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How to Hold Animals
How to Hold Animals is the irresistible guide to holding more than forty critters according to advice from wildlife specialists.
Learn from the experts—a pet shop owner, a veterinarian, a wildlife photographer, and a reptile handler—how to pick up and hold dozens of species of animals, great and small, furry, scaly, and feathery, including snails, chipmunks, chickens, chinchillas, stag beetles, lizards, hamsters, owls, grasshoppers, mice, and more. Chock full of fascinating facts, interviews with experts, and full-color photos on every page, How to Hold Animals will delight and inform animal lovers of all stripes.
Learn from the experts—a pet shop owner, a veterinarian, a wildlife photographer, and a reptile handler—how to pick up and hold dozens of species of animals, great and small, furry, scaly, and feathery, including snails, chipmunks, chickens, chinchillas, stag beetles, lizards, hamsters, owls, grasshoppers, mice, and more. Chock full of fascinating facts, interviews with experts, and full-color photos on every page, How to Hold Animals will delight and inform animal lovers of all stripes.
128 pages, Hardcover
Published November 3, 2020
7 people are currently reading
411 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
August 10, 2020
I was taken in by the adorable cover of this book. I thought it would be a whimsical and helpful guide to holding animals for kids. It is designed for kids and adults, written by several Japanese men (a pet shop owner, a veterinarian, a reptile handler and a wildlife photographer) but I cannot describe it as very whimsical.
I actually felt bad for the animals in many of the cases. It focuses mostly on the specific animals these men seem to encounter, with a major focus on reptiles and bugs especially. It starts with a little blurb about how children should be encouraged to hold animals but I don't even agree with this. There's really no reason a child needs to learn how to catch and hold a dragonfly, butterfly or other insect easily harmed by being held.
Our kids frequently hold butterflies that we raise and release or encounter in our gardens, but they willingly crawl onto their fingers or land on them. The kids never restrain them or pinch their wings shut like this book demonstrates.
There's also no reason a child needs to learn how to hold a dangerous animal that has painful bites, kicks or stings (or in the case of prairie dogs, is one of the best ways to still catch the plague in the United States!).
I'm just baffled as to why I would want to teach my kids how to catch and hold a scorpion, a monitor lizard or an alligator snapping turtle. Many of the descriptions tell kids that the animals are likely to bite and it will be painful or there will be a lot of bloodshed.
The end section has animals that are especially dangerous like anacondas and crocodiles. It tells kids not to hold them but it has pictures of the author holding them all and still gives advice about how to do it.
I liked the section featuring the vet the best. Those animals struck me as typical pets (rabbits, dogs of different sizes, cats, hamsters, etc.) and it was good advice about how to hold them to treat them as a vet, to not get injured, and to make them feel safe.
The wild sections and the exotic pet sections seemed far more exploitative of the animals and just left a bad taste in my mouth. If the book featured the vet then I'd probably give it 4 stars, but that was only a short section and the other sections really seemed unwise, unsafe and sometimes inhumane.
Yes, kids can learn how to grab insects and reptiles in the wild and hold them without hurting them, but how many attempts will it take before they get the knack, and how many creatures will they harm (and bites and stings will they incur, in some cases) before they get it down? It’s not necessary. Leave wildlife alone and take a picture, or just watch them and let them be on their way.
While I would recommend the vet section for helpful information for holding pets (and an injured owl), I have serious reservations about the advice pertaining to capturing and holding wildlife, for both ethical and safety reasons.
I read a digital ARC of this book for review.
I actually felt bad for the animals in many of the cases. It focuses mostly on the specific animals these men seem to encounter, with a major focus on reptiles and bugs especially. It starts with a little blurb about how children should be encouraged to hold animals but I don't even agree with this. There's really no reason a child needs to learn how to catch and hold a dragonfly, butterfly or other insect easily harmed by being held.
Our kids frequently hold butterflies that we raise and release or encounter in our gardens, but they willingly crawl onto their fingers or land on them. The kids never restrain them or pinch their wings shut like this book demonstrates.
There's also no reason a child needs to learn how to hold a dangerous animal that has painful bites, kicks or stings (or in the case of prairie dogs, is one of the best ways to still catch the plague in the United States!).
I'm just baffled as to why I would want to teach my kids how to catch and hold a scorpion, a monitor lizard or an alligator snapping turtle. Many of the descriptions tell kids that the animals are likely to bite and it will be painful or there will be a lot of bloodshed.
The end section has animals that are especially dangerous like anacondas and crocodiles. It tells kids not to hold them but it has pictures of the author holding them all and still gives advice about how to do it.
I liked the section featuring the vet the best. Those animals struck me as typical pets (rabbits, dogs of different sizes, cats, hamsters, etc.) and it was good advice about how to hold them to treat them as a vet, to not get injured, and to make them feel safe.
The wild sections and the exotic pet sections seemed far more exploitative of the animals and just left a bad taste in my mouth. If the book featured the vet then I'd probably give it 4 stars, but that was only a short section and the other sections really seemed unwise, unsafe and sometimes inhumane.
Yes, kids can learn how to grab insects and reptiles in the wild and hold them without hurting them, but how many attempts will it take before they get the knack, and how many creatures will they harm (and bites and stings will they incur, in some cases) before they get it down? It’s not necessary. Leave wildlife alone and take a picture, or just watch them and let them be on their way.
While I would recommend the vet section for helpful information for holding pets (and an injured owl), I have serious reservations about the advice pertaining to capturing and holding wildlife, for both ethical and safety reasons.
I read a digital ARC of this book for review.
August 13, 2020
I really wanted to like this one. The pictures are great and the information is interesting. I just can’t shake the feeling that a lot of animals are going to end up unintentionally maimed by over-excited kids picking up bugs they never should’ve been handling in the first place.
