The Animal Rescue Club (I Can Read Book 4)
Grade 1-3AIn this beginning reader, the young members of the Animal Rescue Club help a squirrel drowning in mud, an opossum stuck in a rooftop gutter, and a goose with a wounded foot. The creatures are taken to an animal hospital where an adult oversees their care. After they have recovered, the children release the creatures back into their habitats. Cartoon illustrations show the club in action. Although an author's note explains that it is dangerous to approach injured animals and that wildlife rehabilitators must be trained and licensed, adults do not assist with the rescues and no mention of training is made in the narrative. The images in the story contrast with the warnings: a youngster rides his bike with a squirrel peeking out of his backpack, a boy totters on a high ladder with an opossum clinging to his shirt, and a girl puts her arms around a huge goose that is pulling her hair. While this book features characters that do important work with courage and competence, issues about safety and the proper treatment of wild animals make it a questionable choice.AAdele Greenlee, Bethel College, St. Paul, MNCopyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.