THE SEA WOLVES

Gray wolves genetically distinct from their inland cousins live along the coast of British Columbia in a partially protected area called the Great Bear Rainforest. This companion volume to The Salmon Bears (2010) describes their lives, demonstrating ways they’ve adapted to this unusual habitat. Opening with a chapter about wolves’ “Bad Rap” in the rest of the world, the authors point out that the First Nations peoples who have lived among them have honored them for generations. Addressing readers directly, they trace the wolves’ year: spring births, summer’s easier living, the fall salmon run and hard times of winter. Sidebars add information. This extensive, informative text is illustrated with remarkable photographs taken by McAllister, who has lived in and studied the area for years. They show the lush, old-growth forest and rocky shoreline and a variety of animals that share this habitat, but the wolves are the stars: at rest, at play, on the prowl and catching fish. Lengthy captions sometimes repeat information given in the text, almost serving as summaries. Fascinating and useful. (website, suggested reading, index) (Nonfiction. 9-14)