In the 1990s coyotes first started showing up in city neighborhoods and animal control agencies were flooded with anxious complaints. Field scientists formed Chicago’s Urban Coyote Research project, tracking, monitoring and learning the why, how, what and where of this new urban-predator phenomenon. Six defined chapters - with compelling photographs - alternate field accounts with coyote natural history. Both successes and frustrations are highlighted and individual field scientists are spotlighted (including one young woman from San Francisco). An index and clearly titled chapters allow readers to focus on animal-centered facts or scientific procedures. Coyote ranges continue to expand and this fresh installment in an acclaimed series should have wide appeal. Back matter includes a glossary, additional facts, sources, select bibliography and an index.

A very well done book for young readers full of information and organized in a reader-friendly way. The pictures are great and really pull the reader in. This also would be a wonderful book to teach nonfiction text features to students, and of course life science.

We saw photos and heard their eerie howls during the pandemic. Maybe we’ve seen notices posted in the neighborhood to keep small dogs, cats, and young children indoors because they’ve been spotted in the area. Coyotes are mysterious, often feared, and misunderstood creatures.

“Urban Coyotes” seeks to demonstrate, in a non-threatening way, how coyotes have adapted to urban living. The story follows the work of biologists who study coyotes in the urban sprawl of Chicago. Author Mary Kay Carson takes the reader through the tracking process. The reader also learns how the coyotes are safely caught, tagged, checked for disease, and released. The overall message of the story is that coyotes are an important part of our ecosystem, but humans are still learning about them (and their amazing adaptability) and how to safely (for humans AND coyotes) live with them.

This book is great for upper elementary and middle school students who are interested in biology and/or animals. Frankly, it will help adults better understand these urban dwellers as well.

I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley and HarperCollins Children’s Books, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Urban Coyotes is a book that I would put in the hands of an older middle-grade reader who is passionate about wildlife. It is written in clear language with supporting illustrations (including very cute coyote pups). Scientific terminology is explained throughout the book. Not only did it cover the coyotes of the urban Chicago area, but also talked about the wildlife biologists who were studying them. For children exploring their career futures, this was a clear look at what this type of job entails.