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Sanctuary: A Home for Rescued Farm Animals – A Poetic Picture Book About Compassion for All Creatures for Kids
"A look at the incredible healing power of compassion." — Kirkus Julia Denos lovingly illustrates a thoughtful, poetic text about protecting farm animals instead of exploiting them. Accessible to the youngest readers, this picture book gently celebrates compassion for all creatures. Perfect for fans of Becoming a Good Creature and Tiny, Perfect Things. Where do you feel safe and seen? When can you be yourself? What about the animals who share our planet? These questions are explored in this gentle celebration of what it means to care for and respect creatures of all kinds. Poetic text and gorgeous, joyful art show us how we can protect animals by honoring and advocating for their lives. Accessible to the youngest readers, Sanctuary invites us to open our hearts wide to create a more loving and more compassionate world—for all.
40 pages, Hardcover
Published January 31, 2023
About the author
Julia Denos
34 books106 followersJulia Denos earned a BFA in illustration from The Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University. She lives outside of Boston.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 9, 2023
I believe I've found a new favorite. This gorgeous picture book put a lump in my throat and hope in my heart. Featuring sweet illustrations and gentle text, readers are introduced to a farm animal sanctuary where animals come to heal and thrive--surrounded by compassionate kids who love and celebrate them for who they are.
So many of us, young and old, would love to run our own animal sanctuary, and while such Herculean work may be out of reach, the book reminds us that kindness takes more than one form. We can still welcome animals—and not only pets, but also those ever-forgotten, most in-need beings, farm animals, into our circle of concern.
And this is where the book really shines. It combines a perfect balance of bravery and gentleness; it stands up for the animals while still being understanding and welcoming to all readers, no matter where they are in life. It begins with simply thinking of farm animals as more than just objects or ingredients, but as living beings with needs and emotions. We can behave better toward the animals in our care, and that begins with recognizing who they are.
A section at the book’s conclusion, directed toward adults, invites them to consider exploring a few more steps in a compassionate direction. Consider what we eat and where it comes from. Stand up for better treatment of farm animals and farm workers. Think about visiting a farm animal sanctuary if one is near you. Once again, this is done in an inviting, and never judgmental way.
I knew I would have loved this book as a child--it would have been reassuring and affirming for me, as a kid who loved animals and chose to become a vegetarian in 1980s rural America.
And if this ever-gentle, beautifully illustrated book inspires defensiveness in adults, I’d say that’s an indication that it’s hitting a sore spot that so many of us have but refuse to look at, and that is: Are our choices really in alignment with our values?
So many of us, young and old, would love to run our own animal sanctuary, and while such Herculean work may be out of reach, the book reminds us that kindness takes more than one form. We can still welcome animals—and not only pets, but also those ever-forgotten, most in-need beings, farm animals, into our circle of concern.
And this is where the book really shines. It combines a perfect balance of bravery and gentleness; it stands up for the animals while still being understanding and welcoming to all readers, no matter where they are in life. It begins with simply thinking of farm animals as more than just objects or ingredients, but as living beings with needs and emotions. We can behave better toward the animals in our care, and that begins with recognizing who they are.
A section at the book’s conclusion, directed toward adults, invites them to consider exploring a few more steps in a compassionate direction. Consider what we eat and where it comes from. Stand up for better treatment of farm animals and farm workers. Think about visiting a farm animal sanctuary if one is near you. Once again, this is done in an inviting, and never judgmental way.
I knew I would have loved this book as a child--it would have been reassuring and affirming for me, as a kid who loved animals and chose to become a vegetarian in 1980s rural America.
And if this ever-gentle, beautifully illustrated book inspires defensiveness in adults, I’d say that’s an indication that it’s hitting a sore spot that so many of us have but refuse to look at, and that is: Are our choices really in alignment with our values?
February 7, 2023
The other morning it was too icy and too cold to walk our normal route. When my canine companion and I roamed around the backyard, two chickadees swooped into a bush right next to us. For several moments their cheerful chatter banished the bitter winter chills and wind.
Their presence brought back memories of other encounters with fellow chickadees, one brave enough to land on the tip of a cross country ski pole. There are also those magical marvelous minutes too near a bull elk. His haunting bugle echoing over me alone in the deep snow of Pigeon River State Forest forty years ago. Some things stay with you forever.
These unplanned meetings are a reminder of our stewardship toward this planet we share with a myriad of living creatures. So many wild beings are in need of our assistance and protection. They are not alone, though, as Sanctuary: A Home for Rescued Farm Animals (Clarion Books, January 31, 2023) written and illustrated by Julia Denos shows us. Her thoughtful text and heartwarming artwork are a precious ode to those animals who might be overlooked in our endeavors to make life for all those on our planet better.
