Animal Helpers: Wildlife Rehabilitators

Gr 2–4—Great color photos (many spreads) of endearing young animals and impressive adult humans form a perfect backdrop for a simple text that describes the multifaceted work of wildlife rehabilitators. Speckled fawns sleeping in a playpen, infant opossums crowded in a tissue box, an indignant adult bald eagle being bandaged, and a baleful bobcat in a cage are among the critters offered as examples. The text, printed in large font, describes some of the daily experiences rehabilitators may encounter: feeding half a blueberry to a fledgling catbird, rescuing an adult osprey tangled in fishing line, returning a healthy animal to its habitat. To the joy of classroom teachers, homeschooling parents, and other adults instructing children in wildlife ecology and management, "For Creative Minds" will provide practical applications for the material in the book. An "Injured Animal True or False" has 25 questions for edification, as does a page querying real abandonment or just a parent away temporarily that gives pointers for making informed decisions. Even more resources are offered at the publisher's website, providing a tidy framework for an interdisciplinary study unit. With those appealing photos and an easy text, this book is sure to be popular, even without the additional lure of classroom/home applications.—Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY