Additional information
by Travis Hoefle (Author), Pearly L (Illustrator)
Meet Otto, the world's first dog trained to hunt pythons.
Deep in the Florida Everglades, invasive Burmese pythons are taking over, eating native animals, and throwing the entire ecosystem out of balance. But two bearded guardians are on a mission to save the day.
Meet Python Cowboy, a fearless adventurer who loves the wild, and his German wire-haired pointer, Otto - the first dog on Earth trained to sniff out pythons hiding in grass, water, and even underground. Every morning, they glide through the shimmering swamp on their trusty boat, tracking pythons island by island, protecting the animals that call the Everglades home.
This true-story-inspired adventure teaches kids ages 4-8 what an ecosystem is and why balance matters, why invasive species are dangerous for native wildlife, how a brave dog uses his nose to protect nature, and small actions every child can take to help the environment.
With stunning full-color illustrations and an action-packed story, Otto's Special Mission is perfect for nature lovers, dog lovers, classroom read-alouds, and any kid who believes one team can make a difference.
Based on the real work of Python Cowboy (Mike Kimmel) and Otto. Bulk orders for classrooms and schools welcome - email pythoncowboyhunting@gmail.com
