Friday 4 December 2009

FACTUAL REVIEW: The Hippo with Toothache - Lucy H Spelman, Ted Y Mashima

BOOK BLURB:

Meet Mohan, a rhino with painfully sore feet. And Patch, a falcon with a broken wishbone. And Kachina, a bear cub with brittle bones. Not to mention Alfredito, a hippo suffering from a sever bout of toothache. All these animals owe their lives to the dedicated zoo and wild animal vets who employ boundless ingenuity and expertise to care for them and who, in this beguiling book, tell the stories of their most memorable cases. They describe not only the meticulous detective work that goes into making a diagnosis but also the pioneering techniques they have developed. And they talk freely and movingly about the bonds they form with their exotic patients.. Whether it's one doctor's determined effort to save a critically ill lemur, the neurosurgeon who was persuaded to operate on a paralysed kangaroo, or the vet who refused to give up on an orphaned baby beluga whale, these are acts of rescue, kindness and co-operation that will warm every animal lover's heart.


REVIEW:

Animal stories are always interesting and when you get a novel full of true tales its not only engaging but something that’s guaranteed to keep the reader glued. Full of short poignant tales of how differing vets have gone to make a wild animals life better its not only heartwarming but the simplicity on how each interaction with the creature changed the humans relationship with them really is something to enjoy.

Add to this that each chapter is a few pages long and its bite sized chunks that leave a warm glow for the reader upon completion, ideal for travel journeys or even short hops its definitely something that will cheer the reader over the holiday period. A great offering and one that will endear itself to many.

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