This unbiased review is based on a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
This unbiased review is based on a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
February 15, 2022
Ik kocht dit boek vanwege mijn onderzoek, en verwachtte eigenlijk al dat het niet erg diervriendelijk ging zijn, maar het werd nog erger (thanks to het nawoord). De plaatjes en vormgeving is heel mooi en fascinerend, maar ik heb toch heel wat problemen met dit boek. Vooral de reden waarom het geschreven is en de keuzes die daarom zijn gemaakt staan me een beetje tegen. In het nawoord schrijft Toshimitsu Matsuhashi namelijk dat dit boek is ontstaan uit zijn liefde voor dieren en daar kan ik (deels) in meegaan, daarom heb ik dit boek ook gekocht. Waar ik tegenaanloop is zijn argumentatie dat kinderen niet van dieren kunnen houden, wanneer ze ze niet aan mogen raken, en geeft als het ware een pleidooi tegen het beleid van natuurbeschermend door middel van het benadrukken van conservatie en protectie. Matsuhashi is daarentegen van mening dat kinderen juist (wilde!) dieren moeten kunnen aanraken, omdat anders hun interesse weggaat ("If they're told they're not allowed to catch living things, their interest goed elsewhere. As a result, ignorance about nature grows. Children's sinds aren't stimulatie by bossy adults."). Hij pleit er daarom voor om kinderen juist op pad te laten gaan om dieren te vangen (nogmaals: wilde (!) dieren, niet zomaar handtamme kinderboerderijpony's) zodat hun interesse op die manier blijft. Als een interesse alleen aan blijft omdat je iets aan mag raken, lijkt het mij in eerste instantie al niet een (oprechte) interesse. Daarnaast: nooit geleerd 'kijken doe je met je ogen'? Ik kan dus geen passie voor walvisachtigen koesteren omdat ik er nog nooit een gezien, laat staan vastgehouden heb? Zeer riskante argumentatie.
De in dit boek beschreven methoden kunnen gewoon (levens)gevaarlijk zijn voor dieren waarbij er geen noodzaak is om ze op te pakken, bijvoorbeeld zoals het vasthouden van vlinders en libellen beschreven wordt (dus niet een vlinder die op je komt zitten of insect dat zelf op je hand loopt, maar jij die een vlinder bij de vleugels beet moet pakken) wat gewoon gevaarlijk is voor die beestjes en hen kan beschadigen en uiteindelijk doden. Lijkt me niet dat je echt van dieren houdt als je weet dat jouw (onnodige) actie kan leiden toch beschadigingen van het dier. Daarnaast wordt ook het vangen en meenemen van dieren gepromoot, bijvoorbeeld het vangen van insecten of kleine knaagdieren om ze thuis te houden. Lijkt me ook zeker niet bevorderlijk voor het ecosysteem als jouw vorm van natuurbescherming eigenlijk gewoon betekent 'pakken wat je pakken kan'.
Naast gevaar voor de dieren en hun omgeving, worden er in dit boek bijvoorbeeld ook methoden beschreven om (giftige) schorpioenen, kikkers en slangen te vangen en vast te houden. Punt 1: als jij een slang als huisdier hebt en wilt weten hoe je hem vast moet houden, hoop ik toch echt dat je dat van tevoren op zijn minst hebt nagevraagd of uitgezocht voor je een slang in huis haalde (naast dat ik vind dat je dat überhaupt niet zou moeten doen, maar goed). Punt 2: levensgevaarlijk voor die kinderen??? Hoezo ga je stimuleren om giftige dieren op te pakken en ga je er vanuit dat ze door jouw boek dit in een keer goed doen?? Sinds wanneer zijn giftige dieren een speelobject?? Er worden zelfs methoden beschreven om boze kevers en vogelspinnen op te pakken?? Waarom is toch altijd de mens zoveel belangrijker, en als een dier zelf aangeeft dat je uit zijn buurt moet blijven mag dat gewoon genegeerd worden (los van medische noodzaken natuurlijk)??
Nou oké, dit boek is duidelijk niet goed voor mijn hart noch voor dieren noch voor kinderen. Maar echt ronduit schadelijk (wanneer stoppen we met dieren te zien als entertainment en speelgoed???? aaaa). Mooie plaatjes, en eigenlijk was dit precies wat ik ervan verwachtte, maar ik had toch tevergeefse hoop dat het niet zo erg zou zijn als ik vreesde.
De in dit boek beschreven methoden kunnen gewoon (levens)gevaarlijk zijn voor dieren waarbij er geen noodzaak is om ze op te pakken, bijvoorbeeld zoals het vasthouden van vlinders en libellen beschreven wordt (dus niet een vlinder die op je komt zitten of insect dat zelf op je hand loopt, maar jij die een vlinder bij de vleugels beet moet pakken) wat gewoon gevaarlijk is voor die beestjes en hen kan beschadigen en uiteindelijk doden. Lijkt me niet dat je echt van dieren houdt als je weet dat jouw (onnodige) actie kan leiden toch beschadigingen van het dier. Daarnaast wordt ook het vangen en meenemen van dieren gepromoot, bijvoorbeeld het vangen van insecten of kleine knaagdieren om ze thuis te houden. Lijkt me ook zeker niet bevorderlijk voor het ecosysteem als jouw vorm van natuurbescherming eigenlijk gewoon betekent 'pakken wat je pakken kan'.
