This bilingual narrative nonfiction takes readers along on the adventures of Train from 'unwanted' to conservation hero. While the main character is a dog (a rescued Chesapeake Bay Retriever), the roller coaster of challenges and successes Train faces are things that apply to readers feeling different, inadequate, out of place, and unsure of their abilities. What did the future hold for Train, a dog abandoned at the Humane Society wondering how he ended up there? Could Train find a way to channel the power of his incredible nose, strong work ethic, extreme energy, and endless desire-to-play into what was needed to become a conservation detection dog? This story does not just draw in dog lovers but attracts those with a love of the natural world, animal behavior, and conservation. It also carries across to those that may come from humble beginnings, with doubts on what impact they can make in the world, to seeing that with hard work, dedication, and perseverance, anyone can make a difference. The story shows that true heroes will likely never know the incredible effect they have on the world and that little actions can add up to something much bigger. Train is a dog, but the lessons readers can learn from his story are exponential, allowing themselves to see their potential through Train's eyes.
While this book is aimed at young adults, there is no doubt that it will attract younger kids and adults for numerous reasons. While there is a direct link to all those listed for young adults, it also extends due to the way the book is formatted. First, with bilingual needs only increasing across the world, this book presents a unique side-by-side approach, with Train's story told in both English and Spanish. This format means that one learning either language has an adjacent reference to what is being said, which eliminates the need for dictionaries and provides immediate reinforcement to improve reading skills. Second, the vast quantity of photos throughout the book, allow the reader to become immersed in the world that Train is living in, which makes the story come to life and something they can relate to even if they have never been outside of their hometown or country of residence. In testing across various audiences, it was quickly apparent that parents loved this format as much as their kids, that young kids could understand more complex concepts then we thought possible, that the unique dual language format reinforced those already learning a new language and encouraged others to start, and that adults embraced the story as much as those much younger.
This story was developed through my first-hand experience working with Train, who was my constant partner in field work across the world. What became apparent in watching Train was how he was able to open doors that would have been closed to us otherwise, including access to properties and locating samples. The abilities of this big, brown monster went beyond his incredible work ethic as a conservation detection dog, as he had a way of luring in people so that his human companions could share knowledge that made people care about what was in their backyard. His personality matched with his physical appearance made him extremely photogenic and the star of journal covers, National Geographic Society videos, television programs, highlights in popular and scientific books, and even an internet meme. While his work made a difference in the scientific world for Misiones, Argentina, it also made a difference in the way conservation detection dog standards are set and how people view the potential of this scientific technique. The impact he had can be seen through a statue of his likeness in one of the largest protected areas in Misiones, which marks a first for the province and a first for conservation detection dogs. Train was a dog, but his no-nonsense work ethic and teddy bear appearance drew in followers from around the world and respect from all that worked with him.
About the Author :
Dr. Karen DeMatteo is a biologist that has used a broad range of techniques to understand basic biology and ecological interactions that occur at both the species and community level. She is connected to multiple US and Argentine institutions, including Washington University in St. Louis (WashU Biology Department), the WildCare Institute at the Saint Louis Zoo, Instituto de Biologa Subtropical (IBS) nodo Posadas, Grupo de Investigacin en Genetica Aplicada (GIGA), and the Universidad Nacional de Misiones Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Qumicas y Naturales (UNaM FCEQyN). Since 2004, she has applied the use of conservation detection dogs (CDD), genetic analyses of scat, and GIS modeling to develop applied management strategies. While she historically split her time between teaching GIS at WashU (Environmental Studies Program) and field work, in 2024, she switched full-time to using this suite of noninvasive techniques to answer conservation questions. Within Misiones, Argentina, Karen is a co-Director of Proyecto Zorro Pitoco (@Got_Scat), which is a collaborative, multipronged project that uses a bottom-up approach with the goal to stop the loss of native forest, protect watersheds, promote reforestation, improve human health, and ensure long-term survival of the region's unique flora and fauna. In addition to this research focused on conserving one of the largest remnants of Atlantic Forest, she is involved with directing hands-on training courses with Argentinean students, securing the participation of private landowners in the biological corridor, and supporting the antipoaching efforts by provincial park guards. Within the U.S.A. and around the world (@AK9NoseKnows), she is involved with training/handling CDDs, as well as training CDD handlers, for conservation and environmentally driven research, with surveys across a range of species, including rare plants, amphibians, and carnivores.
While DeMatteo has written scientific articles and contributed to scientific books, as well as popular press articles, she has never ventured into a nonfiction book for young adults. However, when thinking about Train, his story went beyond the work he did in Misiones and transformed into something that could provide inspiration for young adults to overcome obstacles, see differences as special features, to not give up even when there appear to be no options, and find joy in the little things. Her experience in the scientific community, with Train as a partner in and out of the field, allows readers to become immersed in his journey. Her passion for teaching the next generation of conservationists means readers feel empowered with their new knowledge. This book provides a natural way to link his many followers, independent of whether they speak English or Spanish, and build connection among them; plus expand to include new friends. DeMatteo sees this as Train's first book, with the next version taking a simplified approach to the same concepts but aimed at younger kids who are just starting their adventure. The number of people waiting for this book is incredible, and that is just the many friends Train made around the world. The potential to reach into schools, STEM programs, zoos, dog rescue centers, veterinary persons, outdoor groups, and many more, is endless!
