Review By HOMA WOODRUM

Lavishly illustrated, All Kinds of Kisses by Caldecott Medalist Nancy Tafuri is a big and bright book that follows animal parents kissing their babies. The unifying narrative that is noteworthy for veg parents, however, is that the animals featured are all connected by living on the same farm, ending with the human mother in the farmhouse kissing her baby.

Before writing reviews for Vegbooks, I never considered that images and stories that depict life on a farm as idyllic, with chickens scratching around out of doors, a farmer lovingly hand feeding sheep apples, and pigs playing in a pool of water, is a form of propoganda. A strong word, I know, but the classic image of the American subsistence farmer is heavily marketed to children with books, toys, and songs. At any rate, I still think this book is beautiful, the illustrations really take advantage of the large size of the book and even have visual goodies like a different bug hiding on each page. The animal baby and parent theme is common enough that veg parents can decide whether to check this one out (Does a Kangaroo Have a Mother, Too? comes to mind as an alternative) but I think we’ll be keeping this review copy on our shelves.

Ages 1-4.

Do you have a favorite book with hidden details?

Review By JENNIFER GANNETT

In Teeny Tiny Ernest, Ernest spends a lot of time navel gazing and fretting about the fact that he is the smallest animal in his cadre of barnyard friends. When he tries silly tricks to make himself appear taller, his friends notice his unusual behavior and question him. He reveals that he’s been feeling inadequate, expecting buy-in to his pity party but his friends surprise him. It turns out that they haven’t been thinking about his stature at all because they have been more focused on his friendliness and big heart. In fact, Ernest’s friends point out, there are a number of advantages that come with being small that they can’t enjoy because of their larger size.

We’ve enjoyed the stories we’ve received to review in this series of picture books about the little donkey and his friends. Teeny Tiny Ernest is a particularly nice reminder that we all have our own strengths and challenges and bring our own special gifts to our community. This is a message that I think is especially important for veg kids to have reinforced.

A great choice for ages 4 and up.

Review By CAROLYN M. MULLIN

Wishbone Farm is a popular place come fall. Pumpkins abound in October. Apples are ripe for the picking. And in November, the public is on the hunt for the perfect turkey. But it seems that only Runt, the smallest turkey of his four-member family understands what that means. His brother Turk, agile and athletic, is highly sought after. Ballet instructor Madame Waddelle remarks, “Look at zee size of zose drumsticks…Zat is a beautiful bird!” His mother beams and father puffs with pride, acting on the assumption that Turk is being recruited for his graceful twirls and somersaults. Smart, reality-checked Runt knows better. He throws himself on the barnyard floor, flaps, flops, hisses, sputters, and runs Ms. Waddelle (who now thinks that the birds are crazed) off the premise. Several other humorous anecdotes that scare off would be turkey buyers are scattered throughout the text and reinforce the idea that turkeys do not want to be dinner.

Spared this Thanksgiving, Runt warns, “Come December, folks begin planning their holiday dinners.” He has a Grade A plan in store, however, and this time his family not only listens, but are in on the arrangement. Think snowmen disguises. Overall, this is a cute, funny, pro-veggie holiday tale.

Find story-inspired activities and one veggie recipe on author Lisa Wheeler’s website.

Ages 4-8.

Review By HUYEN MACMICHAEL

I was really excited about a true farm sanctuary pig story for children. (They are so few and far between considering how many amazing farm animal biographies are out there.) There are some really great farm animal biographies geared for adults (Ninety-Five and Farm Sanctuary) and a lovely collection of poetic bios for children (Our Farm) but not nearly enough in my opinion, especially at the rate our family reads through books.

In this story, Nikki, a mother pig, relates her rescue for a well-loved, familiar bedtime story to her piglets Freston, Rory, Ellen, Portia, and Chuck. With much interruption, the piglets actually tell most of the story with Nikki’s confirmations. The pigs describe factory farm-like conditions supplemented with a child-friendly sketch of a pig in a gestation crate, a flood which released the pigs from the factory conditions, Nikki’s arrival on a levee where she gave birth, and the arrival of the pig rescuers.

The story is one of many true amazing pig survival stories from the 2008 Midwest Flood Pig Rescue. A little photo of Nikki and her piglets and a brief bio is included at the end of the book.

Although I love the concept of Lucky Pigs, I felt the execution left a lot to be desired. The juggled dialogue/narration between the 6 pigs distracted from the story. While having the piglets tell the story can be appealing to young children and anthropomorphising the piglets to sound like excited, talkative children can help a large human family relate to the rescued pig family, I felt the narration became choppy and a little confusing, especially for a child. Also the style of writing and illustration was inconsistent, with a couple pages of forced rhymes at the end of the story and illustrations that were sometimes painterly, sometimes sketchily hand-drawn, sometimes cut-out and collaged,  and sometimes clearly Photoshopped or unattractively pixelated and stretched. I did feel that the use of black and white to retell the past is useful in helping children with the flashbacks. I wish the author had picked a single style of writing- either prose or rhyme- and a single style of illustration (the painterly image on the first and third to last pages are lovely) to help with the cohesiveness of the story. Although I was disappointed by the execution, it is nevertheless a new, true pigtale to share with children.

