It’s a little over a year ago that I reviewed It’s a Wonderful World by Jess French and today I’m very pleased to feature another of her books for children – Pets and their People. My huge thanks to Natasha Finn at DK for sending me a copy in return for an honest review.

Pets and their People was published by DK on 6th April 2023 and is available for purchase through the links here.

Pets and their People

Learn everything there is to know in this heartwarming guide about pets of all kinds, and the many different ways to take care of them and give them the happiest life possible.

In this ultimate guide to pets, whether you’ve got them or not, children will enjoy learning lots about the different animals that we might think of as pets, including their history, behaviour, and body language. Discover practical things to do with pets, such as how to treat them kindly, look after their everyday needs, and give them the best life possible.

With author and vet Dr Jess French, delve deeper into the world of pets than you ever have before! The best thing is, you don’t even need a pet to enjoy them. Pets and Their People provides inspiration for kids aged 7-9 who can’t own pets, showing them that we can care for animals in lots of other ways – from volunteering at animal shelters to leaving food for them out in the wild. From old favourites such as playful puppies and cuddly cats, to more unusual pets such as lizards and snakes, to bugs and hedgehogs in parks and gardens, there are many fascinating animals to meet.

Inside the pages of this adorable book about pets, you’ll find:

– Age-appropriate, exciting and varied information for 7-9 year olds, with a visual guide showing how a newborn kitten grows into a cat and what it needs at each stage, a guide to encouraging good pet behaviour, poorly pets and how vets help them, playing with and grooming pets, pet history, fun facts, mythbusters, and much more.
– A broad range of pets, including dogs, cats, hamsters, guinea pigs, other rodents, horses, rabbits, a range of reptiles, birds and more!
– High-quality photography to give children an accurate understanding of how healthy pets look and behave, plus beautiful illustrations created from well-researched sources that are authentic and trustworthy.

From fluffy and friendly to scaly and shy, our pets are all wonderfully unique, so let’s find out how to take good care of them so they feel just like part of the family! Have you ever wondered why cats meow at us but not at each other? When will a dog wag its tail at you? What should you feed a pet snake? And how can you provide a happy home for animals in the wild? Find out all these things and much, much more as you turn the fact-filled pages of this educational animal book.

My Review of Pets and their People

Everything a child might want to know about pets!

It’s actually really tricky to review Pets and their People as reading the blurb says it all. This is a super book for children aged 7-9 that gives them real insight into the world of animals at just the right level of language and information, so that they can understand both the pleasures and the responsibilities of pet ownership.

As ever with a DK book, the physical quality of Pets and their People means it will endure robust handling in schools and the home. Thick, strong covers hold vibrant illustrations and photographs to support the text and it’s so pleasing to realise the book is produced through sustainable sources. Indeed, the balance of text and image means that there is plenty to engage emergent or reluctant readers and I thoroughly appreciated the use of different ethnic characters in the images so that Pets and their People feels inclusive. The glossary at the end of the book helps children understand and acquire new vocabulary and the index is great for  developing research skills rather than just a reliance on Google for finding information.

The range of animals means there is something to appeal to all children and the book is packed with interesting facts. I had no idea a ferret could be an electrician! However, what works so well in Pets and their People is the way in which pets are put first in the title and the way in which children are encouraged to engage with animals even if they are not able to have a pet at home. Jess French encourages children to understand and protect the natural world with ideas any child can adopt. I’d love to see a home or primary school project making bug hotels for example.

I think Pets and their People is a book to educate, inspire and fire the imagination and a love of animals far beyond the conventional dog or cat as a pet for young children. It’s great.

About Jess French

Jess French is a nature lover, TV presenter, author, and qualified vet. She is known for her show on CBeebies, called ‘Minibeast Adventure with Jess’, which encourages children to explore the outdoors and get to know the bugs around them. She has written two other books for DK, What a Waste, which tackles the subject of sustainability for children, and The Book of Brilliant Bugs, which explores the world of minibeasts. Jess is a keen conservationist and has a passion for oceans and the animal world.

For further information, follow Jess on Twitter @Zoologist_Jess or find her on Instagram.