From School Library Journal
Grade 7 Up-Anyone investigating the myriad options in wildlife careers will find sound advice and inspiration in this guide. Maynard provides insights into veterinary medicine; zoo and aquarium careers; wildlife research, education, and conservation; and jobs in the communication and creative arts. He profiles many people in specific niches including author and painter Roger Tory Peterson, San Diego Zoo "goodwill ambassador" Joan Embery, chimpanzee researcher Jane Goodall, along with an ethnobotanist, spider behaviorist, nature guide, and many others. The generally full-page biographical sketches are integrated into the chapters but readers may be confused at first about where the text ends and the profiles begin. Helpful tips are given on choosing and pursuing such careers. Salaries are rated on a scale from 1-10, comparing years of college needed to earning levels for each occupation. Maynard writes with flourish throughout most of the book and the material is fascinating. Potentially challenging vocabulary is explained in the text and glossary. Both color and black-and-white photos range from fair to excellent in quality, and gender/ethnic/age representation is outstanding. There are numerous contacts and references listed for more information about educational programs, organizations, and publications, including Web sites. A current book specifically on wildlife careers for teens has been sorely needed; this one updates and supplements Edward R. Ricciuti's chatty and also inspirational They Work with Wildlife (Harper & Row, 1983; o.p.).
Diane P. Tuccillo, Mesa Public Library, AZ Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Although many young people are intrigued by careers involving animals, they often think only of veterinary work with pets. Using a conversational tone, Maynard presents a much wider sampling of wildlife-related options--from training wild animals and working with insects to directing a conservation program. Profiles of people in diverse wildlife jobs and information on education, training, and salary range are included, as is practical advice for students. Readers may get bogged down in the job titles and occasional repetition; also, the illustrations (mostly black-and-white photos) are not always clear or informative, and the bibliography lists only three books (it does list a number of Web sites). Even so, this will make a handy complement to Louise Miller's
Careers for Animal Lovers (1991) and Ceel Pasternak and Linda Thornburg's Cool Careers for Girls series title on the subject (1999).
Catherine Andronik