Dan Bortolotti Biography (1969-) - Sidelights

Canadian journalist Dan Bortolotti is the author of several nonfiction books for young readers. His 2004 book, Exploring Saturn, helps readers position the sixth planet within the solar system, then examines the ringed planet's unique characteristics, including its many moons. Tracing the known history of Saturn for young researchers, Bortolotti follows human understanding about the planet, from the ancient models of Ptolemy to the photographs captured by modern space probes such as the Hubble satellite, and even up to the preparations for the 2004 Cassini-Hygens probe's trip into the Saturnian planetary system. In Resource Links Heather Empey described Exploring Saturn as a "fantastic" resource that is "absolutely packed with information" useful to amateur astronomers. Noting the timeliness of Bortolotti's book, John Peters predicted in School Library Journal that "serious students and casual browsers alike will have trouble putting this down."

Moving to earthbound studies, Bortolotti contributed Panda Rescue and Tiger Rescue to the "Firefly Animal Rescue" series, which focuses on wildlife trouble spots on our own planet. After profiling the animal under study, the author then discusses the factors that threaten each species, some involving long-held local customs and others a result of an expanding human population. With the threat to each species recognized, some conservation measures have already been enacted, and Bortolotti includes an overview of these programs, while also focusing on ways in which specific threats might also be averted. Praising Bortolotti's "engaging writing style" as well as the photographs in each book, School Library Journal contributor Kathy Piehl dubbed the series "fascinating" and "readable." In Booklist Gillian Engberg also noted the author's "accessible, lively language" and Bortolotti's inclusion of useful information and reference sources, while Linda Irvine praised both Tiger Rescue and Panda Rescue in a Resource Links review, citing their realistic depiction of animal species and the inclusion of information "on the cultural and economic issues around protection of species."