Patent, Dorothy Hinshaw 1940-
Patent, Dorothy Hinshaw 1940-
PERSONAL:
Born April 30, 1940, in Rochester, MN; daughter of Horton Corwin (a physician) and Dorothy Kate Hinshaw; married Gregory Joseph Patent (a professor of zoology), March 21, 1964; children: David, Jason. Education: Stanford University, B.A., 1962; University of California, Berkeley, M.A., 1965, Ph.D., 1968; also studied at Friday Harbor Laboratories, University of Washington, 1965-67. Hobbies and other interests: Gardening, cooking, hiking.
ADDRESSES:
Home—Missoula, MT.
CAREER:
Writer, zoologist, and educator. Sinai Hospital, Detroit, MI, post-doctoral fellow, 1968-69; Stazione Zoologica, Naples, Italy, post-doctoral researcher, 1970-71; University of Montana, Missoula, faculty affiliate in department of zoology, 1975-90, acting assistant professor, 1977, faculty affiliate in environmental studies, 1995—.
MEMBER:
American Institute of Biological Sciences, Authors Guild, Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.
AWARDS, HONORS:
The National Science Teachers Association has cited more than forty of Patent's books as outstanding science trade books; Golden Kite Honor Book, Society of Children's Book Writers, 1977, for Evolution Goes on Every Day, and Golden Kite Award, 1980, for The Lives of Spiders; Notable Book citation, American Library Association, 1982, for Spider Magic; Children's Books of the Year list, Library of Congress, 1985, for Where the Bald Eagles Gather; Best Books of the Year list, School Library Journal, 1986, for Buffalo: The American Bison Today, Best Book for Young Adults citation, American Library Association, 1986, for The Quest for Artificial Intelligence; Eva L. Gordon Award, American Nature Study Society, 1987, for the body of her work; Books for the Teenage citation, New York Public Library, 1990, for How Smart Are Animals?; Best Books of the Year list, School Library Journal, and Pick of the Lists, American Bookseller, both 1992, and both for Feathers; Children's Choice Award, 1994, for Hugger to the Rescue; Books for the Teenage citation, New York Public Library, 1994, for The Vanishing Feast; AAAS Best Science Books of 1996, for Biodiversity; Lud Browman Award for Science Writing, Friends of the Mansfield Library, University of Montana, 1994; Best Children's Books of the Year citations, Bank Street College of Education, 1997, for Prairies, Children Save the Rainforests, and Biodiversity; Books for Young People Award, Scientific American, 1997, for Pigeons; AAAS Best Science Books of 1998, for Apple Trees; Best Children's Books of the Year, Bank Street College of Education, 1998, for Back to the Wild and Flashy Fantastic Rain Forest Frogs, and 1999, for Apple Trees and Fire: Friend or Foe; CBC-IRA Children's Choices selection, 1999, for Alex and Friends: Animal Talk, Animal Thinking; National Science Teachers Association Outstanding Science Trade Book for Children, 2002, for Charles Darwin, 2003, for Life in a Grassland and Animals on the Trail with Lewis and Clark, 2004, Fabulous Fluttering Tropical Butterflies and Plants on the Trail with Lewis and Clark; Washington Post/ Children's Book Guild Award, 2004, for body of work. Many of Patent's books have also received state nominations and awards and have been chosen as Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children by the National Science Teachers Association.
WRITINGS:
FOR CHILDREN
Weasels, Otters, Skunks, and Their Family, illustrations by Matthew Kalmenoff, Holiday House (New York, NY), 1973.
Microscopic Animals and Plants, Holiday House (New York, NY), 1974.
Frogs, Toads, Salamanders, and How They Reproduce, illustrations by Matthew Kalmenoff, Holiday House (New York, NY), 1975.
How Insects Communicate, Holiday House (New York, NY), 1975.
Fish and How They Reproduce, illustrations by Matthew Kalmenoff, Holiday House (New York, NY), 1976.
Plants and Insects Together, illustrations by Matthew Kalmenoff, Holiday House (New York, NY), 1976.
Evolution Goes on Every Day, illustrations by Matthew Kalmenoff, Holiday House (New York, NY), 1977.
Reptiles and How They Reproduce, illustrations by Matthew Kalmenoff, Holiday House (New York, NY), 1977.
The World of Worms, Holiday House (New York, NY), 1978.
Animal and Plant Mimicry, Holiday House (New York, NY), 1978.
(With Paul C. Schroeder) Beetles and How They Live, Holiday House (New York, NY), 1978.
Butterflies and Moths: How They Function, Holiday House (New York, NY), 1979.
Sizes and Shapes in Nature: What They Mean, Holiday House (New York, NY), 1979.
Raccoons, Coatimundis, and Their Family, Holiday House (New York, NY), 1979.
Bacteria: How They Affect Other Living Things, Holiday House (New York, NY), 1980.
The Lives of Spiders, Holiday House (New York, NY), 1980.
Bears of the World, Holiday House (New York, NY), 1980.
Horses and Their Wild Relatives, Holiday House (New York, NY), 1981.
Horses of America, Holiday House (New York, NY), 1981.
Hunters and the Hunted: Surviving in the Animal World, Holiday House (New York, NY), 1981.
