Endangered Animals

Susan Brown is a B.C. horticulturist, permaculture designer, and early
childhood education instructor.

This picture book, translated from the French, is most likely to be read
aloud to children aged 4 to 7. Sombre, double-spread color illustrations
are accompanied by two or three lines of text per illustration. One
spread reads, “Defend us, Mr. Click! In order to protect domestic
animals, they’re wiping us out,” while another reads, “They take
our horns and tusks for making all kinds of useless things.”

Although this book has a commendable conservation message, the reader
is abruptly into the story without time to develop an understanding of
the situations or compassion for the animals. This provokes a desperate
and panicky feeling. The text’s “us” and “they” are never
identified; the best that could be said is that the message is simply
delivered.

One can be in full sympathy with the topic of concern, and yet find its
treatment in this book thin and superficial.