Ages 4-8.

Review By JENNIFER GANNETT

When the typical order of daily events breaks down on a farm, some atypical helpers emerge in Chickens to the Rescue. Silly events develop as the helpful poultry assist in all quarters.  Watch fell down a well?  Too tired to make dinner? Homework eaten by the dog?  Duck absconded in a truck? This farm’s flock of chickens is ready to step in and make things happen! 

We cannot read this story without chuckling at the flock’s fervor and passion for helping their fellow farm dwellers.  Though a cow named Milky is featured, which may not sit well with some, this tale by author/illustrator John Himmelman characterizes chickens as lovable, capable do-gooders.  We all should have a flock of such good-natured, helpful assistants.

Ages 4 and up.

Review By JENNIFER GANNETT

If you love chicken books like I love chicken books, then Beautiful Yetta: The Yiddish Chicken is one to add to your shelves.  When I read a children’s book about chickens, even if it is humorous, I pay attention to see if the author is thinking of the chickens’ perspective or just playing off some of the stereotypes of these birds to make a funny kids book while ignoring some of the realities of the birds’ lives.  I’m pleased to report that the author/illustrator team of Daniel and Jill Pinkwater has nailed this one on the head by unflinchingly observing some of the realities inherent in animal agriculture while at the same time crafting a fun, folksy and multilingual tale (this book contains Yiddish and Spanish, as well as English).

Yetta’s story begins when she and her other free-range, organic chicken cohorts are being trucked by the farmer to Phil’s Poultry World in Brooklyn. As Farmer Flegleman tearfully unloads his cargo to be slaughtered, Yetta realizes her crate lid is loose and makes a run for it.  The next page is my favorite:  “Yetta, beautiful Yetta, will not be sold. She will not be soup. She will not be roasted chicken on a Friday night. She is free. She is in Brooklyn.”

Naturally, this is not the end– in fact, only the beginning.  Yetta has no idea how to survive in the urban environment in which she finds herself.  After encounters with rats, buses and pigeons, Yetta meets a beautiful, colorful bird named Eduardo. After saving Eduardo (who turns out to be a wild parrot) from a cat, he and his flockmates adopt Yetta as their own.  Trite but true, they all live happily ever after.

For a special treat, click here to listen to Daniel Pinkwater and his NPR associates read the story.

This book had me cheering for Yetta, and cheered that the author candidly opened the story with the truth about what happens to free-range, organic chickens after they are spent.  I wish all of the cages had loose tops.

For ages 4 and up.

Review By ROBYN MOORE

Kids will laugh aloud as they turn the pages of Hogwash. It’s silly and funny, and it has an important message about respecting animals for who they are.

In the story, Farmer decides to bathe all of his animals including the dogs, cats, goats, cows, ducks and pigs. However, the pigs have other plans. They do not want to be washed with soap and water! Farmer tries every trick he can think of to wash the pigs, but the pigs outsmart him in every attempt. They board up their pen, wear umbrellas and rubber suits, and hold up various signs including one that says “No Hogwash for us today. Pigs love dirt—so go away.”

In his final effort to wash the pigs, Farmer sets out on his plane with plans to squirt the pigs with water and shampoo from above. However, the plane runs out of gas and he crashes. He ends up landing headfirst into the pigs’ muddy pen. Instead of being angry, he has a great time splashing around in the mud with the pigs. From then on Farmer gives up trying to bathe the pigs and actually joins them every other day in their pen with his swimsuit on and towel in hand for a mud bath!

Animal lovers will cheer at this book’s great ending. In today’s society, the Farmer (nowadays, agribusiness) usually comes out on top, but not in this book. The pigs win here (at least in one of their battles…hopefully they will fight just as hard for their lives). They didn’t want to be washed with soap and water (in fact, pigs are extremely clean animals, despite the stereotype), so they stood their ground and they won. It’s a happy ending for the pigs…and for the Farmer who ends up joining them for mud baths.

Ages 3-8.

Review By JENNIFER GANNETT

Any book that begins with the unlovely depiction of life on a factory farm, such as this one which opens, “once upon a time, there were three thousand three hundred and thirty-three chickens who lived in a great big chicken house…” has my rapt attention from the start.  In Henrietta and the Golden Eggs, the life of an egg-laying chicken on a factory farm is depicted as significantly unpleasant, including stinky air, feather loss and overcrowded conditions.  However, one young chicken has her sights set on a different kind of life.  Little Henrietta announces that she is going to learn to sing and lay golden eggs.  The other older, more downtrodden citizens of the chicken shed are not supportive of her dreams.

