The Opposition…

Do Unto Animals: A Friendly Guide to How Animals Live, and How We Can Make Their Lives Better

Tracey Stewart,

Lisel Ashlock (Illustrator)

Discussion: the water cooler

Why we're reading this: shown/promoted at end of TDS, August 4, 2015 (written by Jon's wife)…more
[close] shown/promoted at end of TDS, August 4, 2015 (written by Jon's wife)

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last updated Jul 26, 2012 02:50PM

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last updated May 11, 2012 02:59AM

What Members Thought

Jul 19, 2018 Letitia rated it it was ok

Shelves: 2018-to-read

I don't really know what this little book is, and maybe that's part of the problem. It's one of the few times I've come away liking the author better than the text. I think Tracy Stewart is a kind, compassionate, thoughtful, beautiful human being. I think her book is...meh.

Her personal stories are sweet, but not moving in a way that changes lives. Her animal facts are simplistic and read like prettily illustrated listicles from BuzzFeed. It's all information you can easily Google. In fact, the o I don't really know what this little book is, and maybe that's part of the problem. It's one of the few times I've come away liking the author better than the text. I think Tracy Stewart is a kind, compassionate, thoughtful, beautiful human being. I think her book is...meh.

Her personal stories are sweet, but not moving in a way that changes lives. Her animal facts are simplistic and read like prettily illustrated listicles from BuzzFeed. It's all information you can easily Google. In fact, the only animal I really did want to learn more about, because I adore them but don't get to interact with them much, is goats. And guess what? The goat section involves a picture of a goat playing and...that's about it. While she has facts, body language, recipes and crafts for many species, goats apparently don't rank too high in her interests.

I tried to think back on finishing the book if I had learned anything new from it, being an animal lover, animal advocate and vegetarian already, and the answer is no, but I can't say that will be true for everyone. I appreciated most her section on the Backyard Workforce, especially the Landscaping Team. It explain the harmony of creatures traditionally considered "pests" with their environment, and puts the onus on the gardener and homemaker to adapt to their needs and honor their role in keeping the earth healthy, rather than the other way around. This was probably her strongest point of advocacy because it did not rely on emotional appeals to fuzzy animals we already think of as pets, but rather advocated for the right of an animal minding its own business to be left alone to do what it needs to do for the health of an entire ecosystem. I really enjoyed that and it renewed my conviction not to hunt down the bunny family that has decimated my green beans this year.

Cute little book, but I'm guessing if you picked it up that you probably already know most of the information in here anyway. Might be a good middle-grade introduction to respecting animals, but adult readers won't get much from it. ...more

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May 14, 2016 Jennifer rated it it was amazing

Shelves: finn-wren, garden

Tracey Stewart is my new hero - I want to be her friend! This is a thoughtful book full of kindness and humor and would make a great gift for any animals lovers, whether they love dogs or cows or opossums - I'm looking forward to sharing it with my animal obsessed little pill when she's a bit older!
Beautiful illustrations and fun prjects and ideas round it out. (Plus Jon Stewart is just as awesome as you knew he was :)). Very recommended.
(Back to those opossums - so happy to see them portrayed i ...more

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