Reading Level: Grades 2-3 Interest Level: Grades 1 – 3
From sniffing out hidden explosives to pulling cables through pipes, some jobs call for expert animals. These animal helpers keep us safe, solve problems, and make our lives easier. Learn all about expert animals and us!
'The Animals and Us series offers a fascinating and accessible look at the many ways animals work alongside humans. Each book highlights a different category of animal helpers, giving young readers a deeper understanding of how animals protect us, guide us, and make everyday life easier. One of the strongest features of the series is its bright, vivid photography. The lively, real-life images keep students engaged and help them visualize the jobs these animals perform. Guard Animals features animals that help protect other animals, even other species, such as the fierce guard llamas. The guard llamas can help keep sheep and other animals safe by screaming, kicking, and even spitting (up to 10 feet) on them. Cable ferrets show the brilliance of the furry critters in Expert Animals. They pull cables through pipes and tunnels to help builders. Dogs and horses come to the rescue in the Service Animals title. Seizure dogs help their owners before, during, and after a seizure while guide horses help the blind and visually impaired. Support Animals reveals that any domestic animal can be a support animal, even chickens! Chickens can make clucking noises that help soothe their owners. The text is clear, friendly, and informative, making the books suitable for young readers and classroom learning. Fact boxes throughout each book provide quick, interesting insights that spark curiosity, while the glossary at the end helps students expand their vocabulary and understand key terms. Overall, the Animals and Us series is both educational and inspiring. It highlights the intelligence, loyalty, and unique abilities of animals in a way that young readers can easily understand and appreciate. Students will not only learn about the important roles animals play but also develop a sense of wonder at how smart and wonderfully made these animal helpers truly are.', Alana Jara, District Librarian, Clear Lake Community School District