Henrietta scratches and pecks at the chicken house until a small hole becomes large enough for her to step out and explore the green world outside of her shed.  Eventually the hole is enlarged so that all three thousand, three hundred and thirty-three chickens can leave the shed, and they do just that, settling into peck about in a nearby wheat field and causing a great deal of consternation for the farm workers.

The hole is patched, but Henrietta manages to find her way out into fresh air again, and proceeds to have a series of further adventures, including attempts at swimming and flying (“you call that swimming?” ask the other hens.  Henrietta is undeterred, answering, “the water is too wet for my tummy.”).

Each time Henrietta escapes, the thousands of other hens do as well, which of course is a crazy-making situation for the farm manager and farm hands.  Eventually, the hens smarten up and scatter as attempts are made to catch them.  After several days, the workers admit defeat. When the manager is upset at this news, the farm workers propose building an outdoor yard where the hens will have access to clean air and scratching and pecking opportunities– which is just what they do.  Meanwhile, Henrietta’s first egg turns out to be a run-of-the-mill brown one, though she herself knew it would be all along.

In the end, Henrietta’s adventurous spirit leads to a significant improvement in the lives of the hens.  However, vegans and opponents of factory farms will be disappointed by the pat ending, in which access to the outdoors appears to solve all woes.  As we are aware, the truth is far more complex.  I would have loved to have read an ending in which the hens were truly released from their bonds.  Although I am disappointed on that score, I commend this book for refusing to flinch from some of the unpleasant welfare and economic realities of factory farming.  Henrietta herself is a spunky, likeable young bird.  The pen and ink line drawings by illustrator Kathi Bhend are divine and she brings the words to life in a very appealing way.  Check some of them out from this story here.  Inspired by Henrietta’s tale to reduce your consumption of eggs? Check out this resource for helpful tips on baking without them!

This is a book for ages 6 and up.

Review By CAROLYN M. MULLIN

When I was a kid, I had no idea what the Silk Road was, much less the dramatic impact animals have had in shaping our world. In Animals that Changed the World, author Keltie Thomas brings to life not only the ancient travels along the Silk Road and other historical mile markers, but the legacies of 20+ animals, starting with animals raised for food and fibers. One example is the invention of spinning machines and automated looms created from necessity in the production of wool which in turned helped spawn the Industrial Revolution. For a Vegbooks selection, this didn’t seem like a promising start, but I was impressed with her statement on cattle contributing to climate change, “Not only do cattle and other livestock add to global warming, but they also take up nearly one-third of all the world’s land for grazing and growing livestock feed. The situation isn’t ‘udderly’ hopeless, though. We can still cut down livestock emissions and land use by simply eating less meat.” Next to these words are images of a veggie and a fruit burger. She makes a few other ethical references in the text too.

Thomas covers a quite a bit of ground in 112 pages: discussing elephants that plowed fields in Germany or helped with WWII efforts and mosquitoes that killed Alexander the Great and shut down work on the Panama Canal. Readers will be fascinated and at times saddened (guinea pigs as lab rats, beavers killed for pelts) by what they discover. But for any animal lover, it’s important to know what I call “our shared experience” or history, so that we can make our future a brighter one.

Animals that Changed the World is a condensed, but brightly designed text with engaging, pun-filled script and colorful photographs and design work. The sidebars help to keep this a dynamic, well-rounded book. “Mug Shots” brief the reader on a species’ nickname, domestication date, population numbers, habitat, and claim to fame. “Speak of the Beast” explains how animal-inspired idioms and phrases like “jumping through hoops” or “worming your way into…” came to be. “Fact Track” provides quick, interesting tidbits: “The Chinese invented fish farming 3,000 years ago. They kept carp in ponds and fed the fish waste from silkworms.”

This text is a fun way to learn about a sometimes difficult subject.

Ages 9-12.

Review By CAROLYN M. MULLIN

Introduce little ones to the ideas of worker’s rights, justice and compromise through the 32 funny and colorful pages of Click, Clack, Moo. The cold farm cows are on strike until they receive electric blankets and they let Farmer Brown know through type-written memos. Brown is agitated by the typewriter-using, racket-making cows and is rather obstinate about meeting their demands. Once the chickens become involved in the protest and there are no eggs or milk to be had, Farmer Brown concedes on the blankets so long as the barn typewriter is forfeited. Let’s just say Duck, the neutral go-between for those on either side of the fence, has his own interests in mind and his antics make for a humorous ending.

In addition to the Vegbooks-friendly premise of the book, children will enjoy participating in the story’s telling by piping in with frequent “Click, Clack, Moos.” The watercolor illustrations by award-winning Betsy Lewin also make this an inviting text.

To get the biggest bang from this book, implement PBS’ lesson plans for Click, Clack, Moo which happen to be designed for students who are deaf and hard of hearing.

Ages 3-7.