Spider Magic, Holiday House (New York, NY), 1982.
A Picture Book of Cows, photographs by William Munoz, Holiday House (New York, NY), 1982.
Arabian Horses, Holiday House (New York, NY), 1982.
Germs!, Holiday House (New York, NY), 1983.
A Picture Book of Ponies, photographs by William Munoz, Holiday House (New York, NY), 1983.
Whales: Giants of the Deep, Holiday House (New York, NY), 1984.
Farm Animals, photographs by William Munoz, Holiday House (New York, NY), 1984.
Where the Bald Eagles Gather, photographs by William Munoz, Clarion (New York, NY), 1984.
Baby Horses, photographs by William Munoz, Dodd (New York, NY), 1985.
Quarter Horses, photographs by William Munoz, Holiday House (New York, NY), 1985.
The Sheep Book, photographs by William Munoz, Dodd (New York, NY), 1985.
Thoroughbred Horses, Holiday House (New York, NY), 1985.
Draft Horses, photographs by William Munoz, Holiday House (New York, NY), 1986.
Buffalo: The American Bison Today, photographs by William Munoz, Clarion (New York, NY), 1986.
Mosquitoes, Holiday House (New York, NY), 1986.
Maggie: A Sheep Dog, photographs by William Munoz, Dodd (New York, NY), 1986.
The Quest for Artificial Intelligence, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 1986.
Christmas Trees, Dodd (New York, NY), 1987.
All about Whales, Holiday House (New York, NY), 1987.
Dolphins and Porpoises, Holiday House (New York, NY), 1987.
The Way of the Grizzly, photographs by William Munoz, Clarion (New York, NY), 1987.
Wheat: The Golden Harvest, photographs by William Munoz, Dodd (New York, NY), 1987.
Appaloosa Horses, photographs by William Munoz, Holiday House (New York, NY), 1988.
Babies!, Holiday House (New York, NY), 1988.
A Horse of a Different Color, photographs by William Munoz, Dodd (New York, NY), 1988.
The Whooping Crane: A Comeback Story, photographs by William Munoz, Clarion (New York, NY), 1988.
Humpback Whales, photographs by Mark J. Ferrari and Deborah A. Glockner-Ferrari, Holiday House (New York, NY), 1989.
Grandfather's Nose: Why We Look Alike or Different, illustrations by Diane Palmisciano, F. Watts (New York, NY), 1989.
Singing Birds and Flashing Fireflies: How Animals Talk to Each Other, illustrations by Mary Morgan, F. Watts (New York, NY), 1989.
Where the Wild Horses Roam, photographs by William Munoz, Clarion (New York, NY), 1989.
Wild Turkey, Tame Turkey, photographs by William Munoz, Clarion (New York, NY), 1989.
Looking at Dolphins and Porpoises, Holiday House (New York, NY), 1989.
Looking at Ants, Holiday House (New York, NY), 1989.
Seals, Sea Lions, and Walruses, Holiday House (New York, NY), 1990.
Yellowstone Fires: Flames and Rebirth, photographs by William Munoz, Holiday House (New York, NY), 1990.
An Apple a Day: From Orchard to You, photographs by William Munoz, Cobblehill (New York, NY), 1990.
Flowers for Everyone, photographs by William Munoz, Cobblehill (New York, NY), 1990.
Gray Wolf, Red Wolf, photographs by William Munoz, Clarion (New York, NY), 1990.
How Smart Are Animals?, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 1990.
A Family Goes Hunting, photographs by William Munoz, Clarion (New York, NY), 1991.
Miniature Horses, photographs by William Munoz, Cobblehill (New York, NY), 1991.
The Challenge of Extinction, Enslow (Hillside, NJ), 1991.
Where Food Comes From, photographs by William Munoz, Holiday House (New York, NY), 1991.
African Elephants: Giants of the Land, photographs by Oria Douglas-Hamilton, Holiday House, 1991.
Feathers, photographs by William Munoz, Cobblehill (New York, NY), 1992.
Places of Refuge: Our National Wildlife Refuge System, photographs by William Munoz, Clarion (New York, NY), 1992.
Nutrition: What's in the Food We Eat, photographs by William Munoz, Holiday House (New York, NY), 1992.
Pelicans, photographs by William Munoz, Clarion (New York, NY), 1992.
Cattle: Understanding Animals, photographs by William Munoz, Carolrhoda (Minneapolis, MN), 1993.
Ospreys, photographs by William Munoz, Clarion (New York, NY), 1993.
Prairie Dogs, photographs by William Munoz, Clarion (New York, NY), 1993.
Habitats: Saving Wild Places, Enslow (Hillside, NJ), 1993.
Killer Whales, photographs by John K.B. Ford, Holiday House (New York, NY), 1993.
Dogs: The Wolf Within, photographs by William Munoz, Carolrhoda Books (Minneapolis, MN), 1993.
Looking at Penguins, photographs by Graham Robertson, Holiday House (New York, NY), 1993.
Looking at Bears, photographs by William Munoz, Holiday House (New York, NY), 1994.
Horses: Understanding Animals, photographs by William Munoz, Carolrhoda (Minneapolis, MN), 1994.
