has changed since their return. The picture-book format may be initially confusing for some, as there's a lot of information (about wolves and ecosystem structures in general) packed into these pages, and it's definitely a book for confident middle-grade readers who are learning the ins and outs of research texts. Still, the warm cartoon illustrations are undeniably enticing, and they are often accompanied by easy-to-follow charts that clarify the more complicated concepts in the book. Tailor-made for classroom units on biodiversity, and fun to explore as well. - Copyright 2020 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 04/01/2020 Gr 2–5—Isabella describes how wolves were reintroduced to the ecosystem in Yellowstone National Park to reduce the elk population. In the late 1800s, the wolves of Yellowstone were hunted to near extinction. This led to an imbalance where the elk population swelled to over 20,000, resulting in a loss of plant and animal life. A team of experts decided to try an experiment where they released 41 wolves into the Yellowstone environment. Over time, the wolves reduced the elk population, resulting in the ecological restoration of Yellowstone. Each page introduces a new animal, plant, or insect that came back to the park and explains the impact they had on the ecosystem. The soft palette of the illustrations shows the majestic beauty of Yellowstone and its creatures. A glossary, resources, and an index are included in the back matter. VERDICT This fascinating story is sure to captivate young conservationists.—V. Lynn Christiansen, Wiley International Studies Magnet Elementary School, Raleigh, NC - Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.