Service Animals

November 1, 2018

Gr 2-4-Brief text and appealing pictures introduce a variety of working animals. The structure of each book varies appropriately according to the topic: Service Animals devotes one short chapter to "monkey helpers," "hearing dogs," and "guide horses," while Horses on Patrol and Guide Dogs for the Blind focus on a single role. There's just enough information to hook readers, including examples of the work, training methods, and the qualities that make each animal a good choice for its job. Each spread includes a single large photograph; many show the animals engaged in their duties, while some include key tools, such as a military dolphin's camera. VERDICT An engaging introduction for younger readers. For more extensive information about the ways animals help humans, consider Enslow's "Animals at Work" (reviewed below) or Children's Press's excellent "Animal Helpers."

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