Deer and Elk, photographs by William Munoz, Clarion (New York, NY), 1994.
Hugger to the Rescue, photographs by William Munoz, Cobblehill (New York, NY), 1994.
The American Alligator, photographs by William Munoz, Clarion (New York, NY), 1994.
The Vanishing Feast: How Dwindling Genetic Diversity Threatens the World's Food Supply, Harcourt Brace (San Diego, CA), 1994.
What Good Is a Tail?, photographs by William Munoz, Cobblehill (New York, NY), 1994.
West by Covered Wagon: Retracing Pioneer Trails, photographs by William Munoz, Walker (New York, NY), 1995.
Eagles of America, photographs by William Munoz, Holiday House (New York, NY), 1995.
Return of the Wolf, illustrated by Hared T. Williams, Clarion (New York, NY), 1995.
Why Mammals Have Fur, photographs by William Munoz, Cobblehill (New York, NY), 1995.
Prairies, photographs by William Munoz, Holiday House (New York, NY), 1996.
Quetzal: Sacred Bird of the Cloud Forest, illustrated by Neil Waldman, Morrow (New York, NY), 1996.
Biodiversity, photographs by William Munoz, Clarion (New York, NY), 1996.
Children Save the Rain Forest, photographs by Dan L. Perlman, Cobblehill Books, 1996.
Back to the Wild, photographs by William Munoz, Harcourt Brace (San Diego, CA), 1997.
Pigeons, photographs by William Munoz, Clarion (New York, NY), 1997.
Apple Trees, photographs by William Munoz, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1997.
Flashy Fantastic Rain Forest Frogs, illustrated by Kendahl Jan Jubb, Walker (New York, NY), 1997.
Homesteading: Settling America's Heartland, photographs by William Munoz, Walker (New York, NY), 1998.
Fire: Friend or Foe, photographs by William Munoz, Clarion (New York, NY), 1998.
Alex and Friends: Animal Talk, Animal Thinking, photographs by William Munoz, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1998.
Bold and Bright, Black-and-White Animals, illustrated by Kendahl Jan Jubb, Walker (New York, NY), 1998.
Mystery of the Lascaux Cave, Benchmark Books (New York, NY), 1998.
Secrets of the Ice Man, Benchmark Books (New York, NY), 1998.
Great Ice Bear: The Polar Bear and the Eskimo, illustrated by Anne Wertheim, Morrow (New York, NY), 1998.
Polar Bear: Sacred Bear of the Ice, illustrated by Anne Wertheim, Morrow (New York, NY), 1998.
In Search of Maiasaurs, Benchmark Books (New York, NY), 1999.
The Incredible Story of China's Buried Warriors, Benchmark Books (New York, NY), 1999.
Lost City of Pompeii, Benchmark Books (New York, NY), 1999.
Treasures of the Spanish Main, Benchmark Books (New York, NY), 1999.
Wild Turkeys, photographs by William Munoz, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1999.
Shaping the Earth, photographs by William Munoz, Clarion (New York, NY), 2000.
The Bald Eagle Returns, photographs by William Munoz, Clarion (New York, NY), 2000.
Polar Bears, photographs by William Munoz, Carolrhoda (Minneapolis, MN), 2000.
Slinky, Scaly, Slithery Snakes, illustrated by Kendahl Jan Jubb, Walker (New York, NY), 2000.
Horses, photographs by William Munoz, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 2001.
Charles Darwin: The Life of a Revolutionary Thinker, Holiday House (New York, NY), 2001.
A Polar Bear Biologist at Work, F. Watts (New York, NY), 2001.
Rescuing the Prairie Bandit, F. Watts (New York, NY), 2001.
Rainforest Animals, illustrated by Ilya Spirin, Winslow House (New York, NY), 2001.
Animals on the Trail with Lewis and Clark, photographs by William Munoz, Clarion Books (New York, NY), 2002.
The Lewis and Clark Trail: Then and Now, photographs by William Munoz, Clarion Books (New York, NY), 2002.
Llamas, photographs by William Munoz, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 2002.
Colorful Captivating Coral Reefs, illustrations by Kendahl Jan Jubb, Walker (New York, NY), 2003.
Fabulous Fluttering Tropical Butterflies, illustrations by Kendahl Jan Jubb, Walker (New York, NY), 2003.
Life in a Dessert, photographs by William Munoz, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 2003.
Life in a Grassland, photographs by William Munoz, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 2003.
Plants on the Trail with Lewis and Clark, photographs by William Munoz, Clarion Books (New York, NY), 2003.
Garden of the Spirit Bear: Life in the Great Northern Rainforest, illustrated by Deborah Milton, Clarion Books (New York, NY), 2004.
The Right Dog for the Job: Ira's Path from Service Dog to Guide Dog, photographs by William Munoz, Walker (New York, NY), 2004.
Big Cats, illustrations by Kendahl Jan Jubb, Walker (New York, NY), 2005.
Brown Pelicans, photographs by William Munoz, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 2005.
White-Tailed Deer, photographs by William Munoz, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 2005.
The Buffalo and the Indians: A Shared Destiny, photographs by William Munoz, Clarion Books (New York, NY), 2006.
FOR ADULTS
(With Diane E. Bilderback) Garden Secrets, Rodale Press (Emmaus, PA), 1982, revised and expanded edition published as The Harrowsmith Country Life Book of Garden Secrets: A Down-to-Earth Guide to the Art and Science of Growing Better Vegetables, Camden House (Charlotte, VA), 1991.
(With Diane E. Bilderback) Backyard Fruits and Berries, Rodale Press (Emmaus, PA), 1984.
(With Greg Patent), A Is for Apple: More than 200 Recipes for Eating, Munching, and Cooking America's Favorite Fruit, Broadway Books (New York, NY), 1999.
Contributor to gardening and farming magazines. Has also written for Arizoo, Camas, Falcon, Spider, Storyworks, Horn Book, Writer, Cricket, and Missoulian newspaper. Patent's photographs have appeared in National Gardening Magazine, Missoulian, and in many of her children's books.
SIDELIGHTS:
Dorothy Hinshaw Patent is a highly acclaimed author of over one hundred science books for young readers. A trained zoologist, Patent has written books in the biological sciences about animals from the horse to the pelican, and has examined ecological challenges in such books as Biodiversity, Back to the Wild, and The Vanishing Feast. Patent's books are geared at readers from the elementary grades through high school, and are noted for their interpretation of complex topics in concise, spirited, and informal presentations. As Zena Sutherland and May Hill Arbuthnot noted in their Children and Books, "Dorothy Patent has become established as an author whose books are distinguished for their combination of authoritative knowledge, detached and objective attitude, and an ability to write for the lay person with fluency and clarity," adding that "she communicates a sense of wonder at the complexity and beauty of animal life by her zest for her subject."
"Many writers have known for as long as they can remember that they wanted to write. Not me," Patent noted in CA. "I knew that I loved animals, the woods, and exploring, and I always wanted to learn everything possible about something that interested me. But I never yearned to be a writer." Patent remarked that she grew up a tomboy, exploring the terrain around her family's homes in Minnesota and later California with her older brother. She was always more interested in catching tadpoles, playing with toads, and collecting insects than in the more conventional interests shared by girls her age. In fact, Patent remembered having trouble making girl friends in school: "To this day I'm not sure why, but maybe it was because I'd never spent much time with girls and didn't know how to act around them."
When she was in elementary school, Patent received a gift from her mother that turned her general interest in nature into a firm resolve to know all that she could of a specific subject. As a reward for practicing the piano, her mother bought her a pair of golden guppies and she recalled: "The morning after we bought the fish, I peered into the bowl to check on my new pets. To my surprise, the adult fish weren't alone—three new pairs of eyes stared out at me from among the plants. I couldn't believe this miracle—the female fish had given birth during the night, and now I had five fish instead of two!" Patent's enthusiasm led her to read every book she could about tropical fish and to frequent a special Japanese fish store to learn even more.
Patent's curiosity helped her to excel in school, as did the encouragement of her family. "Learning was highly valued in my family," she commented in CA. Despite her success academically, she felt like a misfit socially. "I wanted to be like the ‘in’ crowd …," she recalled. "I admired the girls who became prom queens and cheerleaders. At the time, there was no way I could understand that some of them were living the best part of their lives during high school while the best parts of my life were yet to come and would last much longer." After high school Patent went to nearby Stanford University, one of the few highly rated schools in the nation that was coeducational at the time and had a strong science program. Patent blossomed in college, where her intelligence and intellectual curiosity were valued. Despite a tragedy during her freshman year—the suicide of her roommate—which put her "into a dark emotional frame of mind that lasted the entire four years," she wrote in her autobiographical sketch that she became involved with international folk dancing, made good friends, and had interesting, challenging classes. Many of her classes emphasized writing, and "by the end of my freshman year," she recollected, "I could set an internal switch for a paper of a certain length and write it. I'm sure this discipline and training has helped me in my writing career." After a trip to Europe with a friend, Patent enrolled in graduate school at the University of California at Berkeley, where she met the man she would marry, Greg Patent, a teaching assistant in her endocrinology class.
Patent and her new husband continued their graduate work and post-doctoral research in Friday Harbor, Washington; Detroit, Michigan; and Naples, Italy; settling for a while in North Carolina before moving to Montana. Searching for a job that would allow her to spend time with her two young boys, Patent decided to try writing and, following that age-old advice to write about what one knows best, she picked biology as her subject matter. Though her first two books were not published, one of them piqued the interest of an editor at Holiday House who eventually approached Patent with an idea for a book about the weasel family. Although she knew next to nothing about weasels, Patent agreed to write the book, Weasels, Otters, Skunks and Their Family. She spent hours doing research at the University of Montana library in Missoula, and received help from a professor at the university who happened to be one of the world's experts on weasels. Reviewing this debut volume in Appraisal, Heddie Kent found the book to be "fascinating and comprehensive." "[Patent's] style of writing is relaxed and enjoyable," noted a critic for Science Books, who also found Weasels, Otters, Skunks, and Their Family to be a "highly interesting, readable and informative book."