Read my full recommendation here https://librariansquest.blogspot.com/...
Their presence brought back memories of other encounters with fellow chickadees, one brave enough to land on the tip of a cross country ski pole. There are also those magical marvelous minutes too near a bull elk. His haunting bugle echoing over me alone in the deep snow of Pigeon River State Forest forty years ago. Some things stay with you forever.
These unplanned meetings are a reminder of our stewardship toward this planet we share with a myriad of living creatures. So many wild beings are in need of our assistance and protection. They are not alone, though, as Sanctuary: A Home for Rescued Farm Animals (Clarion Books, January 31, 2023) written and illustrated by Julia Denos shows us. Her thoughtful text and heartwarming artwork are a precious ode to those animals who might be overlooked in our endeavors to make life for all those on our planet better.
Read my full recommendation here https://librariansquest.blogspot.com/...
February 14, 2023
A perfect book for anyone big or small who truly loves animals and nature. The writing and illustrations are beautiful and the book reminds us of the natural compassion and empathy that we're all born with. Highly recommend this amazing book.
March 2, 2023
Beautiful story of a girl who loves and protects animals
March 13, 2023
I thought that the title of this book itself was a name of an animal sanctuary but instead it alludes to the shelter that a person can give who has the right heart as well as the better intentions to know that speciesim is bad. Also more kudos to you if you are a child as you know a lot more than your parent who will try to stop you from being able to open your heart to all these poor abused animals....
Sanctuary is a dangerous book wrapped in pretty illustrations and bow-tied with enough commonsense moral beliefs that children can be caught by its assiduous partial lies. Here is a list of them as they are:
-Here you have a name, instead of a number because we are friends as you are someone, not something
-Here your value comes from being you - not the milk and cheese you were forced to make... not your eggs, or your babies or the meat they take
-Here your body is safe.
-Your family is safe
-You can trust my hands to help you heal
-Being in charge of your own heart and with two arms open wide is you need to make a place for love to live inside
Derrick Josi from TDF Honest Farming had at last count about 500 dairy cattle while is a staunch voice of what it is like to be a dairy farmer along with others he has come to network with. They explain the process of ear tags for identification of the animal and that all of his girls have names although he will also acknowledge that he cannot remember them while still having a handful that he does call them by their names such as Mike, Story, Cali Girl, Francine, etc. He acknowledges for all of his followers that they are individuals with their own personalities. And many other small farmers also have animals that they use for animal-sourced food sources while also still naming their animals.
These animals are acknowledged for the services that they provide to the human race but then again I am only known as a cashier at one of my jobs so should I be insulted that my own bosses don't value me for who I am?
Animal sanctuaries don't save whole families but they may save a few that are related to each other so that is a hollow promise as well as that they have hands to help heal. Sorry PETA looking at your sad history of animal abuse and that includes our pets, not just livestock.
And telling a child that all they need to do to save an animal is to be wide-armed and loving while not explaining costs, the land requirements to home those said animals and to also have a plan for if anything should go wrong is preposterous while you are setting up that child to fail or the attempted saving process of a said animal.
While we won't even go into the perils of encouraging them to start a vegan diet without consulting the negative health consequences or the bad effects that a vegan diet has on the environment.
Sweet and sticky this book should be read at a reader's discretion then followed up by some actual real studying on how animal husbandry has approved in the last centuries, how actual farming is now done, the laws put into place to stop abuse of said livestock and the effects of going vegan, especially when you are still growing. And then once you have been educated you are then allowed to make your own decisions once you are old enough to willingly accept their consequences to yourself while remembering that other people are just as much allowed to hold their own opinions.
Sanctuary is a dangerous book wrapped in pretty illustrations and bow-tied with enough commonsense moral beliefs that children can be caught by its assiduous partial lies. Here is a list of them as they are:
-Here you have a name, instead of a number because we are friends as you are someone, not something
-Here your value comes from being you - not the milk and cheese you were forced to make... not your eggs, or your babies or the meat they take
-Here your body is safe.
-Your family is safe
-You can trust my hands to help you heal
-Being in charge of your own heart and with two arms open wide is you need to make a place for love to live inside
Derrick Josi from TDF Honest Farming had at last count about 500 dairy cattle while is a staunch voice of what it is like to be a dairy farmer along with others he has come to network with. They explain the process of ear tags for identification of the animal and that all of his girls have names although he will also acknowledge that he cannot remember them while still having a handful that he does call them by their names such as Mike, Story, Cali Girl, Francine, etc. He acknowledges for all of his followers that they are individuals with their own personalities. And many other small farmers also have animals that they use for animal-sourced food sources while also still naming their animals.
These animals are acknowledged for the services that they provide to the human race but then again I am only known as a cashier at one of my jobs so should I be insulted that my own bosses don't value me for who I am?
