Reviews

Animal Helpers: Sanctuaries


Kirkus Reviews - January 2013

Using examples from six animal-rescue organizations across the country, Curtis describes what wild-animal sanctuaries do. Short informational paragraphs are set on full-bleed, double-page photographs of animals being cared for. The account begins with a series of portraits of shelter animals: several tigers, a binturong, a declawed Canadian lynx, a pair of blind bobcats and a bear. The author goes on to describe animal medical and dental treatments, training and enrichment. More than half the photographs relate to captive tigers, but other animals, even an overgrown farm pig, appear. A final page shows volunteers moving an animal into a shelter.

National Science Teachers Association - June 2013

The text is clear and understandable for young readers. It makes a strong case for the idea that having "exotic" pets is bad and leads to numerous problems for the owners, the animals, and society. The book also makes a plea for volunteers to help care for the rescued animals.

Science Books and Films - September 2013

Animal Helpers: Sanctuaries, written by Jennifer Keats Curtis describes the lives of exotic pets that have been released by their owners. These animals are often relocated to sanctuaries, where they receive the attention they need. The book emphasizes the dangers and challenges of owning and caring for animals such as tigers, coatis, bears and others. Abandoned pets are not the only inhabitants of the six sanctuaries highlighted in this book. The author also provides examples of wild animals that have been injured and would not be able to lead a normal life in their natural habitats. The book uses beautiful and interesting photographs to highlight the animals as well as important aspects of their care. The sanctuaries provide veterinary and dental health care, proper nutrition, and companionship with other animals as well as with people. One aspect that is often overlooked is the need for enrichment, activities that exercise the animals’ minds, keeping them from being bored. This book provides several good examples of enrichment, as well as how volunteers of all ages can contribute to the animals’ wellbeing. The book ends with quizzes and additional information as well as websites with more details. While the book does not detail how the sanctuaries contribute to our understanding of these wonderful creatures, the websites’ supplementary material provides insightful questions to lead the students towards this understanding. More than a simple picture book, this is a thoughtprovoking volume that helps readers explore the relationship between people and wild animals. �Heather L. Kimmel, Emory University and AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellow at USGS, Atlanta, GA

Reading Today Online - April 2013

Many animals were never meant to be domesticated, but once they have been, they often cannot be released into the wild to fend for themselves. Six animal sanctuaries in the United States provide the material for this book's stories about exotic animals that need a place to live out the rest of their lives after they have grown up. Often, their owners can no longer take care of them properly because of their size. Adorable baby animals often grow up to be more than a handful. The photographs and text offer ready testimony to the good work of these sanctuaries that provide a safe place for the animals left behind or surrendered to authorities for the animals' own well-being. Readers will encounter brief stories about a Canadian lynx, bobcats, tigers, a bear, and a jaguar, among others. Additionally, the book shows the hard work that is required of the animals' caretakers try to keep them occupied and healthy. Truly, this must be a labor of love. - Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Library Media Connection - October 2013

Organizations that help care for animals that can no longer be cared for by the original “owners” are termed sanctuaries. Part of this book describes reasons why an animal might be placed in a sanctuary; another part profiles six sanctuaries across the U.S.; the final selection shows the methods used for caring for the animals’ needs the strength of the book is the full-color, double-page photos of animals in the wild, being nursed to health, and in limiting caged areas.

Feathered Quill Book Reviews - April 2013

"This is a "photo journal" of several different animals who have found themselves in a predicament not of their own making. Unfortunately, as the book states, these once cute and cuddly animals do grow up and can become a danger to the humans around them. The focus is not only on the animals, but also those who help them. The text is set into full-color, full-page photographic spreads. Newly independent readers can tackle this beginning nonfiction book with a bit of assistance with more difficult words and phrases such as "operant conditioning." In the back of the book are several activities that can be downloaded and printed from the publisher's website."

Learning Table Reviews - June 2013

The format of this book makes it a nice read-aloud, and the accompanying activities provide enough resources to turn this book into a unit study. A field trip to an animal sanctuary or zoo would be the perfect activity to cap things off.

Readers Haven Reviews - May 2013

This book has beautiful photographs of people helping these animals and the facilities that are in place for such animal care. Teacher helps at the end of the book are great to enhance the information presented.

Heck of a Bunch - April 2013

Featuring realistic photos, Animal Helpers: Sanctuaries details what sanctuaries are and how they help exotic and wild animals. Reading this book will give children a deeper appreciation for the people who work to help the animals. It will also give them an understanding of why keeping a wild animal as a pet isn't necessarily a good idea. The "For Creative Minds" section in the back of the book further educates with information on sanctuaries, animal enrichment, and more.

Bergers Book Reviews - May 2013

This interesting and informative book explains the importance of sanctuaries in caring for wild animals who can no longer return to the wild.

Kids Book Review - May 2013

This is more of a school book than a fun book, but I liked learning about many different wild animals instead of just one. Anyone who deeply cares for animals and wants to know about wild animals and where they go when their owner can't take care of them anymore would be interested in this book.

So Cal City Kids - May 2013

My son and I received Animal Helpers: Sanctuaries from our friends at Arbordale Publishing and we really loved learning about what happens to the animals that could not be returned to the wild. Very educational and interesting book that would be great for all ages! We also enjoyed the section at the end of the book "For Creative Minds."