An exploration of the work of avalanche-rescue dogs through a focus on one dog and her trainer.Piper is a 3-year-old border collie who is training with her owner, Sara, to become an avalanche-rescue dog in Washington. Rusch outlines Piper's daily training at a ski resort, introduces readers to her canine classmates, and concludes with Piper's big test to become a rescue dog. Present-tense narration paired with dynamic color photographs puts readers in the moment with Piper: "Suddenly, she stops and her head snaps back. Did she smell something? She sniffs a bit but continues across the slope toward a cluster of trees." Casual, colloquial language makes the narrative friendly and information accessible: "When Piper, Darwin, and other team members get pooped, they head into a hut to warm up and relax." Bold display type and clear headers and borders create distinctive sections and provide space for eyes to rest. Inset information fills in relevant details about avalanches, dog biology, and dog training. Backmatter includes instructions for making a tug toy and training a dog to tug, and Rusch includes both a list of further reading and a list of internet resourcesincluding how to find more information specifically about Piper and her co-workers.A peppy introduction to a lesser-known type of worker dog. (Nonfiction. 7-9) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

At a ski resort in Washington State, three-year-old border collie Piper is learning to be a rescue dog. Photographs depict a typical day in Piper's training by handler Sara Cohen. First thing in the morning, Piper meets up with her teammates: Ari, Kala, Riki, and Piper's best friend, Darwin, a Nova Scotia duck tolling retriever. Class activities include riding a chairlift or gondola up the mountain, practicing basic commands, and running down snowy hills. The day's biggest task, however, is the avalanche rescue drill: "Piper halts, then barks and digs at the snow to signal her discovery." Rusch emphasizes how the training of the dogs is both hard work and fun-a point made clear through photographs of Piper dashing through the snow, chewing on toys, and embracing Cohen. Throughout, infographics and side panels offer insights into numerous topics that may provide an extra source of fascination, including how avalanches are formed and why dogs have such strong senses of smell. Ages 7-10. (Oct.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Gr 3-5-A typical school day for avalanche rescue dogs is exciting and action packed. In this latest from Rusch, a border collie named Piper trains with a team of four other dogs and their dedicated human handlers to become certified rescuers. Piper's day begins with a ski lift to a mountaintop where she and her canine classmates master 80 cues. They range from basic obedience commands of "sit" and "stay," to complex ones used during rescue drills, like "search." After recess and rest breaks, lessons continue with intense practice drills that simulate real-life avalanche searches. The dogs use their keen sense of smell to locate people hiding in snow caves or retrieve articles of clothing buried in snowpacks. Although the subject matter has high appeal, the third-person narrative does not flow smoothly and the large amount of idioms used may be tricky for some readers to follow. The full-color, full-bleed photographs are the book's best features. Almost every spread captures a dynamic dog training scene amid beautiful snowscapes. VERDICT Consider for larger nonfiction collections or where books about rescue dogs are in demand. Pair with Sara Green's Snow Search Dogs for greater comprehension.-Phuong Vu, West Jordan Library, UT © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.