Member Reviews
Isle Royale is a natural park tha is an island. It is a unique place that is perfect for studying in a closed system. The humans had killed all but two wolves that ended up all alone. The author introduces the scientists, supervisor and others involved with the reintroduction of wild wolves on the island. The book also gives information regarding what it takes to become a member of the research team and what they can expect if accepted. The author visits for one week with an experienced photographer. It is a six hour ride by boat to reach the island. Descriptions of data collecting, hiking where there are no trails, and stories shared by field observers. Included in the book is a history of the people that lived on the island mining copper. They left the island during the winter as do the researchers. The photographs are one of my favorite things in this book. I found the information interesting. This remote national park is the site of the longest uninterrupted predator-prey study in history.
I am so impressed by this book on Michigan’s amazing Isle Royale! Living in Michigan my entire life, I never knew this information on our incredible national park. The knowledge of the longtime nature experiments and studies and photography encompassed in this book by Nancy Castaldo is incredible.
She has presented it in such a way that not only keeps you interested and engaged as you were reading, but has the most beautiful photography throughout.
I will absolutely be recommending this to all of my students and fellow teachers, as well as any one else interested in finding out more about this beautiful island, and national park.
Thank you Netgalley for providing access to this amazing ARC copy!
I have always been fascinated by Isle Royale. Though I grew up in Michigan, I never had the chance to visit that remote island. I have always been curious about it, though, so when I saw this book I was eager to read it. I found it quite fascinating to learn about how the different species interact, and how their interaction has such an affect on the environment. It was also interesting to learn how natural predation strengthens a species. The photos were beautiful too, and I really enjoyed seeing what the island is like. Now I would like to visit even more!
I received a review copy of this book from NetGalley, and these are my honest thoughts about it.
Labeled as children's non-fiction, this book is suitable for all ages as it provides a detailed account of Isle Royale and the efforts to preserve and support its delicate ecosystem. Isle Royale is located 15 miles off Grand Portage, MN and its history is rich with native Americans using the island as hunting grounds, cooper mines, Scandinavian fishing villages, etc. until it was declared a national park in 1940.
This book describes the island's geology and natural history and focuses specifically on the delicate balance on the island between wolves and moose and the careful and extensive research done to determine how best to preserve its ecosystem. A fascinating, well-written book with lots of pictures and details. 5 stars.
The Wolves and Moose of Isle Royale: Restoring an Island Ecosystem by Nancy Castaldo is currently scheduled for release on August 6 2022. Journey to the isolated islands of Isle Royale National Park where the longest predator/prey study in the world is being conducted along with a controversial genetic rescue to save not only the wolves and moose, but the entire island ecosystem. For over sixty years, in what has been known as the longest study of predator and prey in the world, scientists have studied the wolves and moose of Isle Royale and the island’s ecology to observe and investigate wildlife populations. But due to illness and underlying factors, the population of wolves on the island has dropped while the number of moose has increased, putting the Isle Royale ecosystem in jeopardy. Now, for the first time ever, scientists are intervening. If they can successfully relocate twenty to thirty wolves from the mainland to Isle Royale, scientists can potentially restore the balance among wolves, moose, and trees of the island's ecosystem. Now the living laboratory experiment begins.
The Wolves and Moose of Isle Royale is a nonfiction book that can be understood and enjoyed by middle grade readers and older., including those of us that have been out of school for longer than we might want to disclose. I thought the text was well written and accessible, and the combination of photographs, sketches, and info boxes help keep the readers focused and interested without overwhelming them. I thought the research was fascinating and I thought the information on the researchers and the next steps were interesting. This isn't a project that is over, it is a work in progress, and effort in motion, and something interested readers can follow in the years to come to see what worked, what did not, and how the ecosystem in fairing, This makes me more excited and invested in the read, more so that when I read about completed research studies in far off places with vague commentary about what might come next. I love that the endpages include not only the expected glossary and index, but also a bibliography and sources for further information. This always makes me a happy reader, more so when it comes to nonfiction for children.
I received an electronic ARC from Clarion Books through NetGalley.
Castaldo brings readers along on a trip to the Isle Royale National Park. The book focuses on the balance between the wolf and moose populations as the island adapts with climate changes and animal population fluctuations. Early on, readers meet the scientific team who lives on the island during the summer months and run the various studies. The text is written at a middle grade level with a glossary at the end for specific terms used to share the science. The photography is stunning and captures the untouched landscape of this island.
A well thought out book to share this information with readers of all ages. The sidebar information boxes provide further material for readers who want to dive deeper in the topic.
I wrote about this on the storygraph and on goodreads (with a link sent to twitter). I'll also post to Instagram stories. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4808123154
The Wolves and Moose of Isle Royale is great non-fiction upper elementary, middle school science read. The text focuses on the interdependence between the moose and wolf populations on Isle Royale, located in Lake Superior. The system which used to regulate itself has been disrupted due to disease and climate change. Is human intervention warranted? Is it a long-term solution? Should humans intervene or should nature correct itself in the island's predator-prey relationship? This text is bound to open up a great scientific debate and inspire future science learning.
An absolutely fascinating informational book about the Moose and Wolf populations on Isle Royale in Michigan! It can only be accessed by boat or seaplanes, there are no cars, and the care that goes into tracking, species introduction, etc. is absolutely amazing! Would be an excellent book to share with children living around the Great Lakes and Lake Superior region.
research, eco-awareness, Michigan, photographic-essay, island-life, wildlife-biologist, 8-to-108, us-national-parks, Lake Superior, photojournalist*****
This book is listed as Children's Nonfiction, but I feel that is a misnomer. This wondrous book is best suited to the 8-108 population to enjoy and learn from. It is not a deep scientific tome nor an incredibly simplified decorative piece. It is a learning tool for those of us who appreciate the beauty and life in the animal world but do not have the degrees nor the travel opportunities to be there ourselves. The photography is wondrous, and the prose only enhances it. Terrific!
I requested and received a free temporary Adobe Digital Editions copy from Clarion Books (formerly HMH Children's Books) via NetGalley. Thank you so much!
Thank you to NetGalley for the digital cop of this book.
This was a fun book to read. the pictures were beautiful.y done. My little one enjoyed this book just as much ans the adults.
Synergy: Ecological Balance
Ecological balance is the state of equilibrium within a dynamic community of organisms. This theory reflects many types of relationships such as predator-prey systems. However, recent theories note that ecological systems are in a constant state of flux leading to a chaotic state as the norm.
Read the recently published nonfiction book for youth then learn more at the websites.
THE WOLVES AND MOOSE OF ISLE ROYALE by Nancy Castaldo is the latest book in the Scientists in the Field series. This highly illustrated work of nonfiction explores the island’s ecosystem with a focus on the predator/prey relationship between wolves and moose. Using color photographs, maps, another other illustrations, readers follow scientists working at Isle Royale. The book concludes with a glossary, additional information, sources, and a bibliography.
ISLE ROYALE: ANIMALS is a website from the US National Park Service that introduces readers to the moose, wolves, and other animals of Isle Royale.
To visit the website, go to https://www.nps.gov/isro/learn/nature/animals.htm.
THE WOLVES AND MOOSE OF ISLE ROYALE is a video exploring 50 years of research about the relationship between wolves and moose.
To watch the video, go to https://youtu.be/PdwnfPurXcs.
RETURN OF THE WOLVES is a video exploring how ecological balance is being restored to Isle Royale.
To watch the video, go to https://youtu.be/k1EaRenqyPo.
ARC courtesy of Clarion Books, and imprint of HarperCollins.
Thank you for providing me with an ARC of this book. I really enjoyed reading it and took extra time studying many of the beautiful photos. The book reminds me of watching Buck LeVasseur on the show “Discovering” as I grew up in the UP.
Even though this is categorized as a children's book it is appropriate for all ages. Great balance of science and social information.
<i>**Received an eARC through NetGalley.**</i>
This caught my eye because of the Michigan setting, and I’ve enjoyed this author before. The book takes the reader on a journey to Isle Royale, where we meet the rangers and scientists and observers and researchers as well as the wildlife they focus on. It’s an ecosystem of plants and animals… as it fits into a web of human intervention. The text is simple and clear, the photographs are detailed and demonstrative, and the whole package offers a fascinating bundle of information.
