"American Jaguar: Big Cats, Biogeography, and Human Borders by Elizabeth Webb Gazing in the eyes of the beautiful jaguar on the cover pulls you in to the life, and sad plight, of this fantastic creature. Jaguars have for centuries been in a tug-of-war for land with humans. When people claim land originally part of the animal's original territory, the jaguar loses. This book is a reminder of the need for all animals, and the necessity, for conservation. In addition to the jaguar, the author speaks of other animals that have reached the point of near endangerment or extinction, and how they could possibly come back. She also defines the various types of what she refers to as "conservation connection": Distribution, Connectivity, Carrying capacity, and other ways a species exists in its territory. Plus, the history of the cat family tree is described, and their varied diversity. She also explains the reason a lion roars, while your kitten purrs, and why jaguars were so culturally significant that they appear in Mesopotamian artifacts.

Although this is written as a warning that this beautiful animal could potentially become endangered, if not extinct, as per the dodo bird, it is also a very well-written book on the concept of conservation as a whole, and it is a story of hope. Utilizing the jaguar, and other animals, the book explains the work being done to keep many animals', and especially the jaguar's, territory open, and away from humans. After reading this, the reader will be mesmerized by the plight of animals such as the jaguar, and will surely want to be a part of the solution. Reviewer Rating: 5" -Children's Literature.