Sanctuary A home for rescued farm animals

Centering scenes of children with varying abilities and skin tones alongside animals who have arrived at a farm sanctuary, Denos (Starcrossed) bears quiet witness to the lives of animals released from making food for humans. "You are afraid," says a child to a goat with a bandaged leg, "but I am here. And here you are safe." A youth holds a goat's ear, and the tag punched through it: "Here you have a name, instead of a number." Softly stroked vignettes show piglets nursing, a hen on a nest, and a cow and a calf cavorting: "Here your value comes from being you--not the milk and cheese you were forced to make." In a quietly affecting spread, a stock truck moving along a highway at night, its back gate open, leaves behind two lambs, who leap over a guardrail to freedom. Likely to require context-setting, this conversation-opening picture book foregrounds important messages of innate value and community care: "Here your body is safe. Your family is safe. Your heart is safe, in mine." A note to caregivers supplies sobering information about industrial food production. Ages 4--8. Agent: Lori Kilkelly, LK Literary. (Jan.)

A look at the incredible healing power of compassion found at a farm animal sanctuary. Each rescued cow, pig, sheep, chicken, and goat has a story. They are brought to the sanctuary with bandaged limbs and broken spirits; all struggled to survive in one way or another. Denos' spare verse reflects the pure relationship children can have with animals. Five diverse kids (one using forearm crutches) welcome these creatures with open hearts to the farm. A delicate, glowing spray of lights connects the children and the animals. Lush greens, bright blues, and wide open spaces convey the breath of fresh air that sanctuaries are for rescued animals. Because the text is so lyrical, even the harsh farm realities that it explores are presented gently: "Here you have a name, instead of a number--"; "Here your value comes / from being you-- / not the milk and cheese you / were forced to make … / not your eggs, or your babies, / or the meat that they take…." Though the tale is tender in tone, however, the underlying message that relying on animals for meat or other products is wrong may put some off. An appended note for caregivers, intended to navigate further conversations about speciesism, or the idea that some animals are worthier than others, is especially charged ("we are born knowing…that our connection to animals is sacred"). (This book was reviewed digitally.) A light touch on a deep subject intended to spur a new generation of animal rights activists. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.