While visiting a friend in Nevada, the author is introduced to an adopted Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) who lives in the back yard. Her photographs and illustrations, as well as observations and facts about Buddy and his "cousins" make this a perfect story for readers of all ages. Although written at a middle-school level, a simple poem has been crafted with a line on each page to teach about friendship, making this a picture book for younger children. The Desert Tortoise has been on the U.S. Federal Endangered Species list as "threatened" for more than a decade, but books like this can be a positive force in the initiative to reverse that. It includes lists of websites for more information and a glossary of important words to know.