Animal sanctuaries don't save whole families but they may save a few that are related to each other so that is a hollow promise as well as that they have hands to help heal. Sorry PETA looking at your sad history of animal abuse and that includes our pets, not just livestock.
And telling a child that all they need to do to save an animal is to be wide-armed and loving while not explaining costs, the land requirements to home those said animals and to also have a plan for if anything should go wrong is preposterous while you are setting up that child to fail or the attempted saving process of a said animal.
While we won't even go into the perils of encouraging them to start a vegan diet without consulting the negative health consequences or the bad effects that a vegan diet has on the environment.
Sweet and sticky this book should be read at a reader's discretion then followed up by some actual real studying on how animal husbandry has approved in the last centuries, how actual farming is now done, the laws put into place to stop abuse of said livestock and the effects of going vegan, especially when you are still growing. And then once you have been educated you are then allowed to make your own decisions once you are old enough to willingly accept their consequences to yourself while remembering that other people are just as much allowed to hold their own opinions.
June 19, 2023
This is a fabulous book, an amazingly good book.
My only quibble, a minor one, and something that comes up a lot for me: I do greatly prefer the term farmed animals vs. farm animals. Farm makes it sound like that is what they are. Farmed indicates what is done to them. I’m not sure why not all animal rights activists don’t use the term farmed vs. farm. That is why I give this book 4-1/2 stars vs. 5 stars.
Lovely sentiments throughout and I love that children and animals have the main roles.
The illustrations are wonderful. They’re beautiful.
This is a perfect book for vegan families though of course I’d love to have all young children and their adults read it. I highly recommend it for parents whose children have expressed any sort of discomfort about eating animals or eating/using products made from them. I know I’ll be recommending it to those adults for their families.
This is a wonderful addition to the humane education genre. I think that this book imparts an effective message. The book proper is for all ages and the information in the back is mostly for the adults. I cannot stress strongly enough how much I’d appreciate it if everyone read this book. It’s a book that I wish I could own and share with others. If I was buying books I’d buy this one for my home library. I can think of only a very few other books I’ve read in the last year that I would buy to own if I could do that.
NOTE: I feel sad & angry about it but it is also a book that I feel I’d have to get permission from children’s non-vegan parents to share with their children. It’s infuriating because no such permission exists for (the majority of) books that promote animal & animal product consumption. What a world.
4-1/2 stars
I found this book thanks to Peacegal.
My only quibble, a minor one, and something that comes up a lot for me: I do greatly prefer the term farmed animals vs. farm animals. Farm makes it sound like that is what they are. Farmed indicates what is done to them. I’m not sure why not all animal rights activists don’t use the term farmed vs. farm. That is why I give this book 4-1/2 stars vs. 5 stars.
Lovely sentiments throughout and I love that children and animals have the main roles.
The illustrations are wonderful. They’re beautiful.
This is a perfect book for vegan families though of course I’d love to have all young children and their adults read it. I highly recommend it for parents whose children have expressed any sort of discomfort about eating animals or eating/using products made from them. I know I’ll be recommending it to those adults for their families.
This is a wonderful addition to the humane education genre. I think that this book imparts an effective message. The book proper is for all ages and the information in the back is mostly for the adults. I cannot stress strongly enough how much I’d appreciate it if everyone read this book. It’s a book that I wish I could own and share with others. If I was buying books I’d buy this one for my home library. I can think of only a very few other books I’ve read in the last year that I would buy to own if I could do that.
NOTE: I feel sad & angry about it but it is also a book that I feel I’d have to get permission from children’s non-vegan parents to share with their children. It’s infuriating because no such permission exists for (the majority of) books that promote animal & animal product consumption. What a world.
4-1/2 stars
I found this book thanks to Peacegal.
June 6, 2023
Brief summary: A young girl and friends heartfully welcome animals to a sanctuary farm where the creatures are respected for being themselves without expectations. They have a safe home and are undeniably cherished by the children.
Lovely illustrations in mixed mediums. A gentle book that does not go into the abuse the animals had before arriving.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Lovely illustrations in mixed mediums. A gentle book that does not go into the abuse the animals had before arriving.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
July 21, 2023
Gorgeous illustrations, writing and message. I love the illustrations of Denos, and this book has a wonderful message for kids and their families. Can't wait to gift this at Christmas to my niece and nephew.
May 2, 2024
Told from a young girl's desire to be close and identify with the animals brought to the animal sanctuary, with simple rhyming text, this narrative nonfiction tells of a little-known rescue preserve. Back matter explains the ways children can contribute to saving animals in need of care.
June 2, 2023
beautiful pictures
February 4, 2025
Beautiful illustrations and story
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews