Wild Dogs: Past & Present

Grade 5-9–This well-designed book explains how fossils and DNA are used to show the evolutionary lines from prehistoric canids to the dogs we live with today. In a relaxed tone, Halls conveys complex scientific information as she explains why some species die out while others survive and evolve. Common and scientific names are used, and an explanation of taxonomy as it relates to dogs is included. The author presents a wealth of detail through the accessible text; the informative captions, charts, sidebars; and the simple but clear maps. After a trip back 60 million years, Halls takes readers around the world providing photographs and facts about the wild dogs that live on each continent. She also addresses folklore and how various cultures have viewed these animals.