Amateau, Gigi. Dante: Horses of the Maury River Stables.

Amateau, Gigi.  Dante: Horses of the Maury River Stables.  Candlewick Press  2016  306p  $6.99  ISBN 978-0-7636-8754-0  ms  Animal  VG 

A retired racehorse finds a second chance at life.  Told from the horse’s point of view, this is the story of Dante’s Inferno -- a racehorse whose grandfather was the greatest racehorse of all time.  However, Dante fails as a racehorse and ends up at a rescue facility run by rehabilitating prisoners before being adopted by the Maury River Stables, where he becomes a project horse.  Dante slowly befriends other horses, Daisy and Napoleon, and he lowers his guard.  Can he succeed on the cross-country course?  Readers will race through the book to find out.

Some readers may find the use of dialect off-putting, but animal lovers will embrace this engaging horse story. While it is not packed with action, it offers emotional depth and Dante is an appealing character.  Readers who enjoy the book will be delighted to learn that it is part of a series, although this volume can stand on its own.

Summary: A retired racehorse finds a second chance at life as a project horse on a stable run by prisoners.

Horses-Fiction, Horse racing-Fiction                  --Hilary Welliver

Murrow, Ethan, & Vita Murrow. The Whale.

Murrow, Ethan, & Vita Murrow.  The Whale.  Candlewick Press  2016  unp  $17.99  ISBN 978-0-7636-7965-1  all ages  Animal fiction  VG-BN   

Readers will be captivated by the gorgeous graphite illustrations in this almost wordless book detailing a controversial whale sighting.  A legend started fifty years ago involving a sighting of a Great Spotted Whale that was never confirmed.  Now two young whale watchers set out to find the whale.  When their boats collide, they combine resources to attain irrefutable proof of the whale’s existence. 

The Murrows vividly capture the awesome magic of sighting a whale.  The meticulous grey-scale illustrations offer incredible detail.  The experience will resonate even with land-locked readers who have never participated in a whale watch.  This is an excellent springboard to creative writing and storytelling.   

Summary: Two young people set out on an adventure to prove the existence of a mythical Great Spotted Whale.

Whales, Whale-watching                                --Hilary Welliver

Citra, Becky. Duke’s Den.

Citra, Becky.  Duke’s Den.  Orca    2016  198p  $9.95  ISBN 978-1-4598-0901-7  elem/ms    Animal fiction    VG-BN

Amelia’s parents have separated, and she and her mother move to a new town. Then, Gabriella and Duke move into their basement apartment. Believing something sinister is about to occur with the new neighbors, Amelia spies on them at night, only to discover them bringing in unusual animals. She later finds out that the couple rescues these abused and unwanted reptiles and other animals. Amelia’s mother is not in favor of the animals as tenants, and tells Gabriella and Duke that they and their animals must go. But when funds run low for support for the rescue, Amelia and her two friends Liam and Roshni begin fundraising with coupons, and as a result they win the friendship and support from others in their new neighborhood.

This heartwarming, well-written novel will entertain and thrill young readers. As animal rescues have become spotlighted in the media, this fun novel recognizes unique animals that require rescuing about which the public is rarely informed. In addition to the engaging story, the book is filled with interesting facts about exotic animals and the care they require. Duke’s Den will surely be a hit among animal lovers.

Summary: Following her parents’ separation, Amelia finds herself in a new town with few friends, until the new tenants move into her basement apartment with an assortment of rescue reptiles and other unusual animals.   

Animal rescue-Fiction                                       --Virginia McGarvey