United Animal Nations (UAN) is looking for well written children's books with humane messages to add to our Recommended Books with Humane Themes book list. Do you know of a book that illustrates the bond between people and animals, depicts natural animal behaviors and can help build empathy toward animals?

Check out UAN's Recommended Books with Humane Themes book list and suggest other titles by posting them here.

A Tale of Serendipity: The Adventure Begins is a recently released book for children ages 8 to 12. In this captivating work of fiction, author Rosy Aronson transports readers to a magical place. The tale is an adventure story about a close-knit family of seals that is torn apart by the arrival of a devastating storm and a ship of vicious seal-hunters. While the narrative ostensibly focuses on the fate of five seal pup brothers who have been tragically separated from their beloved and very pregnant mother, this is in fact a story that speaks to the hopes, fears and challenges that all children and adults face in life. And it does so in a way that elicits curiosity, wonder and compassion.

For teachers and parents of inquisitive kids, this is the opportunity to expose children to a book that delves into some of the most important issues they will face as they grow older. Values explored in A Tale of Serendipity include respect, empathy, compassion, dignity, integrity, honesty and collaboration.

A Tale of Serendipity provides a plethora of compelling thematic lessons that would supplement any Humane Education curriculum. Young readers will find alternative ways to look at human and animal relationships, diversity awareness, conflict resolution and world/ocean stewardship. Teachers and parents will have the opportunity to help children cultivate essential skills for living in an increasingly complex world. Through lively conversation in supportive school and home environments, children will come to celebrate their uniqueness and discover that "true planetary empowerment involves power with others as opposed to power over others."

Hi Rosy,

Thank you for suggesting A Tale of Serendipity: The Adventure Begins. Thank you also for writing a book about animals that includes such valuable themes such as empathy, compassion, integrity and respect. This book is very original. As I read up on it, I was surprised to read that the idea for this book came to you in a dream. Is that true? I have not read it in its entirety yet but I look forward to doing so. As a chapter book, A Tale of Serendipity is not a good fit for UAN's Humane Education Ambassador Reader (HEAR) program because the books that we use in the HEAR program are picture books that allow us to read and discuss the content during HEAR volunteer visits. We are, however, reviewing your book to include on our Recommended Books with Humane Themes book list.

Again, thank you for your suggestion and good luck to you getting the word about your book.

Karly