Amazon Category:  Children Publisher: Red Rock Mountain Press LLC ISBN-10:  061530253X Type: Fiction Pages: 32 Copyright: January 8, 2010 ISBN-13: 9780615302539 A story about a very smart raven Soaring gracefully through Sedona’s blue skies, ravens are fascinating birds to watch, and display a cleverness that can be, yes, almost human in its use to gain food and shelter.  I wrote this story for children, Shade: a Story About a Very Smart Raven, because I am amazed by these beautiful birds and the heart-warming connection possible between birds and humans.   The tale is inspired by a true story that local resident Emily Cory shared with the author. Emily based her master’s thesis on the feasibility of using ravens, much like canines, to assist search-and-rescue teams locate hikers lost in the desert.  Ravens are one of the smartest birds in the world, great at solving problems, and able to form strong bonds with humans. Ravens are also known for their excellent eyesight.   Because there is little written for children about ravens, this book provides children with a new appreciation of these “backyard” birds found throughout Arizona, the West, and many parts of the world.

Southwest Books of the Year 2010
What a lovely story--really unusual and a great opportunity to share with children the unique abilities of our feathered friends. --Paula Blankenship, author of Lulu's Lost Shoes and Lulu's Wild Party from Treasure Bay's We Both Read series

For anyone who admires ravens and their intellect, this is a interesting read to share with young children, since the story is based on the real-life training of a raven in Tucson equipped with a GPS tracker. When Shade notices a man wandering alone in the desert, he suspects something is amiss and returns to alert his owner/trainer. Unfortunately, the pen and ink drawings are less captivating and colorful than those typically found in picture books. --Deb Bock, Southwest Books of the Year 2010, Pima County Public Library, Tucson, AZ


Bassman
This is a wonderful children's book but buy it even if you have no children of your own and share. It's based upon research with a real bird, Shade, and I know this bird personally. More interest in the book will help more interest and hopefully result in more funding for further research. It's a worthy cause.