Vegan Is Love

Gr 1–3—Vegan parents will welcome this picture book, while omnivore families might be challenged by its saccharine presentation of the impact of a diet and lifestyle that includes animal products. Children are encouraged to avoid zoos, aquariums, circuses, or any venue that displays animals because these creatures would rather be wild. Going to the races or rodeo is not okay. Eating meat or any animal product such as milk or eggs is a no-no. Roth's skillful paintings feature rich colors and stylized animals. These images render the confusion, fear, and sadness of multiple species being exploited by humans. A spread of animals being tested for products such as shampoo, soap, and cleaning supplies reveals bunnies, kittens, puppies, mice, apes, and chimps with open, oozing sores. Their sad faces and dejected postures are pitiful. Other illustrations show cuts of raw meat dripping with blood. This book sends the message that eating a little fish or meat is poisoning the planet with pollution and robbing the ocean of life, and that the way to save it is to become vegan. Missing is any representation of loss of habitat, medical research, or description of a vegan diet. This is a one-sided argument, clearly summed up by the title, with the implication that any other way of life is wrong.—Janet S. Thompson, Chicago Public Library