ER VETS: LIFE IN AN ANIMAL EMERGENCY ROOM

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Jackson, Donna. 2005. ER VETS: LIFE IN AN ANIMAL EMERGENCY ROOM.
Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0618436634.

PLOT SUMMARY
Interested in pets or vets? This book has it all! From the black-eyed dog looking directly at the reader on the front cover through the front and back flaps and end covers which are filled with copies of real thank-you notes from owners, ending with snapshots on the back cover of many different kinds of pets, this publication is full of interesting text, tidbits, research, history, and pictures. Most of all, the text is comprised of stories. Stories of real pets and their owners and the real tragedies that they have experienced. The author has filled the pages with bright pictures, precise information, and a clear line of organization from the opening saga of an emergency, followed by a calm presentation of facts. The orderliness continues with a historical account of the field of veterinary medicine which is followed by true reports of different animals with varying issues, problems and illnesses, even addressing the death of a pet.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
There are no stereotypes located in this report! All kinds of animals are represented as pets. This is not the ordinary cat and dog shop! The author grabs the audience at the beginning with gripping details of an emergency and then settles the reader down to learn about the basics of emergency care for animals as well as a look into the history of the field. The layout is logical, maybe a bit busy at times, but always informative. All pictures possess detailed captions, allowing a child to view only from this angle, should s/he choose. Text contains sub headings which makes it easier for the reader to find specific information. The text is also designed and presented on blocks of light color against a white page or on blocks of white against a light color page. In spite of this design, the photographs take front and center attention, giving a super view of the animals and the people who help them. The organization includes the veterinarina’s oath, table of contents, presentation of a pet first-aid kit, a probing for more section with other publications and we sites, as well as definitions of critical terms, source notes and a bibliography!





REVIEW
Horn Book (January/February, 2006)
“A bright, colorful design and "aww"-inspiring photographs of pets in various stages of care enhance this exploration of the workings of a veterinary emergency room. Profiles of the doctors, vet techs (i.e., nurses), and grief counselors alternate with case studies of stricken animals, a history of veterinary medicine, and commonsense tips on such topics as preventative care and how to gauge a pet's health. Jackson's lively narrative incorporates interviews with ER staff members at Colorado State University's veterinary teaching hospital, whose concern and affection for their charges emerge clearly on the page. The case studies of the animals themselves, mostly happy (but, realistically, not always), serve both to provide direction for the text and to keep the focus where it belongs: on the pets and the owners who love them. Short chapters keep the pace moving; sidebars offer tidbits of hard information on such topics as decoding ER lingo and reading animal vital signs. The end result is that there's plenty for just about every kind of reader, from those who crave stories to the most committed just-the-facts-ma'am nonfiction fan. A listing of further resources, both print and web, a glossary, source notes, and an index round out the back matter.”
School Library Journal (January 1, 2006)
“Gr 5-8-With plentiful, excellent-quality photographs, this highly visual book offers a behind-the-scenes look at an emergency animal hospital in Colorado. Well-researched and well-written, ER Vets is an engaging book on a hot topic.”

CONNECTIONS
This book is so well-organized and so packed with information that it could be utilized with almost any age reader. For a child to be able to enjoy this book on their own, they would need to be reading well on a 4th grade level or above.

This book would be a good choice to “preview” with the picture captions for a group of children.

Children love animal books and this one has all sorts of animals included! This would be especially good for study of jobs and occupations. The work of the people presented is very accurately documented.

This would also serve as a good piece of information for a child and/or family who may be have a pet with illness or injury. A real-life portrayal of a pet’s death is narrated as well.

This is an excellent example of a piece of non-fiction work that does not need to read from cover to cover in order to garner information from it.