The newest title in the dependable Orca Footprints series of environmental books presents the problem of animals killed or injured while attempting to cross roadways. Ironically, many of our roads began as paths created by animals. When people arrived in an area, they walked those paths as well, but eventually they widened the paths and put down gravel or pavement. Since then, cars and trucks have made these routes increasingly dangerous for wildlife. A Canadian writer whose works include science books for children, Galat provides an overview of the problem as well as many pertinent examples of wildlife-protection solutions, which usually involve animal-appropriate bridges over roads and/or tunnels or channels beneath them. The text is well organized and includes clearly explained examples from many locations, mainly in the U.S. and Canada. A typical double-page spread includes two or three colorful photos with helpful captions. Since most children's books on the topic address younger kids, this volume offers considerably more information for students researching the topic. An intriguing subject and a good resource for middle-grade reports.

Gr 5 Up —Gorgeous, crisp photographs complement the well-written text in this new book in the "Orca Footprints" series. Galat focuses on the developing field of road ecology: the environmental impact of roads on ecosystems and wildlife, and balancing those needs with human civilization. In four concise chapters, readers come to understand the issues that engineers, designers, activists, and others must confront in their efforts to help endangered wildlife that need additional space and travel corridors. Sidebars, captions, and highlighted words (defined in the glossary) help readers understand the subject. The use of real-life examples and suggestions for ways that readers can help address the issues described in the book add to its value. VERDICT A first purchase for libraries that need more books on the topic of conservation and the impact of development on wildlife.—Heidi Grange