Books On Board

Cat Urbigkit Books in Order

  • 12 Books
  • 2005 – 2019 Published

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Introduction to Cat Urbigkit’s Work

For readers who want to experience the true heart of the American West, Cat Urbigkit offers a perspective that few authors can match. A working rancher, photographer, and journalist living in western Wyoming, Urbigkit writes books that are deeply grounded in her daily life. Rather than spinning fictional tales, she uses her camera and her words to document the realities of raising sheep, training livestock guardian dogs, and living alongside apex predators like wolves and grizzly bears.

Because Urbigkit writes non-fiction and photo-essays, there is no single overarching narrative or plot-driven sequence. You do not need to read her books in a strict chronological order to understand them. Instead, her bibliography is best approached through thematic paths. Whether you are looking for engaging children's stories about working ranch animals, educational classroom resources about agriculture, or deep-dives into the politics of wildlife management for adults, grouping her books by theme will give you the most rewarding reading experience.

How to Read Cat Urbigkit's Books: The Three Thematic Paths

To help you navigate her work, we have organized Urbigkit’s books into three distinct thematic paths. You can choose the path that best matches your interests or your target reader's age group.

Path 1: The Livestock Guardian Dogs (For Dog Lovers & Conservationists)

If you are fascinated by working dogs and the methods ranchers use to protect their animals without harming local wildlife, this is the perfect starting point. These books focus on Livestock Guardian Dogs (LGDs), showing how these breeds are raised, trained, and bonded to their flocks.

  • Brave Dogs, Gentle Dogs: How They Guard Sheep (2005): Urbigkit’s debut book introduces young readers to the concept of guardian dogs, detailing their natural instincts, their gentle nature with sheep, and their fierce loyalty when facing predators.
  • The Guardian Team: On the Job with Rena and Roo (2011): This heartwarming, true story follows Rena, a Turkish Akbash guardian dog who was the runt of her litter, and Roo, an orphaned wild burro. Together, they form an unexpected alliance on the ranch to protect orphaned lambs. It was named the 2013 Book of the Year by the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture.
  • Brave and Loyal: An Illustrated Celebration of Livestock Guardian Dogs (2017): A more comprehensive, beautifully photographed volume that serves as an illustrated celebration of LGDs worldwide. This is ideal for older children, young adults, and adult dog enthusiasts who want a deeper look at different LGD breeds and their history.

Path 2: Shepherding and Ranching Life (For Kids & Classrooms)

For parents and educators looking to teach children about where their food and fiber come from, these books offer a transparent, engaging look at the yearly cycle of rural ranching life in the West.

  • A Young Shepherd (2006): This book follows the author's 12-year-old son, Cass, over the course of a year on their Wyoming sheep ranch. It highlights the hard work, daily responsibilities, and emotional rewards of shepherding, including caring for orphaned "bum" lambs.
  • Puppies, Puppies Everywhere! (2006): A delightful picture book filled with vibrant photographs of puppies of all shapes, sizes, and roles, perfect for toddlers and very young readers.
  • Cattle Kids: A Year on the Western Range (2007): Moving from sheep to cattle, this book showcases the lives of children working on Western cattle ranches, explaining tasks like calving, branding, and moving herds across public lands.
  • The Shepherd's Trail (2008): A photo-essay that follows sheep bands as they migrate from their winter desert ranges to high mountain pastures in the summer, highlighting the historic trails and the modern shepherders who guide them.

Path 3: Predators & Western Wildlife (For Older Readers & Adults)

Urbigkit does not shy away from the complex, controversial nature of wildlife conservation and predator management. These works are written for adults, young adults, and older children interested in the delicate balance of public land usage and predator coexistence.

  • Yellowstone Wolves: A Chronicle of the Animal, the People, and the Politics (2008): An in-depth adult non-fiction book that outlines the historical, political, and social controversies surrounding the reintroduction of gray wolves into the Yellowstone ecosystem.
  • Path of the Pronghorn (2010): Written for middle-grade readers, this book documents the ancient migration path of the North American pronghorn and the conservation efforts required to keep their migration corridors open.
  • Shepherds of Coyote Rocks: Public Lands, Private Herds and the Natural World (2012): Part memoir and part nature writing, this adult book documents a single summer season Urbigkit spent tending a herd of sheep on the open range. It explores the challenges of weather, predators, and the complex issues of public lands grazing.
  • When Man Becomes Prey: Fatal Encounters with North America's Most Feared Predators (2014): A gripping adult book investigating fatal attacks on humans by black bears, grizzlies, mountain lions, coyotes, and wolves, while offering highly practical safety advice on how to coexist safely in predator country.
  • Return of the Grizzly: Sharing the Range with Yellowstone's Top Predator (2019): This adult book looks at the successful recovery of the grizzly bear population in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and the complex management challenges that have arisen as bears and humans increasingly cross paths.

