A Dog in the Cave

Book excerpt: “A compelling look at the origins of and the ongoing unique relationship between humans and dogs . . . [a] lively blend of science and history.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review) We know dogs are our best animal friends, but have you ever thought about what that might mean? Fossils show we’ve shared our work and homes with dogs for tens of thousands of years. Now there’s growing evidence that we influenced dogs’ evolution—and they, in turn, changed ours. Even more than our closest relatives, the apes, dogs are the species with whom we communicate best. Combining history, paleontology, biology, and cutting-edge medical science, Kay Frydenborg paints a picture of how two different species became deeply entwined—and how we coevolved into the species we are today. “Narrative nonfiction at its best—high interest and engaging, with meaty interdisciplinary science exploration. A top choice for tweens and teens.”—School Library Journal (starred review) “This narrative blend of history and science belongs on all shelves.”—Booklist (starred review) “A fascinating study of the ways in which a relationship with canines has been pivotal to humanity’s development . . . Sidebars and color photographs supplement and expand on the central narrative, which is all but certain to leave readers thinking about their dogs, and themselves, in entirely new ways.”—Publishers Weekly “Evident throughout [A Dog in the Cave] are the author’s passion and curiosity.”—The Horn Book