Unlikely Friendships: 47 Remarkable Stories from the Animal Kingdom

Unlikely Friendships consists of forty-seven heart warming stories from around the world. Animals who are usually dinner becoming friends or animals who have never seen one another, cuddling down for a nap. The world could learn a thing!

Regardless of affiliation, Americans have consistently demonstrated their concern about the humane treatment of animals. Independent polls by Gallup, the Associated Press and others have shown rising support for animal protection for more than a decade. Humane education has become a legitimate issue in schools across the country.Often, when a person is lacking in compassion, cruelty is commited out of ignorance - from a lack of education and understanding that animals have feelings. They can suffer and feel loneliness and depression just like you.It is important to plant the seeds of kindness in children early, and to nurture their development as the child grows. One of the most power tools for preventing cruelty to animals by people lacking in natural compassion, is education. Children not only need to learn what they shouldn't do, but also what they can and should do. When children see that their pets are happy and loving, it will make the child feel good, too. This in turn will help the children care for their pets' feelings."Again, with all children--even older teens--keep in mind the importance of modeling appropriate behaviors. Our children do emulate us, even if they wouldn't admit it. If we treat animals cruelly or as unfeeling machines (as in factory-farming or puppy/kitten "mills"), our children will probably think that this is acceptable, or at least, normal. The more a child identifies with an adult, the greater an impact that person will have on the child--in both good and bad ways."I will let the voices of the better of us speak for me:"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress (and the decency and morality of its leaders) can be judged by the way its animals are treated." --Mahatma Gandhi"We need another and a wiser and perhaps a more mystical concept of animals... In a world older and more complete than ours they move finished and complete, gifted with extensions of the senses we have lost or never attained, living by voices we shall never hear. They are not brethren, they are not underlings; they are other nations, caught with ourselves in the net of life and time, fellow travelers in the splendor and travail of the earth." --Henry Beston (if anything, they are our betters; they live in the earth without causing all the damage to it that we do; they are not spiteful or mean out of hate; they don't cause fear and pain and death for pleasure or 'sport' as some human animals do.)(They are of service to us in countless ways: as our ears, as our eyes, to assist the disabled, they protect us, they provide transport (the impetus for our level of civilization - after millions of years of subsistence - was the horse), they provide companionship, they detect cancer, they lower our blood pressure and our stress levels, they make repeat heart attacks less likely, ad infinitum. If all the bees disappeared from the earth, so would we.)"Not to hurt our humble brethren is our first duty to them, but to stop there is not enough. We have a higher mission - to be of service to them wherever they require it." -- St. Francis of Assisi"The worst sin towards our fellow creatures is to be indifferent to them. That's the essence of inhumanity." -- George Bernard Shaw"The least that I can do is speak out for those who cannot speak for themselves." --Jane Goodall"If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will find that these are men who will deal likewise with their fellow man." --St. Francis of Assisi"As you do unto the least of mine, so you do also unto me" --The ChristSince people don't always understand when they are being cruel, adults need education, too. If you are not a teacher, please urge your local schools to integrate humane education into their curricula. If you are a teacher, bring humane education into your classroom. To help you, your local shelter may have outreach programs, education materials, camps, etc. You can also find plenty of humane ideas and activities at the Humane Education section, and on our children's websites, [...] and [...]

I bought one of these for me - and just LOVE IT! I am sending it to people who are ill and for all sorts of reasons to cheer anyone up.

This is a fascinating book and to see the odd friendship between animals. Some really odd combos but also so touching and warms the heart. Humans should take a lesson.

I enjoyed reading this book at a volunteer job that is somewhat boring. The stories are short and the reading is easy. The only problem was the tears I shed in public.

Enjoyed all the pictures and quick explanations of how these relationships came to be. We have had many pets and farm animals ourselves and to watch animals interact is great. This book graphically shows how string the pull of friendship is.

The photography and stories in this book are wonderful. I share stories from this book with seniors in an assisted living home. The residents really enjoy the beautiful pictures and hearing about the animals. The quality of the book is quite good. It's very substantial and not flimsy in any respect.

Have read this at least 1000 times and have given this book as a gift about the same amount! The only thing that will happen is that you will fall in love (again and again!) with the magic of the animal kingdom. Give yourself a real gift and purchase a copy.

Amo este libro.Lo he regalado ya más de 5 veces

動物たちはどのように気に入った相手を見つけるのでしょうか⁈チンパンジーと子猫は。ライオンと虎と熊は。蛇とハムスターは。小鹿と子猫は。・・・その姿を見ているだけで微笑ましくなる本です。

ＣＮＮのスタジオ番組で紹介されて盛り上がっているのみて即買いしました。アメリカ人もびっくりしてました。そこは同じ感覚なんですね（笑）表紙の写真だけでなくさまざまな組み合わせの動物がともだちになっている様子が写真からいきいきと伝わってきます。こんな世界があるのかと驚き、かつ楽しめます。英語が読めなくても十分癒されます。この本を教材が代わりに英語学習にチャレンジするのも悪くないと思います。

動物好きな人におすすめできる、異種動物同士の素晴らしい47つのストーリー(実話)。"The Seeing-Eye Cat and the Blind Mutt"は読んで泣きました。(;_;)

友人に誕生日のプレゼントに頂いた。英文は大変ですが、すこしづつ、、、ありえないシーンに感動しています。