Animal sanctuaries and rescue centers get some much-needed attention here. Sanctuaries are homes for "unwanted, abused, injured, or abandoned animals," while rescue centers keep ill or orphaned animals temporarily before releasing them back into the wild. After providing an in-depth look at the needs of sanctuary animals ke room to roam and the importance of socialization idlaw turns his attention to specific animals and their newfound safe havens, while also focusing on inspiring animal-welfare advocates. There's Sandra Pady, founder of the Donkey Sanctuary of Canada (DSC), home to Juno and Trooper; Jill Robinson, who established the Animals Asia Foundation (AAF) with the goal of rescuing China's more than 7,000 bile bears (exploited for their bile, used in Traditional Chinese Medicine); and Einat Danieli, advocate for a chained lion named Dolo, whose rescue led to the Born Free Foundation developing Ethiopia's first Wildlife Rescue, Conservation, and Education Centre. This thorough book includes a "When a Sanctuary isn't a Sanctuary" section, tips for thinking about building a sanctuary, and ways to help. Photos tug at the heartstrings, and readers will come away inspired.

Gr 4-8 Laidlaw, a Canadian biologist and animal-rights activist, profiles a variety of sanctuaries throughout the world and the people who work to safeguard the wildlife. Examples include the elephants of a Canadian zoo that were suffering from lack of space and hostile weather conditions and were relocated to a more appropriate environment in California. Tortoises subjected to cruel conditions are now living happily in a sanctuary. In India, a large variety of birds has been rehabilitated, and, when appropriate, returned to the wild. Tigers, pigs, chimps, bears, lions, and camels have all suffered at the hands of cruel and careless custodians but with luck may find themselves in sanctuaries overseen by selfless guardians. The author offers the interesting stories behind the founding of many of these sanctuaries and presents uplifting conclusions to the many heart-wrenching stories of rescued animals. A section showing the difference between true sanctuaries and those neither meeting the needs of animals in their care nor preparing them for rehabilitation into the wild is useful for teaching children to think critically about what they see. The full-color photographs of wild animals being appropriately cared for lend interest to the stories. Laidlaw's commitment to his cause is apparent and presents a fine role model for young readers. Eva Elisabeth VonAncken, formerly at Trinity-Pawling School, Pawling, NY