Comeback Creatures: Discover the Wild Things Once Thought Extinct

Gr 3-7–Readers curious about unusual animals or the conservation of endangered species will find plenty to hold their interest in these pages. A brief definition of the Lazarus taxa—“a plant or animal that miraculously reappears after being believed extinct”—is followed by 10 examples of such rare finds. The section about each of these comeback creatures begins with a spread describing some of the other unusual animals found in or near the same habitat. Then there is a spread focused on the featured animal describing some of the details scientists have learned about it and what is being done to protect the species from slipping into extinction. These spreads appear in full color, interspersed with black-and-white pages about other comeback animals. Some are grouped by class; others are grouped by habitat. Stewart-Sharpe (Our Blue Planet) offers several examples of endlings: Lonesome George, Martha the passenger pigeon, and others. There is also a discussion of efforts in labs to bring back extinct species and suggestions on how to be a wildlife detective. A glossary is included.