November 1, 2009
Adult/High School-Beginning with quotes from Aristotle regarding the inability of animals to reason about ethics, Katz proceeds to ponder the relationship between animals and humans and the profound question of whether animals have souls. In chapters centering on the many animals that inhabit the farm, the book challenges readers to think about good and evil in animals, whether they are capable of making moral decisions, and whether conscience exists in their world. The author shares the joy and solace he finds in his relationships with his animals, but is clearly wrestling with higher philosophical questions such as their place in our lives and how much they mean to us. He shares discussions he has with psychologists, behaviorists, and priests, and concludes that animals teach us humility and foster humanity within us. A mistake, he asserts, is that we try desperately to remake animals in our own image rather than recognize the impact they have in the faithfulness, friendship, and comfort they provide. Throughout Katz's anecdotes and ruminations, his pure joy and amazement shine through. Each chapter, whether about dogs or chickens or donkeys or sheep, will engage readers and tug at their heartstrings. An engaging and thought-provoking read."Jane Ritter, Mill Valley School District, CA"
Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
July 1, 2009
AsKatz continues his zestful, moving, and immenselypopularchronicle of life on Bedlam Farm, he conducts a running inquiry into the question of whether animals have souls. He looks to Aristotle, Aquinas, and Jeremy Bentham; muses on the evolution of human and animal relationships; and talks with a preacher; but mostly he carefully observes his beloved animals and assesses the profound joy and solace they arouse in himself and others. In his latest irresistible and thoughtful farm dispatches, Katz shares his adventures with Rose, a serious and hardworking border collie, and Lenore, a loving Lab; marvels over an unusually bold chicken named Henrietta; puts up with his jeering goats; and submits to the blatant manipulation of his crafty steer, Elvis, all the while contemplating the mysteries of animal consciousness. As close as our bonds with animals become, Katz avers, we must recognize and respect how divergent our inner lives are from theirs. And though we must take responsibility for animals, Katz has no doubt thatwe need them more than they need us.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)