Animals Helping to Detect Diseases

Gr 4–6—Thorough, accurate, and consistently engaging, these titles explore the fascinating ways that animals help people. Coverage includes widely known animal helpers, such as therapy dogs, as well as creatures in more uncommon roles: narwhals that collect research and rats that detect tuberculosis. There's a good mixture of historical background, current animal programs, and even a consideration of potential animal helpers of the future. The presentation of information covers multiple aspects, from training procedures to step-by-step descriptions of the animals at work. True stories of people and their helpers add a strong personal touch. When animals appear in more than one book, such as carrier pigeon Cher Ami, the books avoid overlapping material, presenting different aspects or details. Every page includes at least one photograph, most of which show animals in action, often with humans. Time lines and statistics provide relevant background without overwhelming readers.