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In free verse as beautiful as the landscape she describes, Martin tells the ecological plight of the chiru, the tiny antelope-like creatures of the northern plains of Tibet. Once shawls made from the chiru’s hair were created, these little creatures were slaughtered for their fine, soft wool, nearly to extinction. The perseverance of one wildlife biologist, many Tibetan volunteers and four trekkers with carts saved the chiru and brought the species’s plight to the attention of the Chinese government. At times terrifying and suspenseful, the story focuses on the four men, their carts filled, who search through mud and cold and rough paths for 16 long days, until at last they are rewarded with the magnificent discovery: the chiru’s hidden calving grounds, which can now be protected. Wingerter’s lush watercolor landscapes, infused with the pinks and blues of the Tibetan sky and occasionally embellished by mandala-like frames, allow the reader to slow down and savor this gentle tale. Unobtrusive text boxes insert important factual information without detracting from the poetic story. Inspiration for scientists and ecologists everywhere. (author’s note) (Informational picture book. 5-10)
