Sanctuary: A Home for Rescued Farm Animals
by Julia Denos
Clarion Books, 2023
40 pages
4-8 years old
Blurb from Book Flap
Where do you feel safe and seen? What about the animals who share our planet? Why do we treat FARM ANIMALS differently than our beloved pets?
These questions and more are explored in this gentle celebration of what it means to care for and respect creatures of all kinds. Poetic text and gorgeous, joyful art show us how we can protect animals by honoring and advocating for their lives. Sanctuary invites us to open our hearts wide to create a more loving and more compassionate world — for all.
Why I Love Sanctuary
Like many of you I love animals. And not just my pets, but all the creatures around me.
I’ve rescued many dogs, move slugs off bike and running paths, remove ants and wasps from the hummingbird feeder (even though they scare me!), and carry spiders outside. I’m sure many of you can relate!
Once I even had a wild deer come up to me on a walk and “ask” me to remove the leaves that were stuck to her eyelashes with sap. I kid you not!
So naturally I was attracted to Sanctuary: A Home for Rescued Farm Animals.
It’s a very beautiful book, both in appearance and text. The art is a combination of graphite, watercolor, acrylic, and digital paint, and is very warm and charming.
The book, written from a child’s perspective, reminds us that all animals deserve to feel safe and loved, not just the ones who are part of our families. We treat farm animals very differently from the way we treat our beloved pets, even though all animals are worthy of a gentle life.
I love how this book challenges us to think differently about the world and its inhabitants. Even if you have no desire to become a vegetarian or vegan there are still many ways to support farm animals and help make their lives easier. For example, in my home province the SPCA actively advocates for farm animal welfare and offers many opportunities to join in.
Book Related Resources
At the end of Sanctuary is a list of “Small ways you can make big changes”:
- Take a tour at an animal sanctuary near you and learn the stories of the rescued animals who there
- Volunteer at a community vegetable garden
- Plant a native perennial to provide food and shelter for native species
- Learn about simple nutrient-dense plant foods accessible to you
- Advocate for animal rights, farmworkers’ rights, and environment rights
- Draw your dream of a world where animals, people, and the planet are loved and respected
Sanctuary was inspired by a real-life animal sanctuary in Sherborn, Massachusetts called Unity Farm Sanctuary.
You can learn more about the author, Julia Denos, at her website.
I have another book review of Julia’s, called Here and Now.
FREE 191 PAGE UNIT PLAN ON FARM ANIMALS
Exploring the Lives of Farm Animals: Lessons that Teach Compassion Grades K-3 is an amazing resource that you absolutely want to download. This comprehensive unit plan was created by Teach Heart in cooperation with Farm Sanctuary.
Honestly, I can’t say enough about how good it is.
It’s extremely comprehensive and has many lessons and activities, learning stations, action projects, and educator resources, all teaching about farm animals in a kind, compassionate, humane way.
I have some farm puppets in my TPT shop. These would work perfectly with a farm unit.
That’s it for now, friends! I hope you enjoyed this review and consider either buying the book or borrowing it from your library. A farm unit would be a GREAT way to start your new year.