Patent soon developed a pattern of careful research and organization that allowed her to write first one, then two, then three books a year. "Each book was a review," she explained in CA, "in simple language, of everything known up to that time about the subject. I chose most of the subjects myself, and they were the things that had interested me as a child—frogs, tropical fish, reptiles, butterflies." Her 1977 title, Evolution Goes on Every Day, and her 1980 book, The Lives of Spiders, were both honored by the Society of Children's Book Writers; the former title received recognition as a Golden Kite Honor Book, and the latter won the Golden Kite Award. Reviewing The Lives of Spiders in Science Books and Films, Roy T. Cunningham called it "remarkable" for "retaining a high level of scholarship and breadth of coverage" with a "minimum of esoteric vocabulary."
In the early 1980s Patent began to work with photographer William Munoz, whose name she found in a Missoula newspaper. The two would travel together to photograph the animals for a book, and became a successful team. The first few books that Patent wrote with the help of Munoz allowed her to stay in Montana, but her desire to write books on grizzly bears, whooping cranes, and wolves soon took them to Alaska, New Mexico, Texas, and other states. Pelicans, a 1992 addition to Patent and Munoz's collaborative efforts, is exemplary of the tone and format of much of their work together. "The book has a well-organized text with clear, crisp, full-color photos and a thorough index," noted Susan Oliver in a School Library Journal review. Oliver called Pelicans a "high-quality nature-book on an endearing clown of a bird."
Dogs of all sorts get a similar treatment in several further titles. In Dogs: The Wolf Within, Patent "explores selective breeding," according to Booklist's Deborah Abbott, "explaining how various types of dogs have been developed to accommodate people." From Greyhounds to Border collies, Patent explores a wide variety of such breeds in a "must" book for "dog lovers and science enthusiasts," Abbott wrote. Betsy Hearne, writing in Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, commented that this "author-artist team's experience with books on various species makes for a smooth production as they coordinate appealing full-color photographs with facts on the origin, domestication, behavioral characteristics, and training potential of dogs." The Newfoundland breed came into focus in Hugger to the Rescue, another collaborative effort with Munoz that looks at the training of Newfoundlands as rescue dogs, and at one dog in particular, Hugger. Carol Kolb Phillips, reviewing the book in School Library Journal, paid special attention to Patent's "conversational, anecdote-filled narrative," and to Munoz's "attractive and informative" full-color photographs. A distant relative of dogs inspired Patent to create a work of fiction in Return of the Wolf, which tells the story of one lone wolf, Sedra, who is forced to leave her pack, then finds a mate, and has pups to begin to form a pack of her own. "Patent entirely resists anthropomorphism," commented Roger Sutton in Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, "finding drama in the instinctive drives … that shape a wolf's life rather than in New Age sentimentality."
Horses are also dear to Patent's heart, and she has written about them in several volumes, including Where the Wild Horses Roam and Horses. Reviewing Horses, a contributor to Appraisal noted that "Patent has written a horse book that is a good read for pleasure or a source of information for reports." Deer, elk, eagles, bears, even pigeons and apples have received the collaborative treatment of Patent and Munoz. In Looking at Bears "Patent and Munoz have once again combined their talents to produce a stunning book about animals," wrote a reviewer for Appraisal. "The text is clear and straightforward, the format uncluttered, and on almost every page is a striking photograph of bears."
Reviewing Pigeons in Booklist, Carolyn Phelan noted, "This informative book offers a well-researched and readable text illustrated with clear, full-color photographs." Phelan found that the "most surprising chapter" dealt with studies of pigeon intelligence in which trained birds have been able to tell the difference between a Monet and a Picasso painting. "This excellent addition to science collections will make readers come away with a new respect for this common bird," Phelan concluded. Turning her skills to the plant kingdom, Patent has also written about America's most popular fruit in Apple Trees, a description of the life cycle of the apple from seed to fruit. A writer for Kirkus Reviews noted: "Crisp, full-color photographs highlight all phases of tree and apple growth, coupled with clear, detailed drawings that explain more difficult concepts and processes."
Working with Munoz and other illustrators, Patent has produced many books dealing with individual topics of evolutionary change and adaptation in animals. Feathers looks at the role of those quilled projections in flight, insulation, and camouflage in a "captivating volume" with "fact-filled pages" that is a "nonfiction bonanza," according to Booklist reviewer Abbott. Luvada Kuhn commented in Voice of Youth Advocates: "This small book with its handy little index will be a useful tool for the student in natural history or anyone with an interest in birds." In What Good Is a Tail?, Patent and Munoz teamed up "on another winning book … with a lively text, appealing color photographs, and intriguing science facts showing just how useful a tail can be," according to a writer for Kirkus Reviews. The two also worked together to determine Why Mammals Have Fur, an "eye-catching book … well designed with clear color photographs," according to a reviewer for Appraisal. Working with Kendahl Jan Jubb as illustrator, Patent has taken a look at animal adaptation in Flashy Fantastic Rain Forest Frogs and at coloration in Bold and Bright, Black-and-White Animals. Reviewing the former title, a writer for Kirkus Reviews called it a "beautiful concise look at a surprisingly varied subject." In the latter title, Patent turns her attention to fourteen animals, such as the skunk and zebra, that come in black and white and explains why. Reviewing Bold and Bright in Booklist, Shelley Townsend-Hudson noted: "There is so much to enjoy and learn in this beautiful book." The reviewer added: "It's a standout and an outstanding book." And animal intelligence is explored in Alex and Friends, "a fascinating discussion," according to Elizabeth S. Watson writing in Horn Book Guide.
