My students love graphic novels and they especially love the Science Comic series. I love it when learning is fun and engaging.

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra

I am always delighted to read a Science Comics book – I learn SO much while reading these comic books ☺. This title – Science Comics: Dogs: From Predator to Protector is well written and illustrated to catch the reader’s attention. The preface at the beginning of the book laid out all that the book would try to cover, which I found very informative.

This gem of a graphic novel imparts SO many pieces of interesting facts (some of which I did not even know). For example:

“Dogs are the most physically diverse species on the planet.”

“Dogs have 39 pairs of chromosomes, each with different information.”

Rudy takes the reader through a journey from 25,000 years ago to the present in demonstrating the evolution of dogs. The journey was well explained (as well as illustrated). Along the way the reader(s) is imparted with information about genetics, evolution, adaptations, natural selection, and breading – all in a very fun way. And in the end of Rudy’s journey, he once again returns to his owner for another ball toss.

The illustrations are just fantastic. I really, really loved them as did my younger reader ☺ The use of vibrant color throughout was great.

By far in my opinion (and with the limited number of Science Comic books that I have read – four as of now), this is the Science Comic book I found the most engaging for both young (though for those younger than 10 years old, more explanations may be necessary) and not-so-young alike, wonderfully illustrated and filled with so much information detailed in such a way as to keep my interest and that of my young one engaged throughout the whole book. I see this book as one that can be read over and over again as the young reader matures and has more advanced learning needs.

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*

A great book on dogs in a fun format. My son and I both really enjoyed reading it. Highly recommended.

Dogs are known as man’s best friend. A dog named Rudy is here to explain how and why that is.

Everyone loves dogs. Most people have known or grown up with dogs. But what do we really know about the animal we call “man’s best friend?” Science Comics has come up with the answer to that, by introducing a dog named Rudy who loves his person, chasing balls, and who can also travel through time.

Rudy greets the reader after arriving at the park. He starts out by explaining the relationship of dogs to wolves through taxonomy, the practice of naming and classification. The discovery of a ball sends him off on his journey through time, as he chases it back to 25,000 BP, to the dawn of dog history. From here, he follows the ball, going through the history of genetics and how genes are inherited. This moves into evolution and natural selection, and how the trait to be less scared of humans changed wolves’ temperament and appearance to become dogs. Through this domestication, dogs became the useful and faithful companions we see today.

The story starts out spending a lot of time on the science of genetics, going into detail starting with Mendel’s experiments with sweet peas, explaining genetic inheritance, and using punnet squares to show dominance. Rudy does his best to keep it interesting, but it is a lot of information, and it takes awhile to get through it as well as explaining the domestication process before it gets back to looking at dogs specifically.

Once it does, the story picks up, going over how different and extensive a dog’s senses are and why they sniff backsides. It also looks at dogs’ intelligence and how their basic predatory instinct was used by humans to turn them into herders and hunters. It then starts talking about breeds, coming back around to genes and artificial selection, and how breeds can have personality traits, but how a dog is raised has a bigger effect on their personality. It ends with looking at the way a dog communicates both with humans and other dogs.

Science Comics: Dogs: From Predator to Protector is a fun and entertaining look at these animals. It goes in depth into the science to explain how dogs came to be our companions, and that it’s more predisposed than learned. Older elementary and middle school students will find the science more interesting than younger readers, but readers of all ages will appreciate the information about dogs themselves. And Rudy does get his ball back.

Every volume of Science Comics is terrific! The Dogs volume is just as informative as the other Science Comics. Extremely educational as well as interesting and fun -- it is perfect! I can't wait to read more of them!

If your child loves dogs and they have an established love of reading, this book is a great read. Very informative in a fun format.

Interesting approach to the history of man's best friend! Imaginative and engaging illustrations and text will draw readers into the book.

Wildly Informative!

Great book about genetics and evolution, taught through the development of the dog.

Science Comics: Dogs is an entertaining way to learn a lot about dogs! The graphic novel style format combines with the delightful, time-travelling canine narrator Rudy. Rudy is full of dog and science facts, from classification to genetics to natural selection to domestication and more! Science Comics: Dogs is created in such a colorful and humorous way that the reader might not realize how densely packed the dog and science related facts are. You're just having too much fun learning and being entertained at the same time!

This entertaining and informative graphic novel explains the history of man's best friend! A background of genetics as pertaining to the breeding of dogs is broken down into an understandable manner. Various breeds and characteristics are explained in approachable terms with the aid of humorous illustrations. Due to the detailed scientific information it may be a bit beyond younger readers.

I knew the latest installment of the Science Comics series, Andy Hirsch‘s Dogs: From Predator to Protector, would be cute. With his art (as also seen in The Baker Street Peculiars) and the subject, how could it not be? What I didn’t expect was just how much science was packed into it, looking at how dogs came to be “man’s best friend” and why they do what they do.

A charming mutt named Rudy chases his ball from the dog park through time to explore the prehistoric origins of dogs. It’s an active, brightly colorful story that manages to explain genetics, heredity, chromosomes, dominant and recessive genes, natural and artificial selection, environmental adaptation, and evolution. Whew!

Rudy narrates a lot of substantial information to explain traits in species and why dogs wind up short-legged or spotted or such. Most important, in the dog’s development, was selection for friendliness to humans, so we also learn about Belyaev’s experiments in the late 1950s to domesticate foxes.

Hirsch’s art is wonderful, capturing the different types of dogs and their changes through history in simplified but still distinctive style. It’s instantly approachable, drawing in the reader to find out more about these cute canines.

