Carlos Patińo

I am sympathetic to the cause of veganism. I 'get' the argument that all life has a right to it's natural lifespan, and that eating meat is selfish and bad karma, etc.

But this book is, imo, so ridiculous, that it almost turns me off. Why is Dave 'from a planet far far away' and a 'monster?' Kids know the difference between extraterrestrial aliens and monsters. The rhythm of the text is awkward. Chickens aren't bright enough to love; that's a specious argument. Children who do (somehow) take this book as gospel are likely to become self-righteous bossy little prigs.

I'm sorry, but I honestly cannot find a redeeming feature here. I'm sure there are other ways you can help your children be more proud of their vegan family.… (meer)

Give a Cluck about Chickens!

Chickens are kind of awesome. They can distinguish between more than one hundred faces (chicken faces, that is!). They enjoy sunbathing - and dust bathing! When they sleep, chickens often dream - we know this because they experience rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. A mother hen will bravely protect her chicks from predators; using "chicken" as a synonym for "cowardly" doesn't quite fit. Chickens can travel up to nine miles an hour and, when not slaughtered for their meat or caged for their eggs, chickens can live anywhere from five to eleven years in the wild.

But don't take my word for it. Just listen to Dave, the three-eyed, double-horned, snaggle-toothed, lumpy blue alien. (Okay, so maybe I put a few factoids in his mouth in order to spice up this review, but you get the gist!) He's pretty smart, you know; he'd have to be, to master space travel and all.

A visitor from Far, Far Away, Dave can't understand why we love some animals and eat others. All animals are pretty cool and have a right to be free - chickens included!

With bold, bright colors and fun graphics, Dave Loves Chickens is an adorable picture book that encourages kids to respect animals by not eating or otherwise exploiting them. The message is presented in a fun, engaging, and gentle way, stressing the unique attributes of chickens as opposed to, say, explaining the horrors endured by battery hens in egg-laying facilities. Dave Loves Chickens is an excellent resource for parents and guardians who want to raise kind, compassionate, and critically-thinking kids.

And this 35-year-old enjoyed the artwork and enthusiastic message, too.

http://www.easyvegan.info/2014/05/09/dave-loves-chickens-by-carlos-patino/… (meer)