Snowshoe hares may be "nature's cheeseburger," but thanks to the work of biologist Scott Mills, scientists have also learned that they're an example of how climate change impacts species. Snowshoe hares change the color of their coats to protect themselves from predators the warmer months, they turn brown to match the environment, while during the winter, their coat turns white to blend in with the snow. Mills' work shows that as the climate changes, snowshoe hares don't change their coats early enough, often resulting in brown patches on an otherwise snow-white coat. Collard's digestible, clearly written text has enough humorous sidenotes thrown in to make it both entertaining and informative. Full-color photographs, maps, graphs, and topic definitions reinforce the information, and Collard does an excellent job of telling the story of the snowshoe hare, while also keeping stewardship and conservation as the core message. Any budding scientist would find Mills and his team's research fascinating, and this would be a welcome addition to any middle-grade science class.

Gr 2-5 This intriguing book examines the relationship between animals that modify their coat colors with the seasons and changes in the environment resulting from global warming. The main focus is on snowshoe hares. Their coat color changes are triggered primarily by the length of the day. Warmer weather means more sun and less snow; thus, white snowshoe hares are more vulnerable to predation. With limited time to adapt to such a drastic alteration in their environment, the species could potentially be on track for extinction. If this process continues to occur, Collard asks, what will happen to the other animals in this newly unbalanced ecosystem? The author's lively text follows the work of a team of scientists led by Scott Mills. Photos of them working in the field and in laboratories are featured along with graphs and informational sidebars. In the back matter, a section is devoted to ways that readers can reduce their carbon footprints. VERDICT Captivating text and a stimulating use of color photographs make this a welcome addition for all environmental collections. Patricia Ann Owens, formerly at Illinois Eastern Community Colleges, Mount Carmel