Review by Booklist Review
The bonds between more than 20 military and law enforcement dogs and their handlers are lovingly and proudly shown in this compact, fact- and photo-filled offering. From Sergeant Stubby, the first dog to be given a rank for his work during WWI, to Clawson, the pup with a nose for banned imported food, to Bretagne, a search and rescue dog at Ground Zero, canine heroes are spotlighted in five different sections that detail the various roles dogs have played throughout the years. Text boxes featuring questions that kids would ask paired with answers from military-dog handlers are scattered throughout, and each section ends with information on related topics. The narratives are heartfelt, and there are enough photographs of the pooches in action to please any dog lover. With such smaller-than-usual trim-size, this book might get lost on the shelves, but it addresses a wide range of interests and age levels and will make readers want to go home and hug the doggie heroes in their own lives.--Linsenmeyer, Erin Copyright 2016 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
This compact, photo-filled book celebrates service dogs of all kinds as Furstinger profiles more than 20 real-life combat, rescue, police, and tracker dogs, among others. They include a golden retriever named Bretagne, who searched for survivors at ground zero on 9/11; Mas, a Newfoundland graduate of the Italian School of Water Rescue Dogs, trained to save drowning swimmers; and German shepherds Rocky and Rosdas, who track poachers in Tanzania. Furstinger explains how various breeds' physical, behavioral, and biological characteristics enable them to excel (for example, Newfoundlands have a water-repellent undercoat). Descriptions of the powerful bonds between service dogs and their handlers, as well as happy service dog retirements, contribute to a lively and touching narrative. Ages 10-up. (Apr.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Myriad canines loyally serve in a variety of roles aiding their human companions; National Geographic portrays the efforts of 24 working dogs. This small-format volumeabout 6 1/2 inches squarebriefly describes the work of five categories of dogs: war dogs from the past; current war dogs; rescue dogs; scent-following dogs (although this chapter is called "Leaders of the Pack"); and police dogs. There is some overlap between sections, with a retired war dog grouped with the scent-following dogs and a couple of dogs with two careers. Each dog portrait includes several attractive color photographs, a description of the dog's background and training, and information about the dog's working techniques. Various text boxes that fit nicely into the narrative without interrupting the flow provide information on related topics, such as relief organizations for working dogs, traits of certain dog breeds, military mascots, noncanine working animals, and dog-training information for readers. Occasional captions printed in white on a lime-green background are difficult to read. Although no dogs that were killed in action were included, the hazards of the work are mentioned but not emphasized; two of the war dogs lost legs in Afghanistan, as did one of the handlers. The photographs will make this highly appealing to dog lovers who will also find the brief text and short chapters easy to manage. (Nonfiction. 9-14) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