Naast gevaar voor de dieren en hun omgeving, worden er in dit boek bijvoorbeeld ook methoden beschreven om (giftige) schorpioenen, kikkers en slangen te vangen en vast te houden. Punt 1: als jij een slang als huisdier hebt en wilt weten hoe je hem vast moet houden, hoop ik toch echt dat je dat van tevoren op zijn minst hebt nagevraagd of uitgezocht voor je een slang in huis haalde (naast dat ik vind dat je dat überhaupt niet zou moeten doen, maar goed). Punt 2: levensgevaarlijk voor die kinderen??? Hoezo ga je stimuleren om giftige dieren op te pakken en ga je er vanuit dat ze door jouw boek dit in een keer goed doen?? Sinds wanneer zijn giftige dieren een speelobject?? Er worden zelfs methoden beschreven om boze kevers en vogelspinnen op te pakken?? Waarom is toch altijd de mens zoveel belangrijker, en als een dier zelf aangeeft dat je uit zijn buurt moet blijven mag dat gewoon genegeerd worden (los van medische noodzaken natuurlijk)??
Nou oké, dit boek is duidelijk niet goed voor mijn hart noch voor dieren noch voor kinderen. Maar echt ronduit schadelijk (wanneer stoppen we met dieren te zien als entertainment en speelgoed???? aaaa). Mooie plaatjes, en eigenlijk was dit precies wat ik ervan verwachtte, maar ik had toch tevergeefse hoop dat het niet zo erg zou zijn als ik vreesde.
July 15, 2022
Matsuhashi is an animal photographer whose specific expertise is largely limited to bothering local (that is, Japanese) bugs, and he enlists the assistance of a pet shop owner, a veterinarian, and a reptile shop owner.
A surprising proportion of the animals covered—forty-one out of eighty-five—are bugs, in fact, and most of those are in Matsuhashi's section. Most of them are bugs that Japanese boys might stereotypically collect (butterflies, various large beetles), that tedious people keep as pets (tarantulas, hissing cockroaches), or that get used in bloodsports in Japan (Japanese rhinoceros beetles, stag beetles, &c.), some of them are bugs there's really no reason ever to handle (millipedes, scorpions, giant water bugs); in all cases, the concern is almost entirely on how to avoid injury to yourself, with the welfare of the animal itself being a distant afterthought if it's considered at all. And that's still better than the rest of his section, which encourages you to hold wild frogs and toads (noting that they can be poisonous) and lizards and fucking snakes (his funny anecdote about his colleague ending up in the hospital because she wanted to show him a pit viper by picking it up seems not to have made an impression on him)—Matsuhashi's stated goal is to encourage kids to pick up animals to feel closer to nature, mind.
Rounding out his lot are snails and slugs. Snails he holds by the shell, which is obvious and fair enough; no space is given to picking them up, though, and if you pick them up by the shell from a flat stone or engineered surface, you're liable to cause mantle collapse and even kill them outright. For slugs he suggests disposable chopsticks ("to avoid slime"), which is a straightforward way to kill them painfully even if you're good with chopsticks.
The sections by the other contributors aren't much better; the pet shop owner is one of those who sell sugar gliders, which tells you all you need to know about his concern for animal welfare, and the reptile shop owner suggests picking up most turtles by their top shell. The vet's section is obviously alright, but also pretty much common sense—everyone knows how to pick up a dog or cat and to wear gloves if you're going to pick up a hedgehog, which you shouldn't if you can help it.
The pictures are high-quality, at least—they're obviously what got my attention in the first place—but they don't make up for the bad advice. And the thing is, as harmful as many of the ways of picking up animals described here are to the animals (especially the bugs), for many of them (exclusively the bugs) it probably really is the best way, which is a good demonstration of a crucial point Matsuhashi fails to make: the best way to hold almost all animals is not at all.
Stop bothering the wildlife. If you want to "become more attuned to the natural world", per the back cover, just sit and watch.
A surprising proportion of the animals covered—forty-one out of eighty-five—are bugs, in fact, and most of those are in Matsuhashi's section. Most of them are bugs that Japanese boys might stereotypically collect (butterflies, various large beetles), that tedious people keep as pets (tarantulas, hissing cockroaches), or that get used in bloodsports in Japan (Japanese rhinoceros beetles, stag beetles, &c.), some of them are bugs there's really no reason ever to handle (millipedes, scorpions, giant water bugs); in all cases, the concern is almost entirely on how to avoid injury to yourself, with the welfare of the animal itself being a distant afterthought if it's considered at all. And that's still better than the rest of his section, which encourages you to hold wild frogs and toads (noting that they can be poisonous) and lizards and fucking snakes (his funny anecdote about his colleague ending up in the hospital because she wanted to show him a pit viper by picking it up seems not to have made an impression on him)—Matsuhashi's stated goal is to encourage kids to pick up animals to feel closer to nature, mind.
Rounding out his lot are snails and slugs. Snails he holds by the shell, which is obvious and fair enough; no space is given to picking them up, though, and if you pick them up by the shell from a flat stone or engineered surface, you're liable to cause mantle collapse and even kill them outright. For slugs he suggests disposable chopsticks ("to avoid slime"), which is a straightforward way to kill them painfully even if you're good with chopsticks.
The sections by the other contributors aren't much better; the pet shop owner is one of those who sell sugar gliders, which tells you all you need to know about his concern for animal welfare, and the reptile shop owner suggests picking up most turtles by their top shell. The vet's section is obviously alright, but also pretty much common sense—everyone knows how to pick up a dog or cat and to wear gloves if you're going to pick up a hedgehog, which you shouldn't if you can help it.
The pictures are high-quality, at least—they're obviously what got my attention in the first place—but they don't make up for the bad advice. And the thing is, as harmful as many of the ways of picking up animals described here are to the animals (especially the bugs), for many of them (exclusively the bugs) it probably really is the best way, which is a good demonstration of a crucial point Matsuhashi fails to make: the best way to hold almost all animals is not at all.
Stop bothering the wildlife. If you want to "become more attuned to the natural world", per the back cover, just sit and watch.
