Really? Horses, donkeys, and mules in the U.S. Marines? But this slim title in the America's Animal Soldiers series, with its many color photographs, makes it clear that these animals are d have been since 1915 valued part of the service. The book begins with a vignette about Purple Heart winner Reckless, a horse who carried both rockets and injured soldiers during the Korean War. It goes on to discuss why animals are better than helicopters for carrying loads (not so easily seen); the extraordinary weights these animals can carry; present missions in places like Afghanistan; and the training school in California, where soldiers learn to pack their animals and find the best ways to make them carry out assignments. Some of the information is repeated (like how much weight they can pack), but that's a quibble in a book that tells a lot about a fresh topic e that will especially attract reluctant readers and boys. Sidebars (some in dog-tag shapes) complement the friendly design.

This series gives an overview of the U.S. military's modern-day use of animals to conduct missions on both land and sea. The brief text is accompanied by captioned photographs and dog-tag-shaped text boxes, which breaks the information into manageable bits. However, the emphasis on simplicity doesn't allow for in-depth discussions on any one topic. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind.

GOLDISH, Meish . Horses, Donkeys, and Mules in the Marines . reprods. ISBN 978-1-61772-453-4 ; ISBN 978-1-61772-496-1 . LC 2011034728. GOLDISH, Meish . Sea Lions in the Navy . ISBN 978-1-61772-450-3 ; ISBN 978-1-6772-497-8 . LC 2011033527. GOLDISH, Meish . War Dogs . ISBN 978-1-61772-452-7 ; ISBN 978-1-6772-495-4 . LC 2011037639. ea vol: 24p. (America's Animal Soldiers Series). maps. photos. bibliog. further reading. glossary. index. Web sites. CIP. Bearport . 2012. PLB $23.93; ebook $30.60. Gr 3-6 After grabbing readers' attention with an exciting account of a featured animal's heroism, Goldish sustains interest with crisp presentations of the work of marine mammals, dogs, and pack animals in the military. From canines that sniff out explosives to sea lions that attach clamps to underwater mines, the animals work with human partners to keep military personnel safe. Each volume provides historical examples and discusses current training programs, deployment, and animal care, as well as future possibilities such as robotic substitutes. Fascinating photos of animals at work, e.g., a dog wearing a night vision camera attached to a bulletproof vest, enhance the accounts. The websites provided through the publisher's link at the end of each volume might be more useful to teachers than to students.