ALA Booklist (Tue Oct 01 00:00:00 CDT 2019)

In the Himalayan mountains lives a rare big cat: the snow leopard, which people of the region call "the gray ghost." Anderson, a zoologist who led a BBC crew filming snow leopards, tells of a man and his guide who search for a snow leopard, find one, and follow her for a day. Writing in first person, he describes how her coat disguises her in the landscape, how her large paws allow her to walk on deep snow, and how her thick fur protects her in icy conditions. The focus shifts to her cub, who is still learning how to hunt and survive on her own. While the main text carries the narrative and describes the animals, a smaller-type text and an appended note offer additional information. The first-person, present-tense writing gives immediacy to the story, which gives readers the vicarious experience of joining a rewarding expedition. With strong portrayals of the leopards within their impressive surroundings, Benson's watercolor illustrations capture the animals' dignity as well as their mystery. A handsome picture book for young animal-lovers.

Kirkus Reviews

Following the trail of a beautiful, elusive animal.Narrating in the first person, Anderson leads readers on a trek through the Himalayas to seek out the snow leopard, which villagers call the "gray ghost." The journey turns suspenseful as the slopes become steeper and more icily treacherous. The narrator describes his feelings of awe upon first encountering tracks in the snow. Then, to his utter astonishment, he actually sees the magnificent creature. Readers will also marvel as she stares out from the page. Thanks to the author's proximity to this leopard, readers also get to witness her unsuccessful hunt for ibex and her reunion, further along the trail, with her young cub; a charming spread shows mother and offspring snuggled together. The main narrative, jam-packed with interesting facts about the leopard, is expressed in a clear, conversational manner and presented in large type; text in a smaller faux hand-lettered type provides additional information. Benson's endearing watercolor illustrations capture the leopard's furry, pale, gold-and-gray coat, with the black rosettes that offer excellent camouflage in her mountainous habitat. (They depict the author as white as he moves through the Ladakh village with his local guide.) The narrator marvels at his luck to see two snow leopards; readers will feel fortunate to have followed along.An informative, gentle, awestruck look at a mysterious big cat. (author's note, index, websites) (Informational picture book. 5-9)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Anderson, a zoologist and filmmaker, frames a captivating and effective introduction to snow leopards as an adventurer-s firsthand observations of the elusive animal in its Himalayan habitat. Benson-s detailed, precise watercolors-stone-hued, like their subject and its habitat and prey-are complemented by well-chosen words: -Her coat is pale gold and silver-grey, with black rosettes... the rosettes look like the shadows under stones and boulders... allowing her to disappear into the landscape.- Captions, set in a different typeface and placed lower on the page, offer additional facts: -Snow leopards can wander over an area of up to almost 400 square miles.- Further information about the rare animal, the threats it faces, and ways to help are presented alongside an index at the book-s close. Ages 5-8. (Oct.)

School Library Journal (Fri Nov 01 00:00:00 CDT 2019)

K-Gr 3 Author and zoologist Anderson tracks a snow leopard family in Ladakh, Kashmir. Considering that conservationists have deemed the animal vulnerable, it's extraordinary that the author found both a mother and her cub. The expedition was more complicated than revealed here, as the illustrator shows only one guide when in fact there were several and Anderson also led a team of Planet Earth photographers. Benson's soft watercolors and Anderson's clear prose reveal the "Ghosts of the Mountains," named because of their elusiveness. The chronicle of the trek is interspersed with facts on snow leopard habitat, behavior, physical features, and diet. However, the font makes reading this information difficult. VERDICT This quick introduction covers the challenges the snow leopard faces and its conservation status. Nancy Call, formerly at Santa Cruz Public Libraries, Aptos, CA