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Children's ✦ Penny’s Take

Animal Handlers and Trainers

Jane Duden Β· 1989
95/100
πŸ‘ Worth It

Jane Duden, a former elementary teacher who later wrote science education content for Journey North, brings a classroom-tested sensibility to this 1989 Crestwood House career exploration book. The 'At Risk Series' framing signals that the book doesn't glamorize these jobs β€” it takes seriously the physical demands and dangers that come with working alongside animals, which makes for more honest career guidance than most titles aimed at young animal lovers. Crestwood House was a respected children's nonfiction publisher, and its series titles were standard school library purchases of the era. The clear caveat is age: industry specifics around zookeeping, marine mammal handling, and animal training have changed considerably since 1989. Worth seeking out for its honest tone, but readers should supplement with current sources on actual career paths.

✦ Penny’s Take β€” this is The Review Group’s own editorial assessment. Penny’s analytical review line researched this book from real sources and scored it across the lenses shown below. It’s an honest first-party read β€” not a page-by-page personal one. The gold βœ“ Penny Tested mark is reserved for books Penny reads cover to cover herself.
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Verdict receipt0–100
Public sentiment (amazon.com)100
Penny’s verdict95
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