The Buffalo Are Back - A Book Review
The Buffalo Are Back
Written by Jean Craighead George
First Published in 2010
Recommended ages 5+
A book review by Anna Kay Thomas.
The Buffalo Are Back is a children’s book written by environmentalist Jean Craighead George with beautiful illustrations by the amazing artist, Wendell Minor. As Ms. George always does well, the book quickly captures your attention to teach the complex relationship between man, land, and animal. Covering subjects such as history, ecology, agriculture, ranching, and the importance of native species, it teaches how American Bison have taken care of the land and how important they are to the prairie ecosystem in a way that is approachable for young readers.
The fascinating methods that were used by Native Americans who lived in harmony and collaborated with the American Bison in preserving the prairie ecosystem are revealed. The devastating effects of removing the stewards of the land, Native Americans, and the ecosystem engineers, American Bison, from their rightful and essential places in the environment are tactfully explained. The reader is shown the consequences of neglecting the environment and trying to alter the ecosystem without stability, the result of which can be natural disasters. The link between the Dust Bowl and the government-organized effort of near extinction for American Bison is very telling of the changes that occur when causing imbalances in nature.
An important perspective that is always taken in the books written by Jean Craighead George is the revealing of truth, a respect for both man and animal, and always hope and solutions for the future. The continuing recovery of the American Bison population is certainly a reason for optimism. Children and their parents get to see how people in history have made a difference in the environment and how each of us can make a positive impact today, in our own backyards. Wishing you the best on your literary trek!
Reflective Questions:
Is there an endangered species you would like to see more of?
What are three steps you can take to improve that species’ chances? (Suggestions: Grow a specific plant that is important for their diet or habitat, raise awareness, start a well-researched letter campaign seeking improvements for that species, volunteer to keep its habitat clean by picking up trash, create a fundraiser to contribute to their protection, etc.)