Rudy elaborates on dog abilities, such as their athletic stamina and the way their senses work. That means what kind of colors they see and their range of hearing, but most importantly, how and why they sniff, including why they sniff butts. We also learn about dog behaviors, such as herding; their communication methods, including barking and tail-wagging; and how to train one with behavior rewarding. There is a ton of information in this comic!

All the Science Comics are great, but this is one of the best of the bunch, an outstanding read. I wished there was a bit more information on types of breeds and examples, because the stories Hirsch shares about golden retrievers, Yorkshire terriers, and the King Charles spaniel are so great.

Any dog lover should read this to learn more about their favorite pet. I’d never thought about how odd it is that all the different breeds of dogs, with all the different shapes and features, are still considered one species. As Hirsch points out, “Dogs are the most physically diverse species on the planet.” And I appreciated his ending call to get a pet at a shelter or rescue group.

Fun educational, cutting-edge scientific information!
I am very surprised with this book, scientific information about the origin of dogs is very well explained for children and adolescents. The part of genetics and evolution goes deep and touches enough detail to make clear the most important aspects. It was even educational for me, the latest research data on breeding and the discovery of behavioral traits associated with various morphological traits were unknown to me.
It also includes fun explanations about the vision of dogs, their ears, their barking, and their powerful smell that can detect diseases in humans. In their genes they have the ability to read human body expressions and respond to them like no other species, they actually communicate with us!
Our friendly playful friends are the most widespread mammal species on Earth along with humans for 5000 years, plus you'll also find information on how humans have created hundreds of breeds and traits about their body language to better understand your companion dog. Surely it is a species that will companion us when we go to live to the moon or other planets!
My gratitude to the Publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to review the book

This book is fun and engaging! I forgot that I was learning about Science while reading about dogs. Perfect for middle grades.

Well, not only did the children learn something from this book, I did as well! The comic book format is fantastic and it really managed to draw the children in as well as myself. They kept asking my questions, which all ended up being answered in the book any way!
I think this is a fun way to teach the children. We had a little pop quiz after and they remembered so much because the book was memorable and entertaining.

With a rescue pup named Rudy as our host, the latest addition to the Science Comics pack looks at dogs, and their evolution from predatory wolf to man (and woman!)'s best friend. Readers also take a side trip into lessons on genetics and evolution, and the history of dog breeding. Rudy is a sweet, affable guide, forever in search of his favorite bouncy ball; kids are going to love him. Making him a rescue dog adds a nice socially aware touch, and provokes discussion about adopting versus shopping for pets. Kids will learn about Gregor Mendel, the scientist and friar whose work with pea plants made him a pioneer in modern genetics; they'll learn about observable and inherited traits, and how chromosomes combine to pass along these traits. This is information that applies to everything, not just dogs. It's packaged with a cute puppy and a bright toy ball, sure, but there's fantastic, solid learning to be found here.

The Science Comics series keeps getting better. Put copies of this nonfiction series on your shelves and keep a set for your reference collection. They're that good, making seemingly confusing subjects like genetics accessible to kids and adults alike. I haven't been able to grasp a conversation about Punnett Squares since high school, but seeing it illustrated and explained in plain English here made it so reasonable! A glossary and additional resources are available at the end of the book. Science Comics are a must-add to middle grade nonfiction collections.

Science Comics: Dogs by Andy Hirsch is a book that combines science with humor. Kids and adults alike will enjoy learning about the evolution and genetics of dogs. A friendly mixed-breed dog named Rudy takes the reader on an entertaining yet informative journey into the lives of dogs. The book is rich in scientific vocabulary with good explanations of the terms. The pictures are beautifully done. Dog lovers will especially find this book fascinating.

Just so you know, this review was not written by the human who normally posts stuff here. This review was written by her dog.

Some of you may have enjoyed my previous review of _The Dog Master_, which made my tail wag. That’s right, humans, I’m back. I figured out the code to unlock the iPad and it has changed my life. This time I read a comic called Science Comics: Dogs. Man, I knew that was going to be a great book right when I saw the title. Because what topic could be more important than DOGS? (Global warming, maybe, but you humans don’t seem interested enough in that, now do you?)

Just in case you’re thinking this is “fake news,” let me remind you I’m a Border Collie, the most intelligent of dogs, and not only do I read, write, and post reviews, I also watch your Netflix when you’re at work. I mean, you don’t expect me to watch the dandelions grow all day while you’re gone, do you?

So on to the book. Science Comics: Dogs is full of interesting details on everything about a dog’s life. From the way a dog smells (Did you know we have two smellers? I bet you didn’t!) to the way humans affect dog genetics and evolution, this book has it all. Rudy, the dog who is your guide, loves ball, just like I do, and he’ll help you travel back in time to witness early dog-human collaboration, take you to Russia to observe Silver Fox breeding experiments, and even show you dog DNA. My human is a science teacher and she would do well to buy this book for her classes because everything a middle school life science student needs to know is in here. Heck, if I had a credit card, I’d buy her a class set. Then maybe she’d get home a little earlier and play more ball. If your human is smart, they’ll fetch this book from the bookstore before you can say WOOF.

Don't be fooled by the word "Comics" in the title or by the host Rudy who is chasing a ball throughout the narrative: this book is straight-up science at its best. Some of the topics include genetics, evolution, color vision, olfactory processes, cognition, behavioral traits. By presenting complex scientific concepts using vivid illustrations, humor, and clear text, the author presents material that students will encounter and remember in future science classes. Dog lovers will come away from this book with a better understanding of their dogs' behaviors and abilities. I read it twice. (I received an e-ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)

One of the most engaging and outstanding nonfiction series that uses a graphic novel approach to bridge the learning gap between a wide range of learners.