Becoming increasingly concerned with the plight of wildlife, Patent remarked in her autobiographical sketch that "wild things always seem to lose out in today's world." Patent went on to note: "We need to realize that we are part of nature, that without nature, we are not whole." To aid in such a realization, Patent has written a number of books dealing with issues of preservation, endangered species, and ecology. In Places of Refuge she takes a look at the National Wildlife Refuge System, while in The Challenges of Extinction she examines the impact of plant and animal extinction. Habitat preservation and restoration is the theme of Habitats: Saving Wild Places, a "brief but effective introduction," as a contributor to Kirkus Reviews noted, and in The Vanishing Feast Patent tackles the threat to the world's food supplies caused by the reduction of genetic diversity. This issue is further explored in her Biodiversity, a science book that is "both illuminating and inspiring," according to Horn Book reviewer Margaret A. Bush.
With Back to the Wild, Patent relates the successful return of animals to the wild, and in Children Save the Rain Forest she tells of the efforts of children around the world to raise enough money to buy a 42,000-acre tract of rain forest in Costa Rica.
Patent has also ventured into more historical and archaeological realms in such books as West by Covered Wagon and Homesteading, and also a group of books for the "Frozen in Time" series, including In Search of Maiasaurs, Mystery of the Lascaux Cave, Secrets of the Ice Man, The Lost City of Pompeii, and The Incredible Story of China's Buried Warriors. Reviewing the last two titles in Booklist, Hazel Rochman noted that the books "combine dramatic history with fascinating information." Such information comes in the form of text, time-lines, and a magazine-style design that "will encourage browsing," Rochman also remarked.
The majority of Patent's books, however, explain the history, breeding, growth, and habits of various groups of animals, and have been widely praised for their clarity, thoroughness, and readability. Whether she is describing worms or whales, Patent's works appeal to students of all ages, from the bright eight-year-old to the curious high school student. She may use difficult vocabulary, but she explains the words used and often supplies a helpful glossary. Also, humorous examples of strange animal behavior and vivid pictures frequently combine to make her books more interesting than the ordinary textbook.
Patent has continued to write a wide range of children's books about both animals and numerous other topics. For example, in Fire: Friend or Foe, the author focuses on forest fires, with an emphasis on how people battle them and how the fires ultimately effect nature. A Horn Book contributor wrote: "The thoughtful discussion covers evolving policies, practices, and disagreements regarding fire fighting and controlled burning." Writing in Booklist, Randy Meyer commented: "The text offers rich science support." In the realm of animals, Patent focuses on the physical characteristics, habits, and habitats of polar bears in the fully illustrated book Great Ice Bear: The Polar Bear and the Eskimo. Carolyn Phelan, writing in Booklist, called Great Ice Bear "appealing and informative."
Patent turns to biography for her book Charles Darwin: The Life of a Revolutionary Thinker. The author covers Darwin's entire life, from his time as a boy on through his famous voyage on the Beagle and his subsequent writings. In a review in Booklist, Randy Meyer wrote that "the author balances the man as scientist with the man as devoted husband and father." A Horn Book contributor noted: "The strength of this work lies in the considerable attention given to Darwin's scientific process of observing, questioning, collecting, hypothesizing, testing, concluding, and writing." In A Polar Bear Biologist at Work, Patent includes numerous quotes and information gathered from Chuck Jonkel, who has studied bears for more than four decades and is especially interested in polar bears. "Patent's lucid text is brimming with … data," wrote Patricia Manning in the School Library Journal.
Animals on the Trail with Lewis and Clark is one of three books by Patent focusing on the Corps of Discovery expedition. It features the numerous wildlife species that the explorers and their crew came across during their historic exploration of the American West. In addition to photographs by William Munoz, the author includes sources and Web sites for readers to investigate further. Nancy Collins-Warner, writing in the School Library Journal, noted: "This competent and attractive title presents a unique approach to the Lewis and Clark Expedition." A Kirkus Reviews contributor wrote that the author's "easy approach to the subject helps to draw the reader in." In The Lewis and Clark Trail: Then and Now, the author "provides a succinct narrative account of the Lewis and Clark Expedition," as noted by Carolyn Phelan in Booklist. Plants on the Trail with Lewis and Clark, describes the plethora new plant life that the explorers encountered. Carolyn Phelan, writing in Booklist, commented that of all the recent books about the expedition, which celebrated it's 200th anniversary in 2004, "this is one of the most tightly focused, most interesting, and most beautiful."
