Chee-Lin: A Giraffe's Journey. Written and illustrated by James Rumford. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2008. 40 pages. Captured when he was just four months old, Chee-Lin struggles through a sad and lonely existence until his death. This richly illustrated book is based on a real giraffe kept in captivity many centuries ago in China. An important story compassionately told from the animal's perspective. Historical fiction picture book. Interest level: Gr. 2-6.

Deep in the Jungle. Written and illustrated by Dan Yaccarino. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2000. 40 pages. Publisher's summary: After being tricked into joining the circus, an arrogant lion escapes and returns to the jungle where he lives peacefully with the animals he used to terrorize. Fiction picture book. Interest level: Gr. PreS-3.

The Deliverance of Dancing Bears. Written and illustrated by Elizabeth Stanley. Kane/Miller Book Publishers, 2004, 1994. 1st American ed. 40 pages. A beautifully told story about a dancing bear who dreams of freedom and the man who makes his dream come true. In a postscript, the author reports that the World Society for the Protection of Animals rescued the bears who inspired her to write the story. ASPCA Henry Bergh Children’s Book Award. Fiction picture book. Interest level: Gr. 2-6.

Perfect the Pig. Written and illustrated by Susan Jeschke. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1980, 1996. 40 pages. Publisher's summary: Perfect the Pig longs for wings to fly away. When his wish is magically granted, he takes off for the skies and eventually comes to rest on the windowsill of an artist named Olive. The two become fast friends but when Perfect gets lost in flight, he is captured by an evil showman who forces him to perform tricks for money. A Reading Rainbow Book. Fiction picture book. Interest level: Gr. K-2. TeachKind provides a Pig Lesson Plan for Grades 1-2 for this title.

Tina and the Penguin. Written by Heather Dyer. Illustrated by Mireille Levert . Kids Can Press, 2002. 32 pages. Publisher's summary: When Tina meets a penguin who's tired of living in the zoo, she decides to help him escape. After she sneaks him home, she realizes that her new pet's special needs may be just too hard to manage in a normal house. Recommended by Humane Society Youth. Fiction picture book. Interest level: Gr. K-2.

Travels with Tarra. By Carol Buckley. Tilbury House Publishers, 2002. 40 pages. The author recounts the story of the baby Asian elephant she raised, later adopted, toured with in zoos and circuses, and for whom she eventually created The Elephant Sanctuary. KIND Children's Honor Book. Nonfiction photo essay. Interest level: Gr. 3-6. Click here to see Tarra and her best friend Bella, a dog, at the sanctuary.

Lessons & Links About Animals Used For Entertainment:

The Elephant Sanctuary's elephant study units: grades K - 3 and grades 4 - 8.

Lesson about animals used for entertainment for Grades: 3 - 6 from the United Federation of Teachers Humane Education Committee in conjunction with the ASPCA and HEART.

For background information, visit The Performing Animal Welfare Society and Animals Used for Entertainment FAQs

Children may visit ASPCA's Animal Land to "Find Out How Animals Are Really Treated At Circuses!"

Click here for HSUS's list of animal free circuses

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