November 10, 2020
I really enjoyed this very thorough non fiction book written by well known vets in Japan about how to hold large and small animals, critters, insects, birds, spiders, and many more. I am very surprised it even included how to hold a cockroach. Not that I would want to, but someone may and there is always the right way to handle these creatures without hurting them.
I found that the pictures really helped. I have budgies and it was great to see the proper way of handling them. I feel that this book would really make a great resource for animal lovers, teachers with their students, and parents as they explore the world with their children. The photos in every page were incredible and really did teach me a lot.
I highly recommend this amazing book full of wonderful information.
I found that the pictures really helped. I have budgies and it was great to see the proper way of handling them. I feel that this book would really make a great resource for animal lovers, teachers with their students, and parents as they explore the world with their children. The photos in every page were incredible and really did teach me a lot.
I highly recommend this amazing book full of wonderful information.
August 24, 2020
| Review on Reader Fox Blog |
Honestly, I was a little thrown by How to Hold Animals by Toshimitsu Matsuhashi. On the one hand, I can certainly consider this an incredibly informative book about the proper ways to handle various creatures that a person may end up coming across in their lives. On the other, it's a bit over the top and, considering the fact that the audience is supposed to be children, a bit too encouraging in the wrong direction at times. The thing is, I did my fair share of picking up various insects and animals as a kid, but there really is a line to be drawn at some point
I'll give the author and contributors this, they certainly have a point when it comes to proper animal care while picking them up. It's basically a certainty that I probably harmed any countless number of insects when I was a child hellbent on picking them up and taking them home to keep as pets. So, teaching the no doubt numerous children who do have the audacity to pluck up unsuspecting creatures from the ground the ways to do so without harming the animals is a noble endeavor
And of course the contributors to this book are all highly qualified professionals, ranging from veterinarians to pet shop owners. These are the kind of people who handle animals of all varieties for a living, and so naturally they have a wealth of knowledge with which to educate the youth of our world. In that, I really loved this book. And I do genuinely feel that even I, at twenty-seven, learned a lot about how to hold these creatures in a way that I will certainly pass on to any children I have in the future.
Of course, there is a bit of a downside
Had this book been written for adults, I probably wouldn't have really taken issue with any of it. There's a lot of useful information for any reader and it certainly offers insight into some potentially fun--albeit some also dangerous--experiences that I can't really bar an adult from going after. I don't think this book is in any way a substitute for professional training, of course. But, I can say that if you're an adult and you make a decision to do something potentially dangerous like pick up a snake...well, your decision.
That said, I don't really appreciate the fact that such suggestions are made in a book that is primarily meant to educate parents and children. Sure, for the average pet store snake...I understand. I don't particularly have any interest, but I don't really see a problem either. It's the more dangerous snakes and animals that make me feel incredibly weary of this book's encouragement for children to go around picking up all kinds of creatures
I applaud the endeavor to educate all in grabbing various animals in the safe and proper way, both for the holder and the animal, but I don't know if I'd go as far as to say that more children need to be picking up various animals they find about them. Sure, go pick up a butterfly--and don't damage their wings while doing it; I don't particularly agree with the method they use in the book and much prefer to have a butterfly walk across my hand--but don't go grabbing at the random snake in your backyard.
Even if it is a garter snake. There's just a limit. Either way, this book is informative and, if you're going to be picking up the creatures in your backyard, worth a read.
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Honestly, I was a little thrown by How to Hold Animals by Toshimitsu Matsuhashi. On the one hand, I can certainly consider this an incredibly informative book about the proper ways to handle various creatures that a person may end up coming across in their lives. On the other, it's a bit over the top and, considering the fact that the audience is supposed to be children, a bit too encouraging in the wrong direction at times. The thing is, I did my fair share of picking up various insects and animals as a kid, but there really is a line to be drawn at some point
I'll give the author and contributors this, they certainly have a point when it comes to proper animal care while picking them up. It's basically a certainty that I probably harmed any countless number of insects when I was a child hellbent on picking them up and taking them home to keep as pets. So, teaching the no doubt numerous children who do have the audacity to pluck up unsuspecting creatures from the ground the ways to do so without harming the animals is a noble endeavor
And of course the contributors to this book are all highly qualified professionals, ranging from veterinarians to pet shop owners. These are the kind of people who handle animals of all varieties for a living, and so naturally they have a wealth of knowledge with which to educate the youth of our world. In that, I really loved this book. And I do genuinely feel that even I, at twenty-seven, learned a lot about how to hold these creatures in a way that I will certainly pass on to any children I have in the future.
Of course, there is a bit of a downside
Had this book been written for adults, I probably wouldn't have really taken issue with any of it. There's a lot of useful information for any reader and it certainly offers insight into some potentially fun--albeit some also dangerous--experiences that I can't really bar an adult from going after. I don't think this book is in any way a substitute for professional training, of course. But, I can say that if you're an adult and you make a decision to do something potentially dangerous like pick up a snake...well, your decision.
That said, I don't really appreciate the fact that such suggestions are made in a book that is primarily meant to educate parents and children. Sure, for the average pet store snake...I understand. I don't particularly have any interest, but I don't really see a problem either. It's the more dangerous snakes and animals that make me feel incredibly weary of this book's encouragement for children to go around picking up all kinds of creatures
I applaud the endeavor to educate all in grabbing various animals in the safe and proper way, both for the holder and the animal, but I don't know if I'd go as far as to say that more children need to be picking up various animals they find about them. Sure, go pick up a butterfly--and don't damage their wings while doing it; I don't particularly agree with the method they use in the book and much prefer to have a butterfly walk across my hand--but don't go grabbing at the random snake in your backyard.
Even if it is a garter snake. There's just a limit. Either way, this book is informative and, if you're going to be picking up the creatures in your backyard, worth a read.
