When David Rice was seven years old, he observed a small dog trying to wake its mother which had been killed by a passing car. As he watched the grieving puppy's vain attempts, he was struck by the depth of sadness and pain. David's lifelong interest in feelings—both animal and human—comes through in his books, Do Animals Have Feelings Too?, Lifetimes and Because Brian Hugged His Mother. Lifetimes introduces some of nature's longest, shortest and most unusual lifetimes and the lessons we can learn from them. Because Brian Hugged His Mother shows how a chain reaction of kindness can spread through a whole school and community as a result of a single hug. David Rice is retired elementary and special education teacher, currently residing in southern California. Trudy Calvert grew up in a rural, wooded area, near a creek where some of her first friends were tadpoles, minnows, ducks, squirrels and snakes. She raised a baby robin, and later a coyote pup that had been hit by a car. As an art teacher, and now as a full time professional artist, Trudy has a passionate love of nature and animals. She is past president of the Indiana Wildlife Artists, a group that promotes wildlife art. Often she can sense what animals are feeling and responds without needing spoken words. Do Animals Have Feelings To? is Trudy's first book with Dawn Publications.
This is an excellent resource for parents and teachers looking for ways to initiate discussions with children about what qualities are important to us--human and animal.