Each year, Skipping Stones magazine recognizes outstanding books and teaching resources with the Skipping Stones Honor Awards. The honored books promote an understanding of cultures, cultivate cooperation and encourage a deeper understanding of the world’s diversity. They also encourage ecological richness, respect for multiple viewpoints and closer relationships within human societies. Saving Lives and Changing Hearts: Animal Sanctuaries and Rescue Centers is on the list for nature and ecology books.
Skipping Stones Review
Saving Lives & Changing Hearts: Animal Sanctuaries and Rescue Centres by Rob Laidlaw (www. fitzhenry.ca). Grades 4-8. ISBN: 978-1-55455-212-2
Saving Lives and Changing Hearts tells hopeful stories of humans from around the world stepping up to rescue animals in bad situations and to give them better lives. This heartening book describes “real sanctuaries,” then highlights successful organizations.
Some basic principles of real sanctuaries are that the physical, psychological and social needs of animals are the highest priority. There is no commercial trade or breeding of animals. Real sanctuaries also play a role in helping solve the problems that create the need for sanctuaries in the first place and educating the public.
Among the sanctuaries featured are touching stories about donkeys, elephants, chimpanzees, pigs in Canada, elephants and rhinos in Kenya, bears and raptors in China, lions in Ethiopia, and turtles and pelicans in the United States.
Saving Lives and Changing Hearts was strongly praised by all of the reviewers for the Skipping Stones Award because it does a good job of covering an important subject. The book promotes respect for and partnership with animals—an important message for all humans.
—Charlotte Behm, educator
