THAT’S WHY WE DON’T EAT ANIMALS
A Book About Vegans, Vegatarians, and All Living Things
by Ruby Roth and illustrated by Ruby Roth
From an opening that establishes all earthlings’ mutual connection, Roth follows with evidence of humanlike behavior among animals. Turkeys dance and grieve together; they blush and fly to the treetops when the moon comes out. In factory farms they have no freedom and are made too fat to fly. Fish, cattle, ducks, geese, chickens and pheasants are all similarly mistreated. Carnivorous diets for humans are destroying the rainforests and killing endangered species. This tract spends most of its time supporting the idea that animals are very like people and too cute to eat. The unsubtle illustrations feature black-bead–eyed animals that are adorable in the wild but terrified and dirty on the farms. Environmental impact gets a mention, but health concerns (for humans) get no ink at all. Also, the suggestion that pets can survive on a vegetarian diet can kill those that are carnivores in the wild. Children young enough for this are in no position to make dietary choices for themselves; it will work best for children in already vegan or vegetarian households. (Informational picture book. 6-10)