Animal Hospital

December 1, 2015

Gr 4-6-This informative book examines the work of the Toronto Wildlife Center and offers suggestions about saving urban wildlife. Using examples of cases handled by the Center, Coey efficiently details how animals are rescued, describes the rehabilitation operations, and stresses the importance of releasing animals back into their natural environments. Throughout, she emphasizes ways humans should and should not interact with urban wildlife. The writing style is direct and accessible. Sidebars add extra detail. Attractive photographs vary in size from a bit larger than a postage stamp to full pages and depict animals such as squirrels, opossum, raccoons, skunks, assorted birds, rabbits, and mink. The book lacks a glossary, and readers may be confused by terms such as bandicoots and quendas. Susan E. Goodman's Animal Rescue: The Best Job There Is (S. & S., 2000) follows the work of one wildlife rescuer participating in wildlife rescues in different regions of the world. Sally Morgan's Animal Rescue (Cherrytree, 2010) covers animal rescue in areas such as the rainforest and ocean. Coey's treatment is limited to wildlife in urban settings but has more depth. VERDICT A fascinating and enlightening look at the topic.-Lynn Vanca, Freelance Librarian, Akron, OH

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 1, 2015
Grades 4-7 Striking an excellent balance between visual appeal and content, this book provides foundational do's and don'ts of animal rescue. Using the Toronto Wildlife Centre as her point of reference, Coey introduces readers to the concept of animal rehabilitation and offers examples of it at work, highlighting call centers and the process by which sick, injured, or orphaned animals are admitted into rehab centers. Next, readers learn the importance of individualized care, which is shown through customized enclosures and feeding methods. Also stressed is limiting human contact when helping patients return to the wild. The final two chapters look at dangerous scenarios that require trained wildlife rescuers, often due to human-made disasters, such as oil spills. While cute pictures prevail, there are also photos of urban animals injured by garbagea swan with a can caught on its beak and a possum with its head stuck in a plastic lid, for example. Appropriate cautions are issued about interacting with wildlife, as are tips for getting involvedthough all listed organizations are Canadian. Well-rounded and informative.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)