Animal Actors

Gr 4–7—These titles examine many of the ways animals work for humans. Most open with an example of one animal's accomplishment, followed by some historical background and descriptions of the various roles different creatures can play. Discussions of how developments in animal science and psychology have impacted working animals provide useful context. Lesser-known working creatures, such as camels doing police work, are mentioned along with police dogs, therapy cats, and more commonly recognized helpers. In each title, there's plenty of information within the text, though the narrative doesn't always flow smoothly. Several real-life stories of individual animals at work add interest, especially in Animal Actors, but some titles would have benefited from more numerous examples. Full-page photographs depict a good variety of the creatures in action, often interacting with people, though some of the images are stock photos.