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July 6, 2021
A great book about holding animals, but it is all about animals in Japan! It still has pets like hamsters, mice. dogs, cats, chinchillas, etc….but it also has other more unusual pets found in Asia. It also talks about when you find turtles, crayfish, frogs, snakes, insects, and other animals in the wild. Informative, but also strange, the entire book discusses what Asian countries and locations to find the animals in.
June 7, 2021
A strange little book that contains animals that would be VERY unlikely to be found in the US, but useful nonetheless. The only page I skipped was the one about cockroaches and centipedes. Otherwise, I now know more about how to pick up all the doggos I want (even the very large doggos).
Read
June 3, 2025Apparently kids aren't holding animals much anymore because no one is teaching them how to, so they had to write a book about it.
September 12, 2020
Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
How to Hold Animals is an interesting picture book for young readers(?). Due out 3rd Nov 2020 from Simon & Schuster on their Scribner imprint, it's 128 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats.
This is a difficult book to review. On one hand, there are certainly times when knowing how to handle a pet or potentially injured animal safely is very important. On the other hand, most of this book's content isn't concerned with house pets, but with wild/exotic animals and especially insects and reptiles. The book is divided into sections with photo tutorials from a veterinarian, a photographer, a pet shop owner, and a reptile handler (!!).
I can't think of many situations where children really should be learning this information. Most insects and many animals are relatively fragile and can easily be injured or killed by mishandling. Additionally, this book covers quite a number of poisonous and/or venomous animals and the author states quite clearly that handling these animals badly will result in painful bites or bloodshed or both. Since the book includes pictures of people handling crocodiles, monitor lizards, and poisonous snakes, I'm a little wary of enthusiastically recommending that kids should be encouraged to follow suit. The author does stop short of directly encouraging kids to grab their local alligators, but there are -numerous- photos of butterflies, crickets (which can give a fairly painful bite), praying mantids, and -scorpions- in the book.
Maybe this book is meant as satire, and I'm just too square to get it, because I did get a giggle out of picture sidebars which said things like: "Always expect it to bite!" and "Poisonous lizards are rather excitable" and "Crocodiles are really strong". There are several places in the text where the author says straight out: "To me, merely watching animals is the same as not being interested in them. Instead of talking loftily about animal protection, I'd rather pick an animal up". Additionally, I found it troubling that the author said "You could take this home and look after it. It would be interesting". Everyone knows that every kid ever has brought home frogs, toads, tadpoles, etc, but just capturing wild animals and bringing them home is (and should be) very frowned upon.
No, I can't recommend this book. The pictures are interesting, but no.
Two stars. Major problems.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
How to Hold Animals is an interesting picture book for young readers(?). Due out 3rd Nov 2020 from Simon & Schuster on their Scribner imprint, it's 128 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats.
This is a difficult book to review. On one hand, there are certainly times when knowing how to handle a pet or potentially injured animal safely is very important. On the other hand, most of this book's content isn't concerned with house pets, but with wild/exotic animals and especially insects and reptiles. The book is divided into sections with photo tutorials from a veterinarian, a photographer, a pet shop owner, and a reptile handler (!!).
I can't think of many situations where children really should be learning this information. Most insects and many animals are relatively fragile and can easily be injured or killed by mishandling. Additionally, this book covers quite a number of poisonous and/or venomous animals and the author states quite clearly that handling these animals badly will result in painful bites or bloodshed or both. Since the book includes pictures of people handling crocodiles, monitor lizards, and poisonous snakes, I'm a little wary of enthusiastically recommending that kids should be encouraged to follow suit. The author does stop short of directly encouraging kids to grab their local alligators, but there are -numerous- photos of butterflies, crickets (which can give a fairly painful bite), praying mantids, and -scorpions- in the book.
Maybe this book is meant as satire, and I'm just too square to get it, because I did get a giggle out of picture sidebars which said things like: "Always expect it to bite!" and "Poisonous lizards are rather excitable" and "Crocodiles are really strong". There are several places in the text where the author says straight out: "To me, merely watching animals is the same as not being interested in them. Instead of talking loftily about animal protection, I'd rather pick an animal up". Additionally, I found it troubling that the author said "You could take this home and look after it. It would be interesting". Everyone knows that every kid ever has brought home frogs, toads, tadpoles, etc, but just capturing wild animals and bringing them home is (and should be) very frowned upon.
No, I can't recommend this book. The pictures are interesting, but no.
Two stars. Major problems.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
August 29, 2020
This is a brief and very useful guide about how to pick up and hold animals safely without harm to them and yourself. It focuses mainly on wild animals but also has chapters on farm animals and domestic (pets) animals. Each animal is highly detailed about the areas of concern for their health and safety but to why you hold each animal a certain way that may not look normal but it is safe for all.
I appreciate all the details and photos in this book for a step by step how-to. I disagree with the restraint on house rabbits. For most rabbits, it is painful to be scruffed and can cause more fear to a prey animal. I volunteer at a House Rabbit Society on a regular basis, and even the rabbits know to bite, box, and grunt are handled in a way where if they kick it will not injure their spines. Hindquarters need to be supported to protect the spine!
A good reference but always talk to your vet if you have questions about how to hold your pet properly and always monitor young children with all house pets.
Thanks to Netgalley, Toshimitsu Matsuhashi and Scribnar for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Available: 11/3/20
I appreciate all the details and photos in this book for a step by step how-to. I disagree with the restraint on house rabbits. For most rabbits, it is painful to be scruffed and can cause more fear to a prey animal. I volunteer at a House Rabbit Society on a regular basis, and even the rabbits know to bite, box, and grunt are handled in a way where if they kick it will not injure their spines. Hindquarters need to be supported to protect the spine!
