Winner of the Moonbeam Children's Animals/Pets Non-Fiction Gold Medal! A story about the fundamental connection between animals and people and how we can treat all of Earth's creatures with compassion and empathy. Furry polar bears, playful sea otters, slow sloths, prickly porcupines, and slimy snakes are just a few of the many animals we share our world with. And even though we might not look the same or have the same needs as our animal neighbors, we have more in common with them than we might think.  Our Animal Neighbors introduces children to the importance of treating all animals with the care and compassion they deserve. We all want to experience love, safety, and respect and this book is the first step to instilling those values at an early age. This planet is our home, and we should all be free to live a prosperous life regardless of whether we have hands, hooves, scales, or fur. “A serious message delivered with humor, simplicity, and charm makes this book an excellent purchase for families that value open-ended discussions. Also a good resource for classrooms and libraries that welcome diverse opinions and points of view.”— School Library Journal PreS-Gr 3-The concept of neighborhood extends beyond the diverse group of cartoon characters depicted in the opening pages of this book. The text spotlights the unique skills of all living beings. For example, owls use night vision while bats use sonar. Pigs have a powerful sense of smell. Human intellect has led to remarkable inventions. Despite their different kinds of intelligence, however, a common bond exists between all creatures-not just ones with obvious similarities. Every living being has needs, desires, strengths, fears, and a will to survive. And humans are not the only species to seek companionship, love, and safety. The illustrations show animal moms cuddling their young and humans snuggling with their pets and with one another. Human characters are drawn with a variety of skin tones and cultural identifiers. This title makes a convincing case for compassion with a tone that is perfect for its audience. Nonetheless, there is an underlying animal rights agenda that proposes actions that may feel too radical for some readers. In one scene, foxes watch as a white woman evaluates her wardrobe. In another, a cheerful hamburger looks down on cattle that do not anticipate their future. These illustrations seem to emphasize the authors' position, which is detailed at the end in a plea for a plant-based diet. Adults should be prepared for conversations with young readers. VERDICT A serious message delivered with humor, simplicity, and charm makes this book an excellent purchase for families that value open-ended discussions. Also a good resource for classrooms and libraries that welcome diverse opinions and points of view.-Gloria Koster, formerly at West Sch., New Canaan, CTα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. “A serious message delivered with humor, simplicity, and charm makes this book an excellent purchase for families that value open-ended discussions. Also a good resource for classrooms and libraries that welcome diverse opinions and points of view.”— School Library Journal “Ricard and Gruhl make a case for animal rights and ethical veganism by metaphorically framing Earth’s residents as neighbors equally deserving of respect and care.”— Publishers Weekly  MATTHIEU RICARD is a Buddhist monk who had a promising career in cellular genetics before leaving France to study Buddhism in the Himalayas thirty-seven years ago. He is a best-selling author, translator, and photographer, and an active participant in current scientific research on the effects of meditation on the brain. He lives in Nepal and dedicates much of his time to humanitarian projects in the Himalayas through his nonprofit organization Karuna-Shechen. JASON GRUHL is the former Executive Director and Founder of The Joshua School (a school for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Developmental Disabilities in Boulder and Denver, CO), and as an educational consultant, he impacts the lives of countless children and adults. Jason holds a master's degree in Counseling Psychology and a bachelor's degree in English and Psychology, is a Buddhist, and dedicates his life to self-discovery through meditation and reflection. BECCA HALL is an illustrator based in the Lake District, England. Her work appears across the United Kingdom on stationery and giftware, and in children's books.