CAN WE SAVE THEM?

In his first book, Dobson introduces nearly a dozen endangered species, mostly animals from North America, and says: ``Let's see what we can do to help these species survive.'' Every spread uses the verso to introduce a creature (or, in one case, wildflowers) and the recto to discuss possible or ongoing actions intended to save it. Included are the Florida panther, Oahu tree snail, gray bat, American burying beetle, peregrine falcon, eastern indigo snake, cui-cu (a fish), Peary caribou, eastern timber wolf, Kirtland's warbler, and Puerto Rican parrot. Worthwhile information is marred by a didactic tone and misleading solutions. The conversational use of ``we'' and ``you'' will leave youngsters with the impression that they are to go find caves for gray bats, set out dead chickens for American burying beetles, allow ``controlled forest fires to refresh'' the habitat of the eastern indigo snake, and restore Florida marshes and forests for Florida panthers. Dobson offers more plausible solutions as well, reminding readers not to buy products that involve endangered species or to keep them as pets, to help raise money or volunteer, and not to pollute. Attractive gouache paintings include a map of North America indicating locations of the species covered. Unfortunately, the fact box on wildflowers declares that quinine is a wildflower product, when it is obtained from the bark of the cinchona tree, and also states that quinine is a ``cure'' for malaria, instead of a treatment for its symptoms. (Picture book/nonfiction. 7-10)