A good reference but always talk to your vet if you have questions about how to hold your pet properly and always monitor young children with all house pets.
Thanks to Netgalley, Toshimitsu Matsuhashi and Scribnar for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Available: 11/3/20
October 27, 2020
How to Hold Animals by Toshimitsu Matsuhashi is a non fiction book for children and adults alike that want to learn from the experts (a pet shop owner, a veterinarian, a wildlife photographer, and a reptile handler) about how to pick up and hold dozens of species of animals. From great to small, furry, scaly, and feathery, including snails, chipmunks, chickens, chinchillas, stag beetles, lizards, hamsters, owls, grasshoppers, mice, and more. Chock full of fascinating facts, interviews with experts, and full-color photos on every page. It is currently scheduled for release on November 3 2020.
How to Hold Animals is a wonderful resource for animal lovers that want to get hands on with their favorite creatures in a safe and respectful way. I really enjoyed the combination of great photographs, practical information, and additional interesting information about each creature. I think readers can use this book in several ways, as pointed out in the book's introduction. Readers could simply enjoy the photographs, which are well worth the time. Readers can also look at the information about the creatures they have the most interaction or interest in, or those that they are likely to see in the wild around them. They can also be like me, and read the text from cover to cover in an attempt to retain as much of the information as possible. I highly recommend adding this book to the collection of animal enthusiasts of all ages, although I think those going into animal care or inspiring to will get the most from this book. In fact, I think my daughter just might be getting a copy for Christmas since this is her favorite field of study.
How to Hold Animals is a wonderful resource for animal lovers that want to get hands on with their favorite creatures in a safe and respectful way. I really enjoyed the combination of great photographs, practical information, and additional interesting information about each creature. I think readers can use this book in several ways, as pointed out in the book's introduction. Readers could simply enjoy the photographs, which are well worth the time. Readers can also look at the information about the creatures they have the most interaction or interest in, or those that they are likely to see in the wild around them. They can also be like me, and read the text from cover to cover in an attempt to retain as much of the information as possible. I highly recommend adding this book to the collection of animal enthusiasts of all ages, although I think those going into animal care or inspiring to will get the most from this book. In fact, I think my daughter just might be getting a copy for Christmas since this is her favorite field of study.
October 9, 2022
3.5, rounded up.
I found the information in this very helpful because you never know what you might encounter on a walk or whatever. Imo the author encouraged picking up (wild) animals too much for my taste and I'm not much of a fan of exotic pets, which is why it's not a full 5/5. I do understand the author's intent tho, so I'm not too upset. Better safe than sorry, I get it.
Tbh I also think, that a lot of the reviews are overly critical. The author is Japanese, so pets that are exotic to us Westerners, might not be exotic to him and vice versa (e.g. hamsters apparently used to be unusual pets in Japan). It's weird to expect this book to cater to our experiences 1:1. Also, you don't necessarily have to encourage kids to pick up animals, they just do. Better teach them how to do it safely, so they won't get hurt or hurt the animal; at least that's my opinion as someone who unintentionally hurt animals as a kid because I was curious and clumsy.
Idk man, I think this guide is helpful; the people who worked on it are all very experienced in their field and when in doubt, I'd trust their approach. Matsuhashi also acknowledged that other people who have had other experiences could have their own techniques that work for them, so this is not the end-all-be-all guide; I think that's a very humble and realistic mindset to have and I appreciate that.
I found the information in this very helpful because you never know what you might encounter on a walk or whatever. Imo the author encouraged picking up (wild) animals too much for my taste and I'm not much of a fan of exotic pets, which is why it's not a full 5/5. I do understand the author's intent tho, so I'm not too upset. Better safe than sorry, I get it.
Tbh I also think, that a lot of the reviews are overly critical. The author is Japanese, so pets that are exotic to us Westerners, might not be exotic to him and vice versa (e.g. hamsters apparently used to be unusual pets in Japan). It's weird to expect this book to cater to our experiences 1:1. Also, you don't necessarily have to encourage kids to pick up animals, they just do. Better teach them how to do it safely, so they won't get hurt or hurt the animal; at least that's my opinion as someone who unintentionally hurt animals as a kid because I was curious and clumsy.
Idk man, I think this guide is helpful; the people who worked on it are all very experienced in their field and when in doubt, I'd trust their approach. Matsuhashi also acknowledged that other people who have had other experiences could have their own techniques that work for them, so this is not the end-all-be-all guide; I think that's a very humble and realistic mindset to have and I appreciate that.
November 17, 2023
As a parent and veterinarian I had more than a couple concerns about this book.
First, the author notes that the point of publishing the book was to encourage children to start engaging with the natural world again by going around picking up more animals. I agree that engaging with the natural world is a great gateway to the natural sciences, but as a kid who might have lost a finger to a snapping turtle, I think a reasonable amount of caution is prudent. He seemed to dismiss relatively out of hand the real dangers not only to children who might take this advice seriously, but also to the animals they might harass and harm. There were also some pieces of advice that seemed incomplete or incorrect - for instance, not disclosing that incorrect handling of a rabbit might result in the rabbit's spinal fracture and/or death or when they discussed letting a large constrictor hang around your neck "if you like that kind of thing" (as in like potentially being strangled to death?)
On top of that, American readers might not find the book very useful since it focuses on animals more likely to either be found natively in Japan or more likely kept as pets there. (You won't generally find a squirrel or a prairie dog in US pet shops). While there is some overlap these don't always match up well with the kind of critters folks in the states might expect to encounter.
