Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite

Did you know that the first animal rights rescue organization, the ASPCA, became a model for people wanting to protect children from abusive situations? And the situation facing endangered animals has, in many cases like the sea turtles, improved since the reinstatement of a law to protect animals facing extinction (ESA, the Endangered Species Act)? There are a lot of people in this world who sincerely care about animals, both wild and domestic, and they are working hard to make a difference. Why? Because animals are just as important to the entire health of our planet as the air we breathe, the water we drink and so much more. And those fighting, working hard in many different ways, to save animals, to protect them from extinction and abuse, are not always adults. Many of the animal activists are children, like Janine Licare, who at nine years of age was already fighting to save the rainforest in Costa Rica and all the living creatures that depended on the rainforest. Then there are the engineering initiatives enforced to protect wildlife from certain death when crossing a busy highway or even train tracks – like animal bridges and culverts, even turtle tunnels.

Patricia Hutchison’s nonfiction book, 12 Stories About Helping Animals, is a fascinating tale of people and organizations who are doing their best to save the animals on this planet. The book features stories about endangered animals, organizations like the ASPCA and ESA which were founded to protect animals, and people, young and old, who focus their energies on protecting animals, both wild and domestic. Each story features a person, an organization or a dire situation (or all of the above) and the work they do, when they were founded and why. There are colorful illustrations to support each story and each feature provides some interesting facts in a highlighted sidebar and some suggested ideas to discuss or research further. While this book only contains twelve fascinating stories, there are plenty more and the end of the book suggests resources to further study those people and organizations who are working diligently to save animals. Patricia Hutchison’s 12 Stories About Helping Animals also includes a “Ways You Can Help” page, providing useful tips on things we all can do to help animals. A great resource for young and old alike.