Although dogs served as mascots during the Civil War and World War I, it wasn't until World War II that they were trained to work for the military.Pimm provides an overview of the lives and work of several of these smart companions. After the success of dogs in World War II they would again be used in Korea, Vietnam, and wars that followed. Pimm uses the stories of individual dogs to focus her survey. Many of those dogs began life as family pets but were donated to the military to fill a need for working dogs. More recently, specially bred service dogs have been trained to detect hidden land mines and concealed weapons and for search and rescue. Although dogs were returned to their families after World War II, tragically, nearly all of the approximately 5,000 that served in Vietnam were left behind. That sad statistic is illustrated by the story of Clipper, a German shepherd who loyally served there. Since the passage of Robby's Law in 2000, many of these dogs are offered for adoption at the ends of their careers. A few black-and-white photographs are included in most short chapters. Extensive backmatter rounds out an accurate and fascinating presentation. Although not as flashy as Elizabeth MacLeod's Top Dogs (2017) or as colorful as Nancy Furstinger's Paws of Courage (2016), this solid effort would pair well with either of those for dog lovers wanting more information. (Nonfiction. 10-16)

Gr 5 Up-tudents of military history and dog lovers rejoice. Pimm presents a brief but informative examination of canines' role in the military, going back as far as 4,000 BCE. The author briefly mentions dogs in the Napoleonic Wars before moving on to 19th- and 20th-century conflicts in which the United States has been involved. Pimm points out that animals associated with military units were usually mascots (e.g., Old Abe). The Great War's Sergeant Stubby started out as a mascot but became a decorated military working dog. A chapter on "war refugee" Rin Tin Tin is also included. The author explores the U.S. Military Working Dog program by focusing on how different dog/handler pairs participated in various wars. An interesting discussion on whether animals should receive service awards and medals is featured. The text reads well, and footnotes are plentiful. An author's note and back matter conclude the work. Pair this with Rebecca Frankel's War Dogs: Tales of Canine Heroism, History, and Love or Ace Collins's Man's Best Hero: True Stories of Great American Dogs. VERDICT A sure bet wherever military and canine titles are popular.Eldon Younce, Anthony Public Library, KS