Dr. Rosie Helps the Animals
In the inspiring picture book Dr. Rosie Helps the Animals, a veterinarian’s daughter dreams about treating animals in need herself.
Jennifer Welborn’s picture book Dr. Rosie Helps the Animals encourages awareness of animal welfare.
Rosie likes to watch her mother, an animal doctor, as she cares for her patients. Rosie’s mother answers all of her questions, such as why she uses certain treatments for animals based on their ailments—including a “special honey” to soothe a laceration. After watching her mother, Rosie gains the confidence to help the sick animals that she sees too. For instance, she helps a rabbit with an irritated ear and alleviates a giraffe’s sore throat. Each animal is relieved by her skills.
However, Rosie’s treatments of the animals are underexplained—and some are ill-advised. She sticks her hand inside a crocodile’s mouth to massage its toothache and she uses a compress on an octopus. Such portrayals minimize the dangers and effects of wild animal care. A late revelation does soothe some related concerns, though, and the book takes care to state that treating wild animals should be left to a real veterinarian.
Rosie moves between environments, helping different animals in each, including a polar bear. The changing scenery makes for an active tale. Indeed, there are new colors on every page, as well as gradient shading. Sometimes, though, Rosie (whose facial features shift) fades into the background elements. Further, the animals’ facial features are flat, as are the white spaces between illustrations.
In the inspiring picture book Dr. Rosie Helps the Animals, a veterinarian’s daughter dreams about treating animals in need herself.
Reviewed by
Aleena Ortiz
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book and paid a small fee to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. Foreword Reviews and Clarion Reviews make no guarantee that the publisher will receive a positive review. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
