Green, Sara. Wilderness Search Dogs.

Green, Sara.  Wilderness Search Dogs.  Scholastic Press     2014  24p   $17.26  ISBN 978-0-531-26185-9      series: Dogs to the Rescue  elem  Nonfiction  VG

Elementary students who love dogs will appreciate this new title on wilderness search dogs.  Written in an easy-to-comprehend manner, the book allows students to gain a better understanding of how wilderness search dogs are valued members of wilderness search teams.  From a listing of specific breeds to training, students see the commitment needed from these dogs and their search teams.  Students are provided with a list of wilderness search dog breeds, along with a more specific profile of a German Shepherd, one of the most common wilderness search dogs.  There is discussion of the training necessary for wilderness search dogs in easy language for students, along with beautiful color photographs.  The author introduces students to Soot, a black Labrador Retriever who was named the 2012 Search and Rescue Dog of the Year by the American Humane Association.

The title includes gorgeous color photographs, a glossary of terms, recommended books and web sites, and an index.  For schools who use Accelerated Reader, an existing quiz is available for students to take (AR Quiz #162622).  

Summary: “Describes the history, commonly used dog breeds, abilities, training, and work of wilderness search dogs.”   

Search dogs                                                 --Charleen Forba-Mayer

Karwoski, Langer. Search and Rescue Dogs.

Karwoski, Langer.  Search and Rescue Dogs.  Capstone Publishers  2014  32p  ISBN 978-1-4765-0131-4      elem/ms   E-BNS  Nonfiction       

Many dogs have jobs and work with human partners to create a Search and Rescue (SAR) Team.  These SAR teams are sent to disaster sites to help find and recover survivors and victims.    Most informative, this book captures the reader early on by presenting information about four-legged heroes at the World Trade Center disaster.  The especially sensitive noses of dogs allowed them to scent out people who needed rescuing.  The history of SAR teams and dogs specifically is presented with a lot of colorful photographs, some more relevant to the text than others.  Sidebars are found throughout the book, highlighting interesting facts, like the fact that survivors are most often found within 24 hours (p. 23), and “An Inspiring Dog” (p. 17).  The text is informative and direct, with highlighted words defined both at the bottom of each page and in the glossary at the end of the book.  There is a list for further reading (print and web) and an index.  

This series of four books about Dogs on the Job presents dogs in the role of work dog rather than household pet.  The books are informative and colorful, and will find a sure audience with elementary-age students.

Summary: Many dogs have jobs and work with human partners to create a Search and Rescue (SAR) Team.  These SAR teams are sent to disaster sites to help find and recover survivors and victims. 

Search dogs                                                       --Lynn Fisher