Scat
(Books for a Better Earth)

Gr 4-7-A title about how animal poop is much more than just poop; this text teaches readers that animal waste can be extremely useful by rebuilding forests, feeding other animals, and assisting wildlife scientists. Sanchez explains, "scat can show us how many animals are in a habitat, where they're going, what they're eating, how healthy they are, if they're breeding-even if they're scared, stressed, or relaxed" and includes multiple stories of specific animals, such as bears and passenger pigeons (now extinct), whose stool aids in germinating plants. For those fascinated by this subject, Sanchez has included a field guide to scat that might be in readers' own neighborhoods. While this topic is generally more popular with elementary students, the text, in both amount and level, is geared toward middle school readers, which will narrow the prospective audience. However, this title would be perfect for a research project on the subject. Colorful photographs and sidebars enhance the narrative. A glossary, bibliography, and source notes are included. VERDICT Full of interesting information about scat but would likely appeal to a limited audience. An additional purchase.

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