5 giraffes

*Starred Review* Although giraffes are among Africa's most recognizable animals, there are relatively few books for middle-graders on these towering creatures, making this an incredibly welcome addition to any collection. Author and scientist Dagg has spent her life studying giraffes and brings her considerable knowledge to this comprehensive overview, which not only introduces giraffe evolution, diet, social behaviors, and anatomy but contextualizes this information within a framework of conservation. Several subspecies of giraffe are endangered, and the species as a whole is at risk, due largely to human poaching and habitat loss. The text is full of fascinating facts when a giraffe nibbles leaves from a tree, it's called browsing; their black tongues may be darkly colored to prevent sunburn but where Dagg will really hook readers is with her profiles of five different giraffes, including one with a crooked neck and another that attends zoo school to keep its mind stimulated. Dagg takes a balanced view of conservation, explaining the benefits (few) and problems (many) with keeping giraffes in zoos and the important role natural reserves and conservancies play in their protection. Heartwarming photos of giraffes galloping, browsing, and nuzzling their calves simply add to the book's overall effectiveness. Concluding resources and tips for becoming a giraffe guardian will guide readers, who will come away wanting to join the fight to save these gentle giants.--Smith, Julia Copyright 2016 Booklist

Gr 4-6-Dagg, a remarkable pioneer in giraffe studies, shares deep insight into the lives of these creatures, tracing their evolution and discussing the threats they face (captivity, extinction). Five specific giraffes, along with their life stories, are introduced to educate readers on giraffe behavior, biology, mating, diet, habitat, and more. Readers will meet the likes of Lmara, a reticulated giraffe in Kenya, and Msitu, a five-year-old giraffe at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado. The large, clear photos are a mix of Dagg's own and well-selected stock images. This material is presented expertly for students in search of data for an animal report and for bighearted souls who wish to be guided on how to make a positive difference for the animals. VERDICT Written by a heroic living scientist, this is a worthy purchase for animal collections.-Nancy Call, Santa Cruz Public Libraries, Aptos, CA © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

from the FOREWORD by Rob Laidlaw: Anne Innis Dagg's fascination with giraffes began when she was just a toddler. After she saw giraffes in a zoo she knew she would study these amazing animals in the wild one day. So, after graduating from university in 1955 with a Gold Medal in Biology, Anne made the daring decision to travel from her native Canada to Africa on her own to conduct a study of the behaviour of giraffes in their natural habitat. No one had ever done anything like that before. Now she is a well-known animal rights advocate, scientist, teacher, and the author of many scientific papers, articles, and books. She is also the first person to have studied a large mammal--the giraffe--in the wilds of Africa. Anne arrived in South Africa, after a three-week-long ship voyage, in the summer of 1956. She spent the next year studying giraffes in the wild, often watching them from early morning until sunset. When she first started, little was known about the natural behaviours and lifestyles of giraffes, but Anne's field studies and research changed all that. Her research also helped establish her as one of the world's leading giraffe experts. 5 Giraffes is an important book and it comes at an important time. In just the last 15 years, poaching and the presence of humans into giraffe habitats have reduced Africa's total giraffe population by more than 40 percent. Today there are just 80,000 giraffes left on the entire African continent. Some giraffe populations have suffered even more drastic declines, such as the giraffes of Kenya's Maasai Mara National Reserve, which have been reduced by 95 percent. And all over the world giraffes in captivity face challenges of their own, such as poor living conditions, foot problems, and inbreeding. Excerpted from 5 Giraffes by Anne Innis Dagg All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.