Recommended Starting Points

Depending on who is reading, we recommend starting with one of these entry points:

  • For Young Children (Ages 4-8): Start with Brave Dogs, Gentle Dogs or The Guardian Team. They are accessible, highly visual, and present ranching concepts through friendly, recognizable animals.
  • For Middle-Grade Students (Ages 8-12): Start with A Young Shepherd or Path of the Pronghorn. These offer a realistic view of shepherding and conservation that matches their developing curiosity.
  • For Adult Readers: Start with Shepherds of Coyote Rocks. It provides the best window into Urbigkit's daily life, ranching philosophy, and natural surroundings, serving as an excellent introduction to her voice before you dive into her heavier predator-focused books.

What to Know Before You Start

Cat Urbigkit’s books represent a specific style of non-fiction. She relies heavily on her own photography to carry the narrative, meaning her children's and middle-grade books function as documentary photo-essays rather than typical text-only chapter books. Furthermore, her writing does not sugarcoat ranch life; she includes the real challenges of livestock loss, severe weather, and predator conflict. However, her core philosophy remains focused on finding balance and utilizing non-lethal predator management techniques, such as guardian dogs and burros, to ensure that agriculture and wild predators can coexist on the western range.

Complete Publication Order of Cat Urbigkit's Books

If you prefer to read her works in the order they were written and published, here is the complete chronological list:

  1. Brave Dogs, Gentle Dogs: How They Guard Sheep (2005)
  2. A Young Shepherd (2006)
  3. Puppies, Puppies Everywhere! (2006)
  4. Cattle Kids: A Year on the Western Range (2007)
  5. The Shepherd's Trail (2008)
  6. Yellowstone Wolves: A Chronicle of the Animal, the People, and the Politics (2008)
  7. Path of the Pronghorn (2010)
  8. The Guardian Team: On the Job with Rena and Roo (2011)
  9. Shepherds of Coyote Rocks: Public Lands, Private Herds and the Natural World (2012)
  10. When Man Becomes Prey: Fatal Encounters with North America's Most Feared Predators (2014)
  11. Brave and Loyal: An Illustrated Celebration of Livestock Guardian Dogs (2017)
  12. Return of the Grizzly: Sharing the Range with Yellowstone's Top Predator (2019)

Frequently Asked

Do I need to read Cat Urbigkit’s books in a specific order?

No. Since all of her books are standalone works of non-fiction, you can read them in any order. We recommend exploring them by theme, such as her books about livestock guardian dogs, ranching life, or predators and wildlife management.

Which of Cat Urbigkit's books are written for adults?

She has written four main books targeted at adult and young adult readers: Yellowstone Wolves (2008), Shepherds of Coyote Rocks (2012), When Man Becomes Prey (2014), and Return of the Grizzly (2019).

What is the story behind "The Guardian Team"?

The Guardian Team tells the true story of Rena, a Turkish Akbash livestock guardian dog, and Roo, an orphaned wild burro, who bonded on Urbigkit's ranch to protect lambs from predators. It won the 2013 Book of the Year award from the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture.

Who is the "Young Shepherd" in her 2006 book?

The book A Young Shepherd follows the author's son, Cass, when he was 12 years old, documenting his daily chores, his care for sheep, and how he raised his own herd of orphaned lambs over a year on their Wyoming ranch.

Are her books illustrated with drawings or photos?

Almost all of Cat Urbigkit's books are illustrated with her own real-life photography. She documents the actual animals, landscapes, and ranching operations she writes about, giving her books a realistic, documentary feel.

What are livestock guardian dogs (LGDs)?

Livestock guardian dogs are specific breeds (like Akbash or Great Pyrenees) raised alongside sheep or goats to protect them from predators. Urbigkit features them extensively in books like Brave Dogs, Gentle Dogs and Brave and Loyal to show how they work as non-lethal conservation tools.