Wolves are incredibly interesting, and I’ve read about their relationship with beavers before. The interplay between wolves and moose, and the efforts to create a balance between species, have a similar story. Castaldo briefly delves into the ethics of human interference, and the different benefits and challenges to restoring the modern balance between wolves and moose as opposed to taking the island back to a historical balance between caribou and lynx. There’s also a more basic look at what plants and animals are on the island and what kinds of things the various scientists do. So this covers a lot in a fairly small space, and definitely piqued my interest regarding visiting Isle Royale.
In contrast to most wildlife and wilderness-focused books that explore the far reaches of the planet, Isle Royale is actually fairly accessible to me. I love that this subject was chosen as it brings ideas of conservation and the fascination of the wilderness much closer to home.
My main complaint is the formatting of the eBook. Instead of digital pages to flip, it’s like an enormous pdf that has to be scrolled through, and every time I opened the file, I had to start at the beginning. It’s one of the reasons why picture books and graphic novels don’t always read well in this format, and it’s part of the reason it took me so long to get through this. I have noticed that this seems to be more of an issue with children’s eMaterials.
A unique look at the ecosystem of one of our least visited National Parks, Isle Royale. A book written for the middle grade audience, I believe that adults would enjoy this book just as well. Both the writing and the photography are well done.
I visited Isle Royale as a tween and a teen three times and have always wanted to visit again. It is a rare gem and through the years I have followed the plight of the wolves on the island. This book covers the subject in a way that children would find fascinating.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for a digital ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. This review can also be found on my Goodreads page.
Fantastic insights into career opportunities enrich this ecological case study of the Isle Royale archipelago. Engaging for adult readers as much as for upper elementary and middle school kids. Pictures help bring young readers closer to the text and provide further information. Key vocabulary terms are in bold font and revisited in the handy glossary. Index makes relocating key topics easy for those hoping to use this text as a reference.
Castaldo is a queen for writing nonfiction for a younger audience that is specific and scientific in a fun way like Sy Montgomery. My boys and I had the pleasure of meeting her at a Hudson event years ago and I'll always read her nonfiction because it's fascinating. She's like the Mary Roach of animals, habitats, and ecosystems-- she gets curious about something, investigates it, then writes about it with awesome pictures and details.
This is a fairly unique story in that this national park also has the longest running animal study of wolves and moose. She explains the delicate dance of the animals and debatable topics about hunting and/or introducing animals to this archipelago off the coast of Canada and the United States in the middle of Lake Superior. It's not long and has some glossary words in addition to telling the story of science and research, paying homage to those that do the work.
Really nicely researched and dense with information. Perfect for elementary school libraries to work on school research projects. Informative! I loved wolves growing up so I'm sure I would have loved it as a kid.
Thank you to netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
The Wolves and Moose of Isle Royale is a very comprehensive book about the changes in the populations of the wolves and moose on a small, remote island. The book goes into quite a bit of depth about the longitudinal study of these animal populations, the scientists conducting the research, and the impact of climate change and human intervention on the ecosystem. Profiles of the research team and the role they fulfill in the study present a variety of ways that interested students could create similar career paths for themselves. The data and geographic specifics of the study are presented with clear visual aids and text. Past, current, and future planned interventions and their outcomes, projected and real, highlight the ways scientific data is gathered and used to predict and design anticipated results. While there are many beautiful images of the National Park and the wildlife, this is not a picture book. The level of the content would be appropriate for midde-grade and up but would be of interest to anyone with a curiosity about ecosystem research.
I wasn't expecting this book to be as in-depth about the research and history of the National Park, Isle Royale, but it was a fascinating study that really works well for all ages. I thoroughly enjoyed learning the history of the island and the people who work to preserve it.
Further, I was intrigued to learn about the delicate ecosystem that hangs in the balance by those who inhabit the island. The balance of predators and prey, plant life, human involvement, and the quest to keep the islands as wild and pristine as possible was a wonderful case study.
The author and her nature photographer really took time to shadow the researchers and share their stories as well. The information we learned is so personal to these caretakers of the land, and the photographs shined a light on their amazing efforts.
I highly recommend this book for all ages.