Can We Save Them?: Endangered Species of North America

by David Dobson

Can we save endangered species?
Yes, we can!

The environment is constantly changing. People are building roads, houses, bridges, and cities. This development has damaged the natural habits of many native organisms. In this important book readers are introduced to a variety of these endangered species.

Engaging text and stunning illustrations highlight the plight of these animals and plants and suggest ways to help restore their natural environments. From the beautiful cui-ui to the Puerto Rican parrot, readers will begin to understand how each living species contributes to our planet and how we can strive to save each of them.

Genres: Picture Books

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

A native of Ames, Iowa, Dave loves writing, reading, boardgames, computer games, improv comedy, pizza, barbarian movies, and the cheaper end of the Taco Bell menu. Also, his wife and kids.

Dave is the author of Snood, Snoodoku, Snood Towers, and other computer games. Dave first published Snood in 1996, and it became one of the most popular shareware games of the early Internet. His most recent game is Scryptix, a word game for cell phones.

Dave teaches geology, environmental studies, and computer programming at Guilford College, and he does improv comedy every week at the Idiot Box in Greensboro, North Carolina. He’s also played the world’s largest tuba in concert. Not that that is relevant, but it’s still kinda cool.

Flames Over Frosthelm is Dave’s first novel. Traitors Unseen is the second story of the Inquisitors' Guild, and The Outcast Crown will come out later in 2020.

Reviews

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars-- The illustrations are absolutely stunning in this one. Young readers are introduced to endangered animals, both instantly recognizable charismatic megafauna and those species who may be less noticeable and more mysterious. The theme to remember that every animal, from the mightiest to the most humble, has a role to play in nature, and its extinction may have unforeseen consequences.

The book discusses different measures people are taking with the goal of conserving various species. One section does mention the destruction of one species of bird which is a nest predator of another, which is a controversial method.

[NS - Cami Houston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Appropriate 3-5th grade. A beautiful book with beautiful paintings that bring to awareness different animals that can be saved if we become more conscious of our treatment of the different biomes; and earthly environments. A fact-filled book with paintings that draw you right in to support the factual information and keep from boring the reader with fact after fact. The animals that are mentioned to name a few are: Florida Panthers, Oahu Tree Snails, Gray Bats, American Burying Beetles, Peregrine falcons, Eastern Indigo Snakes, Cui-ui Fish, and Peary Caribou. Supported by gorgeous paintings.

[Terry]

At first, I was a bit put off by how text-heavy the book is. Once I started reading, though, the book moved quickly. There is a one-page description of the endangered species, and then a short paragraph or two about the things we can do (or changes we can make) to better protect that particular animal. I liked that the author explained that not all endangerment is related to humans. Some species find it difficult to adapt to changing environments.