First, the author notes that the point of publishing the book was to encourage children to start engaging with the natural world again by going around picking up more animals. I agree that engaging with the natural world is a great gateway to the natural sciences, but as a kid who might have lost a finger to a snapping turtle, I think a reasonable amount of caution is prudent. He seemed to dismiss relatively out of hand the real dangers not only to children who might take this advice seriously, but also to the animals they might harass and harm. There were also some pieces of advice that seemed incomplete or incorrect - for instance, not disclosing that incorrect handling of a rabbit might result in the rabbit's spinal fracture and/or death or when they discussed letting a large constrictor hang around your neck "if you like that kind of thing" (as in like potentially being strangled to death?)
On top of that, American readers might not find the book very useful since it focuses on animals more likely to either be found natively in Japan or more likely kept as pets there. (You won't generally find a squirrel or a prairie dog in US pet shops). While there is some overlap these don't always match up well with the kind of critters folks in the states might expect to encounter.
February 17, 2024
This quirky, informative and wholesome book was an impulse pick at the library (thereby confirming the power of face-out displays). I was attracted to the slightly weird premise, but it all made sense once I realised it was written by a Japanese author and photographer.
This book covers a wide range of creatures from insects to reptiles to more common pet animals such as cats and dogs. Many of these are not found in Australia, and some of them are more sensationalist inclusions such as poisonous or vicious snakes. The author mentioned that he wrote the book because he wanted to encourage more people (especially children) to get back in touch with nature - activities such as catching beetles and frogs were typical pastimes for kids from past generations but much less so now.
In addition to instructions on how to hold them, each creature is described in a profile including information on size, habitat, and general behaviour.
I can imagine this book being a delightful shared experience between an adult and a child.
Australian readers though, should be warned that we are legally discouraged from catching and handling native wildlife - in the best interests of wild creatures, it’s best to admire them from afar.
This book covers a wide range of creatures from insects to reptiles to more common pet animals such as cats and dogs. Many of these are not found in Australia, and some of them are more sensationalist inclusions such as poisonous or vicious snakes. The author mentioned that he wrote the book because he wanted to encourage more people (especially children) to get back in touch with nature - activities such as catching beetles and frogs were typical pastimes for kids from past generations but much less so now.
In addition to instructions on how to hold them, each creature is described in a profile including information on size, habitat, and general behaviour.
I can imagine this book being a delightful shared experience between an adult and a child.
Australian readers though, should be warned that we are legally discouraged from catching and handling native wildlife - in the best interests of wild creatures, it’s best to admire them from afar.
July 5, 2023
This guy is an idiot and the people I showed this book to agrees. He says parents of today's children don't feel close to nature so we lie to our children to make them afraid of nature and animals. Ummm where the hell did he come up with this stupid idea? We take our daughter outside to parks, lakes, hiking, and rock and fossil collecting. The amazing part is there are actually other kids with their parents enjoying nature. The real problem is that many of today's parents either don't introduce children to nature or allow their kids to become obessed with escaping reality through technology. As for the book I think its a bit pointless since I doubt many people are going to get a book on holding animals when you can google it or just not care and hold them the way they were taught. The final thing is that this is a book for kids yet I don't see many kids lifting up large dogs or even being close to some of these animals. Sorry but my kids are not going to be holding an Alligator Snapping Turtles, crocodiles, or a giant snake. At least my daughter read it but maybe the author will write his next book on how we don't teach our kids to read.
April 1, 2023
Please get this book if you have children. I so love this. I wanted a book like this when I was young I love animals and I have loved them all my life but the modern world is short on information about how we can interact with animals in a way that's positive for the animals, this book goes a long way in filling that gap.
I don't know if I will be running out to find snakes and toads and snails to pick up because as the author says "it's best not to be too pushy when dealing with a tarantula". But it is fascinating to me to have it explained how you can pick them up. If you want to and pick them up safely the photographs in the book are superb.
The author makes it very clear that the animals bite, claw, sting and scratch. But he also describes a way to pick them up where you can avoid all that and know that the animal is safe as well. I think the book is wonderful, and its attitude of respect for the animal, and how it protects itself.
If you have a child, who cares at all about animals, please get this book for them. It's wonderful.
I don't know if I will be running out to find snakes and toads and snails to pick up because as the author says "it's best not to be too pushy when dealing with a tarantula". But it is fascinating to me to have it explained how you can pick them up. If you want to and pick them up safely the photographs in the book are superb.
The author makes it very clear that the animals bite, claw, sting and scratch. But he also describes a way to pick them up where you can avoid all that and know that the animal is safe as well. I think the book is wonderful, and its attitude of respect for the animal, and how it protects itself.
If you have a child, who cares at all about animals, please get this book for them. It's wonderful.
December 8, 2024
Thank you Scribner Books @scribnerbooks and Toshimitsu Matsuhashi for this free book for review. #simonandschustetpartner #ScribnerInfluencer
“How to Hold Animals” by Toshimitsu Matsuhashi ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Genre: Non Fiction Science/Humor. NOTE: On the outside, this looks like a children’s picture book, but it’s much than that. It’s for all ages!
How do you hold a mouse without hurting it? What about a prickly hedgehog? A slithering snake? Do you know? Most of us don't really know what’s best, and might worry we’ll hurt the animal (or it will hurt us). Author Matsuhashi has written an illustrated book for those who love animals, being outside, scientific facts, and even those who are squeamish around animals. It’s full of fascinating information: (Did you know you should reach for the smaller horn, not the large one, to pick up a stag beetle?).
Matsuhashi, animal photographer and former zookeeper, teaches us to care for animals kindly and peacefully. If you enjoy animals and scientific facts in a fully illustrated reference guide, pick up this book! It’s 5 stars from me🌵📚💁🏼♀️🎀
“How to Hold Animals” by Toshimitsu Matsuhashi ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Genre: Non Fiction Science/Humor. NOTE: On the outside, this looks like a children’s picture book, but it’s much than that. It’s for all ages!
