Horses, Donkeys, and Mules

Really? Horses, donkeys, and mules in the U.S. Marines? But this slim title in the America’s Animal Soldiers series, with its many color photographs, makes it clear that these animals are—and have been since 1915—a valued part of the service. The book begins with a vignette about Purple Heart–winner Reckless, a horse who carried both rockets and injured soldiers during the Korean War. It goes on to discuss why animals are better than helicopters for carrying loads (not so easily seen); the extraordinary weights these animals can carry; present missions in places like Afghanistan; and the training school in California, where soldiers learn to pack their animals and find the best ways to make them carry out assignments. Some of the information is repeated (like how much weight they can pack), but that’s a quibble in a book that tells a lot about a fresh topic—one that will especially attract reluctant readers and boys. Sidebars (some in dog-tag shapes) complement the friendly design.