Picton, Harold. Buffalo; natural history & conservation.

PICTON, Harold. Buffalo; natural history & conservation. Voyageur Press. 72p. illus. maps. bibliog. index. c2005. 0-89658-727-4. $16.95. JSA 

The World Life Library series of books is a beautiful addition to any school library. Written in clear prose, each book contains historic, biological and cultural information appropriate for a school report or an hour or two of browsing through the beautiful photographs, charts and maps and glossy, easy-to-read pages. Dr. Picton has worked in academia and for the National Park Service and has won numerous awards for his work with wildlife. The story of the buffalo begins with the Ice Age. Picton then explains the buffalo's unusual shape, including an explanation of its distinctive hump and how it helps in fighting but won't allow the animal to turn over. Mating habits and the threats to young buffalo lead into a discussion of the historical migration patterns and how intricately the history of the buffalo affected the history of the US. Buffalos have few natural predators, but the fabled buffalo kills by man and its near extinction are fully explained. Current efforts at conservation and the diseases that affect the buffalo--brucellosis and tuberculosis-conclude the narrative. The author ends the book with buffalo facts, distribution maps, a bibliography and index. Nola Theiss, Sanibel, FL

J--Recommended for junior high school students. The contents are particular interest to young adolescents and their teachers.

S--Recommended for senior high school students.

A--Recommended for advanced students and adults. This code will help librarians and teachers working in high schools where there are honors and advanced placement students. This also will help extend KLIATT's usefulness in public libraries.