Anyone who has ever spent time with a dog knows that dogs love sniffing! They sniff out hidden food, dirty socks, and the visitor who comes to the door.  But some dogs work with police officers, soldiers and even scientists to put their "sniffers" to work.  Sniffer dogs make use of the amazing biology behind their noses to protect people from bombs, catch criminals smuggling drugs, or help researchers locate a hard to find snail in a forest.      A dog's nose is so sensitive that if a human could see as well as a dog could smell, we would be able to see the small letters on an eye chart from four (four!) miles away.  Is it any wonder then that dogs can be trained to find missing people in piles of rubble or a certain flower blooming amongst hundreds or thousands of other smells?  In  Sniffer Dogs  you will meet many dogs and their handlers and learn all about their jobs. Some of these dogs are raised from birth to detect blood sugar levels in their owners.  Others are rescued from animal shelters and their boisterous personalities help make them excellent sniffer dogs. Featuring a balance between science and social science, Sniffer Dogs will appeal to dog lovers and science lovers alike.  Gr 4–8—This winsome book describes the many jobs sniffer dogs do, including detecting drugs and explosives, searching for survivors after disasters, and tracking animals. The author discusses some amazing and moving stories: Sunny, a Doberman, searched for survivors after September 11; Tucker, a black lab, looks for orcas through the scent of their scat; and Alan, a Labrador, can detect his 14-year-old owner's blood sugar levels and warn him if they slip dangerously low. Castaldo also sheds light on dogs who assist the armed forces, pointing out that the military hasn't always rewarded these animals for their service. This appealing volume provides important information about the dedication and determination of these dogs and the intense training they undergo in order to carry out these difficult tasks and even devotes a chapter to explaining why dogs' noses work so well. The attractive color photos that capture many of these canines in action and the accessible tone of the text make this an appealing read. A well-organized, thoughtfully written title that celebrates the achievements of these great dogs.—Carol Schene, formerly at Taunton Public Schools, MA * "An exemplary presentation of information in a lively, engaging way—readers will be left feeling awe for their canine companions and enthusiasm for their abilities." — Kirkus , starred review "Superb coverage of the canine contribution to rescue and safety in both text and illustration." —VOYA "A well-organized, thoughtfully written title that celebrates the achievements of these great dogs." — School Library Journal "This fascinating account will leave young readers feeling wonder and gratitude for the gifts of the canine set." —The Wall Street Journal "The adventurous element of search and rescue and military duty adds an edge to draw readers unenticed by (or unwilling to be caught with) mere cute puppies." — Bulletin   Nancy Castaldo has been writing about the planet for decades. She’s contributed to the Sierra Club Waste Paper, NRDC’s Personal Action column, and others. She is the author of many STEM books including,  Sniffer Dogs: How Dogs (and Their Noses) Save the World, Back from The Brink: Saving Animals From Extinction , and Beastly Brains: Exploring How Animals Think, Talk, and Feel . She lives in New York’s Hudson Valley. Website: nancycastaldo.com Twitter: @NCastaldoAuthor Instagram: @naturespeak Best Friends and Heroes Eli, a four-year-old bomb-sniffing black Labrador, was assigned to work alongside Marine Pfc. Colton Rusk, an improvised explosive device detection dog handler. The two left for a tour in Afghanistan on September 23, 2010, Colton's twentieth birthday, and became inseparable. In fact, Colton often broke protocol by letting Eli sleep with him on his cot instead of in the regulation kennel on the floor. And on his Facebook page Colton wrote under a photo of Eli, 'What's mine is also his.' There was no question of the bond the two shared.    On December 6, 2010, just a few months after arriving in Afghanistan, Colton was hit by sniper fire while on patrol and was killed. His dog, Eli, stood guard, crawling on top of his partner's body, not leaving its side, even when Colton's fellow soldiers came to retrieve it.    Colton's family knew how close the two had been. Phone calls home always included news about Eli. When the family lost Colton, they decided that Eli needed to come home to them. Thanks to new legislation, the Rusk family was able to petition the military to receive the retired military canine. On February 3, the Rusk family headed to Lackland Air Force Base in Texas to bring Eli home. Eli was formally retired from the military and adopted into the Rusks' civilian home. When Colton's obituary was written, Eli