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ladydewinter's review against another edition
4.0
A picture book intended for children, explaining why we don't eat animals. The art isn't perfect - the colours are a bit too dark in my opinion, but that's a matter of personal taste, I think.
The text, however, is great - the descriptions of how the animals in question - chickens, turkeys, pigs, cows, fish - usually live are juxtaposed with the descriptions of their sad and horrible reality. I found it very upsetting, but sadly that is the nature of the topic. But the text stays with you long after you've finished reading.
The text, however, is great - the descriptions of how the animals in question - chickens, turkeys, pigs, cows, fish - usually live are juxtaposed with the descriptions of their sad and horrible reality. I found it very upsetting, but sadly that is the nature of the topic. But the text stays with you long after you've finished reading.
elephant's review against another edition
4.0
This is a good book for children about why some people choose a vegetarian or vegan diet.
tashrow's review
5.0
A friendly introduction to veganism and vegetarianism for elementary-age children, this book focuses more on the evils of factory farming than eating animals. This slant makes it more appropriate for the young audience. The animals are portrayed as whimsical characters. The pigs have huge nostrils, the chickens stay round as an egg, and the cows are lanky with long-lashed eyes. Animals are shown in family groups, demonstrating what their natural lives would be like. This is contrasted with the misery they find on factory farms combined with the environmental toll as well. The book makes a sound, green argument for reducing animal consumption as well as eliminating factory farms.
This book deserves a place in most public libraries alongside all of those farm animal books. It offers another perspective that is missing from children’s sections in libraries. As adults learn that vegetarian and vegan diets are healthier for people as well as animals, parents will turn to libraries to help explain this to their children. It is a pleasure to find such a well-done book on the subject that provides information without the shocking images that would be too much for children.
Roth has done an admirable job of creating a book on a subject that could easily confuse and upset young readers. This book instead talks about nature, the importance of kindness, and gives children a way to make a difference right now. Her illustrations help to keep the subject from being too bleak with their cartoony feel.
Highly recommended for all public library collections, this book will be appreciated by vegetarians, vegans and others who are exploring their eating options. Appropriate for ages 8-12.
This book deserves a place in most public libraries alongside all of those farm animal books. It offers another perspective that is missing from children’s sections in libraries. As adults learn that vegetarian and vegan diets are healthier for people as well as animals, parents will turn to libraries to help explain this to their children. It is a pleasure to find such a well-done book on the subject that provides information without the shocking images that would be too much for children.
Roth has done an admirable job of creating a book on a subject that could easily confuse and upset young readers. This book instead talks about nature, the importance of kindness, and gives children a way to make a difference right now. Her illustrations help to keep the subject from being too bleak with their cartoony feel.
Highly recommended for all public library collections, this book will be appreciated by vegetarians, vegans and others who are exploring their eating options. Appropriate for ages 8-12.
xterminal's review
1.0
Ruby Roth, That's Why We Don't Eat Animals (North Atlantic Books, 2009)
I've commented in other reviews in the past on some of the sociopolitical assumptions made by a number of vegan and vegetarian writers, and how such stances may be unwise. When an author is writing for adults, that's an annoying gaffe most of the time. When writing for kids, it becomes something more, because you've gone outside the realm of preaching to the choir and entered the realm of propaganda. There is a school of thought that simply presenting options and letting kids make their own choices isn't nearly enough—that we should in essence, teach them what to think. I do understand this sort of belief was standard until ~50 years ago. That makes it no less offensive today. Ruby Roth's book is loaded with it; in fact, I'd say it's the main thrust of the book.
Interestingly, though, there's a but of sleight-of-hand to be found here (and if Roth didn't catch that herself, that would be telling in the extreme, though I wouldn't presume to speculate on that one way or the other); while the title of the book would seem to indicate a general raison d'etre-style overview for vegetarianism/veganism, the text has a much more particular agenda: anti-factory-farms. And don't get me wrong, I am completely down with the idea that factory farms should, to use an appropriate cliché, go the way of the great auk. I also suspect that kids who haven't been completely brainwashed might ask the same question I've been wondering about for a few years: if we shouldn't eat the animals raised on factory farms, how about the animals raised on more responsible farms? What's wrong with eating those? In dialogue with a vegan, you can at least hope for an answer to that question. When reading a book, short of emailing the author, you can't, unless the answer is presented in the text. Here, it is not, which could lead to a few embarrassing silences during storytime.
One other note: In an “other things you can do” section in the back of the book, Roth also recommends vegetarian pet food. I would strongly suggest consulting your vet (two or three would be better) before embarking on such a plan, especially with animals who are traditionally carnivores.
I'm sure there's a good intro-to-vegetarianism book out there for the juvenile set. I haven't found it yet, and of those I've tried, this is the worst of the lot. Recommended only for those who prefer brainwashing their kids to, you know, allowing them to think. (zero)
I've commented in other reviews in the past on some of the sociopolitical assumptions made by a number of vegan and vegetarian writers, and how such stances may be unwise. When an author is writing for adults, that's an annoying gaffe most of the time. When writing for kids, it becomes something more, because you've gone outside the realm of preaching to the choir and entered the realm of propaganda. There is a school of thought that simply presenting options and letting kids make their own choices isn't nearly enough—that we should in essence, teach them what to think. I do understand this sort of belief was standard until ~50 years ago. That makes it no less offensive today. Ruby Roth's book is loaded with it; in fact, I'd say it's the main thrust of the book.
Interestingly, though, there's a but of sleight-of-hand to be found here (and if Roth didn't catch that herself, that would be telling in the extreme, though I wouldn't presume to speculate on that one way or the other); while the title of the book would seem to indicate a general raison d'etre-style overview for vegetarianism/veganism, the text has a much more particular agenda: anti-factory-farms. And don't get me wrong, I am completely down with the idea that factory farms should, to use an appropriate cliché, go the way of the great auk. I also suspect that kids who haven't been completely brainwashed might ask the same question I've been wondering about for a few years: if we shouldn't eat the animals raised on factory farms, how about the animals raised on more responsible farms? What's wrong with eating those? In dialogue with a vegan, you can at least hope for an answer to that question. When reading a book, short of emailing the author, you can't, unless the answer is presented in the text. Here, it is not, which could lead to a few embarrassing silences during storytime.
One other note: In an “other things you can do” section in the back of the book, Roth also recommends vegetarian pet food. I would strongly suggest consulting your vet (two or three would be better) before embarking on such a plan, especially with animals who are traditionally carnivores.
I'm sure there's a good intro-to-vegetarianism book out there for the juvenile set. I haven't found it yet, and of those I've tried, this is the worst of the lot. Recommended only for those who prefer brainwashing their kids to, you know, allowing them to think. (zero)