Threat to the Whooping Crane (On the Verge of Extinction: Crisis in the Environment) (Robbie Readers)

Susan and William Harkins live in Kentucky, where they enjoy writing together for children. Susan has written many books for adults and children. William is a history buff. In addition to writing, he is a member of the Air National Guard.

Grade 3–4—The authors describe the life and habits of the whooping crane and explain the threats to its survival. Although the writing is clear and easy to follow, it is descriptive rather than informative. For example, the explanation that the secret of the whooper's loud voice is the "hidden loops in the whooper's throat" doesn't explain why this looping makes the call loud. The dancing behavior of the bird is dismissed—"no one knows why, but whoopers seem to dance just for fun"—rather than explaining this instinctual pair-bonding behavior. Although Alison Imbriaco's The Whooping Crane (Enslow, 2006) is geared to an older audience, its more detailed explanation of the fate of the chick hatched second ("the smaller chick may starve, be accidentally trampled, or be pushed out of the nest") serves readers better than simply saying, "the weaker one usually dies." The quality of the illustrations is uneven, and some pages have a "cut and paste" look to them. Nevertheless, the nine-picture montage of the first nine days of the life of Tux, a crane born in captivity, is intimate and engaging. The stark numbers of a declining population and possible extinction are dramatically charted, and the extraordinary efforts to save this species are described. However, the many titles available for various reading levels make this an additional purchase.—Frances E. Millhouser, formerly at Chantilly Regional Library, Fairfax County, VA
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