Animals At Play: Rules of the Game by Marc Bekoff teaches, informs, and entertains. It looks like a picture book; but like other well-written non-fiction for children, all ages will enjoy and learn from this story. After all, Dr. Marc Bekoff is an ethologist who co-founded the Ethical Treatment of Animals with Jane Goodall. Bekoff taught biology at the University of Colorado for 34 years. Now he travels the world to teach others including prisoners, children and senior citizens. Articles in Ranger Rick, appearances on Animal Planet and National Geographic Television are also part of his resume. He also works closely with the children in Jane Goodall’s Roots and Shoots Institute.
What is an ethologist? This scientist is a zoologist who studies animal behavior. As Marc shows in Animals At Play, animals have rules too. One thing every animal does before chasing or tumbling with his friend is to ask if the friend wants to play. Sometimes playmates will be too rough. Bekoff asks, “What do they do?” and he answers, they apologize, of course, just like you.” Part of the attraction, however, of Animals At Play is Bekoff’s effortless connection between human and animal behavior without giving the animals anthropomorphic, or human, qualities.
Looking at the paragraph length on each page, the adult reader might mistake this book for older children. However, it makes a great read-aloud book for the four-year-old crowd. The pictures by Michael J. DiMotta are filled with the action that Bekoff describes.
