I Am Jax, Protector of the Ranch

April 1, 2020

Gr 1-3-Canine lovers rejoice. This dog day-in-the-life series debuts with the tale of Jax, a Great Pyrenees living on a Texas ranch. Told in first-person perspective, the reader learns how Jax was raised to keep sheep safe. Jax works with Sweep, a border collie who herds during the day but sleeps inside at night; Bev, an Anatolian Shepherd; and young pup Stormy, who is still in training. Human rancher Gail is the kindly overseer of life on the farm. When Bev gets injured protecting the sheep from coyotes and Gail takes her to the vet, Jax and Stormy are left alone to protect the flock on a night with a full moon, which all animals know is never dull! Tension builds when unexpected predators roam too close to the sheep. Stier's simple but informed descriptions are entertaining and educational, providing an age-appropriate exploration of the delicate balance between predators and farm animals. An appendix dives deeper into the history of livestock guardian dogs. Rosa's illustrations add to the story by showing the unique facial expressions of the animals and the picturesque expanse of a southwestern ranch. VERDICT Give to all animal-loving readers looking for an early chapter book series to get into.-Tara Kehoe, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, Charlotte, NC

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Starred review from February 1, 2020
In the first of a new series about working dogs, Jax, a Great Pyrenees, describes his efforts to protect his flock of sheep through a long, scary night. When the lead livestock guardian dog, Bev, is injured in a coyote attack, only Jax and a very youthful novice dog, Stormy, are left to protect their owner's flock. After one of the ewes delivers a new lamb, things get even more complicated. Jax, brave and pragmatic, must try to keep a close eye on the defenseless pair while still making sure the flock is safe, never certain that he can rely on Stormy's unproven judgment. Then a mountain lion begins to menace the sheep....Jax's matter-of-fact voice is both believable and highly informative, providing readers with a riveting step-by-step account of how livestock guardians are trained and how they do their work. Never lost in that enlightening presentation is the rising suspense generated by the large cat threatening the sheep--and the dogs. Rosa's illustrations, a few for each short chapter, nicely enhance the text (and depict Jax's human family as white). Considering that all of this is packaged in a slender volume intended for readers newly transitioned to chapter books, this is an outstanding effort, packed with interesting information but also too engrossing to put down. I Am Ava, Seeker in the Snow, about a chocolate Lab who does avalanche rescue, publishes simultaneously. A thrilling and very worthwhile choice for emergent readers. (Adventure. 6-9)

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