by Dr. Lee Alan Dugatkin & Dr. Lyudmila Trut
- Authors: Dugatkin & Trut
- Publisher: Persnickety Press (August 27, 2019)
- Genre: STEM, Nonfiction, Animals
- Pages: 32
- Age Range: 3 – 7
Synopsis: (Publisher)
The true story of a fox that became a woman’s best friend, from award-winning publisher, Persnickety Press. Based on and written by the award-winning author of HOW TO TAME A FOX AND BUILD A DOG and hailed by the NYTimes Book Review as “Sparkling… A story that is part science, part Russian fairy tale, and part spy thriller.” PUSHINKA is the STEM narrative account for kids of this amazing book.
In the harsh, frozen Siberian landscape, a scientist and a fox began a most unusual friendship—one that changed our understanding of human-animal relationships forever. In 1959, the world-renowned Siberian silver fox domestication experiment began, exploring the boundaries of relationships between humans and animals. 15 years into the experiment, lead researcher Dr. Lyudmila Trut met Pushinka, a beautiful silver fox pup who would become her near constant companion. So taken was she by Pushinka, Lyudmila decided to take the experiment a step further by moving into a small house with her, allowing for closer observation and more constant interaction between scientist and fox.
Lyudmila and Pushinka’s true story demonstrates that even in the coldest places on earth, there is warmth.
My Thoughts:
I loved reading Beauty and The Beak by the same publisher, so I was excited to see that a new book Pushinka The Barking Dog was available. While the book I just finished is about an eagle, this story is about a scientist and fox that develop a very unusual friendship.
However, the unique fox/human relationship doesn’t happen overnight. You see, in 1959 a Siberian silver fox domestication experiment started this long journey.
The most friendly foxes, of course, a one-word description is oversimplifying it, on a fox farm are continually bred in order to see if domestication is possible. At the same time, lots of documentation is collected regarding the behaviors.
In time Pushinka and Dr. Lyudmila Trut meet each other. It doesn’t take too long before this cute little silver fox pup becomes Truts companion.
The experiment soon advances to the point that Pushinka moves inside the doctor’s small house. Of course, a journal is kept regarding her activities, behavior, etc.. As time passes the fox begins to grow more and more like a dog. She learns to fetch, wag her tail, and even bark to warn Trut of possible dangers.
This touching story documents how science has taken human and animal relationships a step closer.
Special thanks to #BookSirens and #PersnicketyPress for this review copy and the ability to post my own thoughts regarding this book.
What Concerned Me:
I was unsure about my feelings regarding this domestication study.
What I Liked Best:
Like Beauty and The Beak, the page layouts are done in a very interesting and eye-catching way. Additionally, I love that the book teaches as well as encourages great discussions.
About The Authors:
Dr. Lee Alan Dugatkin is a Professor of Biology and Distinguished University Scholar in the Department of Biology at the University of Louisville. He is a behavioral ecologist and historian of science and his main area of research interest is the evolution of social behavior.
Dr. Lyudmila Trut received her doctoral degree in 1980. Her current research interests are the patterns of evolutionary transformations at the early steps of animal domestication.
More Information:
Youtube regarding Syberia Experiments