The author has also collaborated with illustrator Kendahl Jan Jubb for a number of highly illustrated books featuring exotic animals and locales. In Fabulous Fluttering Tropical Butterflies, the author writes about the butterfly life cycle and mimicry in nature, as well as their eating habits and other information. A Kirkus Reviews contributor noted that "casual browsers as well as budding lepidopterists will be riveted." Colorful Captivating Coral Reefs focuses on both coral reef and the broad expanse of ocean life that it helps sustain. Booklist contributor Ed Sullivan called the book a "beautifully illustrated, informative title." In another collaboration with Jubb, Big Cats, Patent describes features common to all big cats and then describes the individual species, such as the lion, leopard, cheetah, snow leopard, tiger, and cougar. Cindy Suite, writing in School Library Journal, commented that young readers will enjoy "the compelling facts about these magnificent creatures."
Patent teams up with photographer William Munoz again in The Right Dog for the Job: Ira's Path from Service Dog to Guide Dog, which provides a close-up look at the complete training process of a service dog. Booklist contributor Carolyn Phelan wrote: "The informative text tells the dog's story in a straightforward way." White-Tailed Deer is also a collaboration between Patent and Munoz and was called "a solid offering"by Jennifer Mattson in Booklist.
Garden of The Spirit Bear: Life in The Great Northern Rainforest focuses on British Columbia's coastal rainforest and the animals and trees populate it. "The author clearly and artfully describes the natural processes" involved in life in the rainforest, pointed out Molly Cooney-Mesker in Skipping Stones. Kathy Piehl, writing in the School Library Journal, noted that the author "helps readers see the interrelationships that form a delicate balance for all of the inhabitants." In The Buffalo and the Indians: A Shared Destiny, Patent focuses on the longstanding relationship between the buffalo and Native Americans, how the destruction of the buffalo by white settlers negatively effected Native Americans, and how buffalo are making a comeback. "The lucid narrative and spacious book design … will draw readers into the history and prompt discussion of the connection between human and animal rights," wrote Hazel Rochman in Booklist.
Patent concluded: "I hope that my writing can help children get in touch with the world of living things and realize how dependent we are on them, not just on the wild world but on domesticated plants and animals as well. We owe our existence to the earth, and it is the balance of nature that sustains all life; we upset that balance at our peril. I believe that well-informed children can grow up into responsible citizens capable of making the wise but difficult decisions necessary for the survival of a livable world. I plan to continue to write for those children, helping to provide them with the information they will need in the difficult but exciting times ahead."
BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:
BOOKS
Authors of Books for Young People, 3rd edition, edited by Martha Ward and others, Scarecrow Press (Lanham, MD), 1990.
Children's Literature Review, Volume 19, Thomson Gale (Detroit, MI), 1990, pp. 147-166.
Major Authors and Illustrators for Children and Young Adults, 2nd edition, Thomson Gale (Detroit, MI), 2002.
Something about the Author Autobiography Series, Volume 13, Thomson Gale (Detroit, MI), 1991, pp. 137-154.
Sutherland, Zena, and May Hill Arbuthnot, Children and Books, 7th edition, Scott, Foresman (Chicago, IL), 1986.
PERIODICALS
Appraisal: Science Books for Young People, fall, 1974, Heddie Kent, review of Weasels, Otters, Skunks, and Their Family, p. 33; spring, 1994, review of Horses, pp. 76-77; spring, 1995, review of Looking at Bears, p. 46; autumn, 1995, review of Why Mammals Have Fur, p. 36.
Booklist, May 15, 1992, Deborah Abbott, review of Feathers, p. 1680; June 1, 1993, Deborah Abbott, review of Dogs: The Wolf Within, p. 1826; January 15, 1994, Ellen Mandel, review of Cattle, p. 927; May 1, 1994, Mary Harris Veeder, review of Deer and Elk, p. 1597; December 15, 1994, April Judge, review of The American Alligator, p. 749; November 1, 1995, Kay Weisman, Review of West by Covered Wagon: Retracing the Pioneer Trails, p. 468; March 1, 1996, Kay Weisman, review of Eagles of America, p. 1180; August 1996, Carolyn Phelan, review of Quetzal: Sacred Bird of the Cloud Forest, p. 1899; November 1, 1996, Carolyn Phelan, review of Prairies, p. 494; September 1, 1997, Carolyn Phelan, review of Pigeons, p. 120; September 1, 1998, Shelley Townsend-Hudson, review of Bold and Bright, Black-and-White Animals, pp. 122-23; November 1, 1998, Carolyn Phelan, review of Homesteading: Settling America's Heartland, p. 488; November 15, 1998, Randy Meyer, review of Fire: Friend or Foe, pp. 488, 584; December 1, 1999, Carolyn Phelan, review of Great Ice Bear: The Polar Bear and the Eskimo, p. 699; February 1, 2000, Hazel Rochman, reviews of The Incredible Story of China's Buried Warriors and Lost City of Pompeii; March 15, 2000, Gillian Engberg, review of Shaping the Earth, p. 1373; October 15, 2000, Randy Meyer, review of The Bald Eagle Returns, p. 433; December 1, 2000, Carolyn Phelan, review of Slinky, Scaly, Slithery Snakes, p. 716; August, 2001, Randy Meyer, review of Charles Darwin: The Life of a Revolutionary Thinker, p. 2105; April 15, 2002, Carolyn Phelan, review of Animals on the Trail with Lewis and Clark, p. 1399; January 1, 2003, Carolyn Phelan, review of The Lewis and Clark Trail: Then and Now, p. 885; March 1, 2003, Carolyn Phelan, review of Plants on the Trail with Lewis and Clark, p. 1195; May 1, 2003, GraceAnne A. DeCandido, review of Fabulous Fluttering Tropical Butterflies, p. 1603; January 1, 2004, Ed Sullivan, review of Colorful Captivating Coral Reefs, p. 868; June 1, 2004, Carolyn Phelan, review of The Right Dog for the Job: Ira's Path from Service Dog to Guide Dog, p. 1723; December 15, 2004, Jennifer Mattson, review of White-Tailed Deer, p. 740; November 15, 2005, Carolyn Phelan, review of Big Cats, p. 50; June 1, 2006, Hazel Rochman, review of The Buffalo and the Indians: A Shared Destiny, p. 75.
