Holland notes that even though some animals are active only at night, their tracks in mud or snow are often visible during the day. Different beasts and birds leave footprints of varying sizes and configurations, including the number of toes and which ways those toes point. Prints leading from tree to tree might indicate a squirrel, while a groove on a snowy hillside could mean that river otters have been sliding down the slope. Not a field guide but a general introduction to noticing tracks as well as traces such as scat and empty nests, this picture book could help make kids more aware of the animals around them. A paragraph of large-font text appears on each spread, superimposed on a double-page photo and accompanied by another, smaller picture. While the photos are uneven in quality and sometimes a bit murky, teachers and parents may appreciate the appended section of activity pages, which can be copied for educational use. A serviceable choice for libraries with a demand for a young children's book on animal tracks.

Gr 1-4 This introduction to animal signs features varied examples of tracks, traces, and the creatures that leave them. Two-page spreads include one large photo with an inset image that connects the animal to its sign. A view of a black bear rubbing a tree, for example, is paired with a close-up of the claw tracks it may have left. In some cases, it's the animal figure in the inset, with evidence of its presence, such as deer scat, as the large scale photograph. Photos are not captioned, though most, but not all animals are identified within the text. Descriptions provide basic background about animal features and behaviors as they relate to tracks. In some cases, the reader is challenged to identify what the signs reveal. Language is direct and accessible, though the sentences don't always flow smoothly. Four useful pages of back matter offer visual matching challenges and add further examples of tracks and signs. While Jim Arnosky's Wild Tracks! is more visually engaging and Andy Seed's The Clue Is in the Poop features more activities for readers, this title works as an engaging introduction to identifying animal traces. VERDICT Solid topic choice with visual appeal. Steven Engelfried, Wilsonville Public Library, OR