How do you hold a mouse without hurting it? What about a prickly hedgehog? A slithering snake? Do you know? Most of us don't really know what’s best, and might worry we’ll hurt the animal (or it will hurt us). Author Matsuhashi has written an illustrated book for those who love animals, being outside, scientific facts, and even those who are squeamish around animals. It’s full of fascinating information: (Did you know you should reach for the smaller horn, not the large one, to pick up a stag beetle?).
Matsuhashi, animal photographer and former zookeeper, teaches us to care for animals kindly and peacefully. If you enjoy animals and scientific facts in a fully illustrated reference guide, pick up this book! It’s 5 stars from me🌵📚💁🏼♀️🎀
November 15, 2020
This book has good information on properly handling animals, including some that may be dangerous to handle in the first place. What’s strange about it is that it’s geared towards kids. Very few kids will have the opportunity to actually use any of the advice given, unless they someday grow up to work in a zoo or some similar profession. Still, it’s good advice and may be used as a window into what the lives of animal handlers are like. Definitely would be perfect for that rare young one who dreams of working with exotic animals someday. But this book probably isn’t for the average child. Having said that, I myself wasn’t your average kid, so it’s probably something I would have enjoyed.
August 22, 2023
Cute little book about how to hold animals. Some are pets. Some are critters in the wild. And there are alarmingly more species included that shouldn’t be handled by the average person.
The part that gives me the most grief, is a sentence towards the end that says, “If it’s difficult to look after, let it go”. Absolutely not! You’re either introducing a defenseless house pet to the wild when you’re bored with it or potentially worse- an invasive species to a non native environment (for example- the boa constrictors taking over the Florida Everglades). It’s irresponsible and not words that should be written by someone who proclaims to love animals.
The part that gives me the most grief, is a sentence towards the end that says, “If it’s difficult to look after, let it go”. Absolutely not! You’re either introducing a defenseless house pet to the wild when you’re bored with it or potentially worse- an invasive species to a non native environment (for example- the boa constrictors taking over the Florida Everglades). It’s irresponsible and not words that should be written by someone who proclaims to love animals.
August 11, 2020
I've held all sort of critter over my career working in a library. I never really thought there was a right or wrong way to hold them. But then, I was handling very dangerous ones either! This was a enlightening book o n how to handle (or not) various creatures, from insects to animals, so they can't harm YOU! It's more of a how not to get bit, stung, pinched, and other injuries, from animals. I liked the photos. Fun read for anyone interested in animals.
I received a Kindle copy from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.
I received a Kindle copy from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.
March 12, 2023
Excellent photos, unfortunately: 1) better if you don't pick animals. This is NOT caring unless they are pets. Wild animals get easily stressed (we are predators after all). Excessive amounts of stress might even kill them. 2) while many holding techniques are very good, others are tricky (see the butterflies), especially for children, and can result in rather serious injuries. They require quite a lot of expertise. So it's probably best to look at animals from afar: a children's experience is not worth another beings life.
December 9, 2024
Have you ever wondered about the right way to hold an animal? This book has all the answers! Everything from domestic pets such as cats and dogs to wildlife such as butterflies and grasshoppers is talked about. The author is an animal photographer who also hold classes on how to teach others the proper way to hold an animal. I love animals and was fascinated but the holding techniques and the facts in the book.
This is the perfect gift for anyone who loves animals as it will help them interact in a safe and comfortable way.
This is the perfect gift for anyone who loves animals as it will help them interact in a safe and comfortable way.
November 12, 2020
This is a book that can be dipped in and out of. The illustrations are beautiful and would be useful to a helper in vets, animal sanctuaries, pet shops or children who love hunting out insects and creepy crawlies when pond dipping. Not forgetting the cute furry animals mice, hamsters and many more. Cute and lovely with an ahh factor and a yuk factor with the creepy crawlies useful and pleasing to the eye.
September 24, 2021
How to Hold Animals is a very sweet book that is a great introduction to kids about how to hold all sorts of different animals. It would be a great one to read before heading to the zoo or doing any sort of animal encounters. Really enjoyable!
Thank you @Netgalley and @scribnerbooks for early access to this ARC in return for an unbiased and voluntary review
Thank you @Netgalley and @scribnerbooks for early access to this ARC in return for an unbiased and voluntary review
October 7, 2025
Do YOU 🫵🏼 want the knowledge of how to hold very cute, and cool animals for any occasion that may arise read thissss!! Some of the reviews for this book kinda pissed me off like of course children should not be handling some of these animals duhhhhh the point of this book is for the safety of the people around you and the animals.
November 10, 2025
Teaches people how to capture, harass, and potentially disable insects for life.
Should've had a LOT stronger emphasis on getting people to think about WHY they want to hold a particular animal in the first place and what that could potentially mean for the animal.
Terrifying to see visuals of countless helpless lives kidnapped and manipulated into a situation they do not understand.
Should've had a LOT stronger emphasis on getting people to think about WHY they want to hold a particular animal in the first place and what that could potentially mean for the animal.
Terrifying to see visuals of countless helpless lives kidnapped and manipulated into a situation they do not understand.
November 17, 2025
i'm very invested in the insect section tbh because all these times i avoid touching alive ones because i'm afraid it'll hurt them or me. Can't wait for my next beetle sighting so i can put it into practice:) I'm not really into how to hold butterfly ones though, poor them tiny little scales! :( maybe we should've just adore them from afar.
September 25, 2021
While this book looks like it is for children, much of the information is actually more directed at adults. But whoever reads it is going to find useful information on how to protect themselves & whatever animal they are trying to hold
November 12, 2025
An informative, visual and fun to read guide on how to hold lots of different species of animal. From domestic species, reptiles, birds and insects. Useful as a reference when preparing to handle animals.
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