The Animal Rescue Club: An Action-Packed Story About Kids Saving Wildlife for Kids (Ages 4-8)

I Can Read: Level 4

by John Himmelman

Who do you call when a squirrel is trapped in a mud puddle or a baby opossum is stuck in a drainpipe ? Meet Jeffrey, Beaner, Raymond, and Mike--the Animal Resuce club! Adventures wait around every corner as this intrepid band of kids, working with a Wildlife Rehabilitator, helps the wild animals in our neighborhood. John Himmelman's action-packed story and lively art is based on his firsthand experience with wild-animal rescue groups. This inside look at kids saving animals is certain to fascinate young nature lovers.

48 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1998

About the author

John Himmelman is the author and illustrator of more than sixty books for children, including Chickens to the Rescue. He lives in Connecticut with his family.

According John's Facebook page, he has been "making up stories and scribbling pictures since I could hold a crayon in my hand. It became my job in 1981, when my first book, "Talester the Lizard" was published during my last year in college (School of Visual Arts)....It behooves a writer to try and turn what interests them into their work. I've been fortunate to do that with my love of nature, with books - for adults and children - focusing on different natural history topics."

Reviews

[Mir · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute early chapter book for animal loving children, about some kids who help rescue injured animals for their local animal rehabilitation clinic (run by Anita, to whom the book is dedicated). I liked that group of kids was mixed, including that one has sight impairment that is not treated a major issue aside from not being able to ride a bike.

Parents, if your kids are anything like younger me, you will probably want to finish this book by telling your kids that they are not to start picking up random needy-looking animals because this may be dangerous. This is addressed briefly at one point (a boy is told to wear thick gloves while rescuing a possum from a drainpipe) and there is a note at the back, which kids may skip or find too difficult to read. I bet most kid would have a much harder time catching a goose than the heroes here demonstrate...

[Angelika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging level 3 beginning reader. Group of kids go on rescue missions to save a squirrel, an opossum and a goose.

[Ayano Noguchi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harper Collins Publishers John Himmelman
Time: 10/22=22min
7-word-summary:
squirrel-hospital-raccoon-rescue-opossum-goose-idea

-Discussion question-
Q1: Have you ever rescued animals?
A1: Yes, I have rescued some animals because I like animals very much, for example, I rescued a bird which couldn't fly and raised it. And finally, he became fine and flied into the sky.

Q2: How do you name animals?
A2: I often name them from their appearance. BUT My dog's name is Little. Though he is not big, but not little. My mother and young brother named him Little. Of course, he was little when he was born. :)

I really enjoyed reading this book! I thought Jeffrey and other friends are very brave.

[Mai Kawai · Rating 3 out of 5]

-Harper Collins Publisher
An I Can Read Chapter Book series
level 3
-9/22=15minutes 9/23=5minutes
-puddle,squirrel,mud,raccoon,help,better,rescue
-Q1;Have you ever helped or seen any injured animals?
Q2;Have you ever joined like rescue club?

I liked this book because it is easey to understand.
I love animals, so if there are like this rescue club, I want to join it.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kids rescue a variety of small animals and bring them to an adult who takes care of them. The back page gives a warning and says the kids in the book were specially trained.

[Randall · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked it because they rescued animals.