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, July-August, 1993, Betsy Hearne, review of Dogs: The Wolf Within, pp. 355-356; July, 1995, Roger Sutton, review of Return of the Wolf, p. 394; October, 1996, p. 71; September, 1997, p. 23; December, 1998, p. 141.
Faces: People, Places, and Cultures, January, 2005, review of The Great Ice Bear, p. 46.
Horn Book, October, 1981, Sarah Gagne, review of Horses and Their Wild Relatives, pp. 558-559; September-October, 1993, Ellen Fader, review of Ospreys, and Maeve Visser Knoth, review of Killer Whales, p. 634; January 1, 1994, Christie Sylvester, review of Looking at Penguins, p. 825; January-February, 1995, Margaret A. Bush, review of TheAmerican Alligator, p. 70; July-August, 1995, p. 481; January-February, 1997, Margaret A. Bush, reviews of Biodiversity and Quetzal, p. 78; January, 1999, review of Fire: Friend or Foe, p. 84; September, 2001, review of Charles Darwin, p. 613.
Horn Book Guide, spring, 1999, Elizabeth S. Watson, review of Alex and Friends, p. 107.
Kirkus Reviews, February 15, 1993, review of Habitats, p. 233; January 1, 1994, review of What Good Is a Tail?, p. 73; January 15, 1997, review of Flashy Fantastic Rain Forest Frogs, p. 144; February 1, 1998, review of Apple Trees, pp. 199-200; March 15, 2002, review of Animals on the Trail with Lewis and Clark, p. 423; February 15, 2003, review of Fabulous Fluttering Tropical Butterflies, p. 314; October 1, 2003, review of Colorful Captivating Coral Reefs, p. 1229; May 1, 2004, review of The Right Dog for the Job, p. 446; July 15, 2004, review of Garden of the Spirit Bear: Life in the Great Northern Rainforest, p. 692; October 1, 2005, review of Big Cats, p. 1086.
Publishers Weekly, July 30, 2001, review of Charles Darwin, p. 86.
Quarterly Review of Biology, June, 2002, Jonathan Smith, review of Charles Darwin: The Life of a Revolutionary Thinker, p. 175.
School Library Journal, December, 1992, Susan Oliver, review of Pelicans, p. 126; July, 1994, Carol Kolb Phillips, review of Hugger to the Rescue, p. 97; March, 2000, Andrew Medlar, review of The Incredible Story of China's Buried Warriors, p. 260; April, 2000, John Peters, review of Shaping the Earth, p. 154; July, 2000, Michele Snyder, review of Polar Bears, p. 96; November, 2000, Ellen Heath, review of The Bald Eagle Returns, p. 174; March, 2001, Karey Wehner, review of Slinky, Scaly, Slithery Snakes, p. 240; November, 2001, Patricia Manning, review of A Polar Bear Biologist at Work, p. 182; December, 2001, Arwen. Marshall, review of Saving the Prairie Bandit, p. 154; April, 2002, Nancy Collins-Warner, review of Animals on the Trail with Lewis and Clark, p. 180; March, 2003, Renee Steinberg, review of Animals on the Trail with Lewis and Clark, p. 172; May, 2003, Louise L. Sherman, review of Fabulous Fluttering Tropical Butterflies, p. 140, and Susan Scheps, review of Plants on the Trail with Lewis and Clark, p. 176; November, 2003, Susan Oliver, review of Colorful Captivating Coral Reefs, p. 129; June, 2004, Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, review of The Right Dog for the Job, p. 131; October, 2004, Kathy Piehl, review of Garden of the Spirit Bear, p. 147; April, 2005, review of The Right Dog for the Job, p. S29; December, 2005, Cindy Suite, review of Big Cats, p. 132.
Science Books: A Quarterly Review, May, 1974, review of Weasels, Otters, Skunks, and Their Family, p. 76.
Science Books and Films, September-October, 1981, Roy T. Cunningham, review of The Lives of Spiders, p. 21.
Skipping Stones, May-August, 2005, Molly Cooney-Mesker, Review of Garden of The Spirit Bear: p. 28.
Voice of Youth Advocates, June, 1992, Luvada Kuhn, review of Feathers, pp. 131-32.
ONLINE
Dorothy Hinshaw Patent Home Page,http://www.dorothyhinshawpatent.com (May 24, 2001).
Global Gourmet,http://www.globalgourmet.com/ (December 11, 2006), review of A Is for Apple.