Daisy to the Rescue

September 15, 2014
With an eye toward documenting remarkable animal/human interactions, Campbell has assembled a large collection of fascinating anecdotes. Following a somewhat scholarly foreword by animal researcher Marc Bekoff and a long introduction, the tales are divided into four sections: "Domestic Companions," mostly chronicling lifesaving actions by pets; "Trained to Serve, Inspired to Heal," about search dogs and various other kinds of animals trained to perform particular functions; "Wild Saviors," profiling unusual interactions between wild animals and humans; and "Legends and Folktales," some describing the traditional folk basis for animal stories as well as others that "mix real life with exaggeration." Each story is a page or two long, accompanied by an attractive black-and-white illustration by Beyer. Each animal is introduced with a text box that provides brief information about the nature of the event, including-an odd and silly touch-a "Fame Meter" that rates the animal from "Local Hero" (like Dory, a rabbit that saved its owner from a diabetic coma) up to "International Celebrity" (like Mkombozi, a dog that rescued a baby abandoned near Nairobi). One of the book's strengths is the way events are evaluated in comparison to typical behavior or within the context of the emerging field of the study of animal minds. Overflowing with information, fascinating tales and thought-provoking information; give it to animal-loving middle graders on up. (sources, further reading, index) (Nonfiction. 11 & up)

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August 1, 2014

Gr 6 Up-Well-documented cases of animals rescuing men, women, and children are recounted with precision, organized into four divisions: domestic, trained, wild, and legendary animals. Campbell draws on opinions from professionals and anecdotal evidence, gleaned from ancient to modern times, to understand animal motivations. In an introduction, Campbell discusses whether we can ever know an animal's motivation and how to verify the accuracy of these accounts. The author's voice is strongly felt throughout, tinged with sarcasm, pathos, and a touch of belief mixed with skeptcism as to the existence of moral courage in these animals. Simple black-and-white illustrations serve as story markers. The text flows well, and the compact content is intense. Tender souls will weep over the family dog who was fatally injured saving his owner from a cougar, leaving his skull cracked and his body macerated. When the jaws of the cougar were prised from the head of the brave dog, he arose for the last time to make sure his beloved boy was safe. Similarly, Campbell describes a guide dog who led his master out of the Twin Towers, through the soot and cinders, later dying due to respiratory injuries, and a pride of lions that rescued a kidnapped 12-year-old Ethiopian girl from rape and abuse. The graphic nature of some of these stories make them more suitable for older readers, who may more easily process the plethora of serious issues. The documentation shines in this presentation.-Nancy Call, Santa Cruz Public Libraries, Aptos, CA

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 1, 2014
Grades 7-12 Whether they are domestic companions, trained to serve, inspired to heal, or are found in the wild, animals have the ability to enhance our lives and even save us, and this compendium pays homage. Daisy, the title dog, detected breast cancer in her human companion. Molly, the pony with a prosthetic leg, inspired hope in the disabled. A gray seal kept a woman from drowning in the freezing North Sea. Indeed, pigs, rabbits, horses, parrots, monkeys, dolphins, and more are just some of the more than 50 creatures lauded in these stories and related facts regarding what each did to achieve hero status. Inherent animal abilities are discussed alongside the accounts, as are animal traits and scientific theories in layman's terms. Individual stories of animal derring-do, illustrated with pencil portraits, make for quick, compelling reads that prompt the reader to wonder what really goes on in an animal's head and heart. Give this to anyone from middle school to adult who shares that curiosity.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)