The Chicken Who Wanted to Fly. Written by Evelien van Dort. Illustrated by Veroncia Nahmias. Floris Books, 1999. 20 pages. A little brown hen realizes her dream. Fiction picture book. Interest level: Grades PreS-2.

CLICK, CLACK, MOO: Cows That Type. By Doreen Cronin. Illustrated by Betsy Lewin. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2000. 32 pages. Publisher's summary: When Farmer Brown's cows find a typewriter in the barn they start making demands, and go on strike when the farmer refuses to give them what they want. Recommended by Humane Society Youth. Fiction picture book. Interest level: Grades PreS-2.

Hope. Written by Randy Houk. Illustrated by Walt Sturrock. The Benefactory, 1995. 32 pages. Hope, a young piglet born on a factory farm, injures her leg and is thrown into a dumpster, where she is found and taken to Farm Sanctuary in New York State. Based on a true story. Nonfiction Picture book. Interest level: Grades 1-5.

Hubert the Pudge: a Vegetarian Tale. Written and illustrated by Henrik Drescher. Candlewick Press, 2006. 40 pages. Hubert escapes from the factory farm during their annual cleaning. Once outside in a natural setting, Hubert grows and grows until he is becomes a giant. Although happy to be free, Hubert cannot stop thinking about his doomed friends and cries a river of tears. Hubert summons up his courage and all of his jungle friends, and together they march to the factory farm. There is a happy ending-even for the farmer. An excellent read-aloud choice. Fiction picture book. Interest level: Grades 1-3.

The Award-winning Meatrix trilogy videos are short animated exposés about factory farming. The films produced by Free Range Studios can be viewed online for free and are highly recommended. Interest level: Grade 6 and up.

Film: Farm Sanctuary's My Friends at the Farm (DVD) Narrated by Casey Affleck, this video provides an introduction to factory farming for children. Interest level: Grades 3-6.

That's Why We Don't Eat Animals. Written and illustrated by Ruby Roth. North Atlantic Books, 2009. 48 pages. Publisher's summary: Colorful illustrations and text introduce readers to vegetarianism and veganism by describing various animals in their natural habitat. Noniction picture book. Interest level: Grades 2-6.

A Turkey for Thanksgiving. Written by Eve Bunting. Illustrated by Diane deGroat. Houghton Mifflin Company, 1995. A turkey is invited to dinner, but is afraid he will become dinner. Fiction picture book. Interest level: Grades K-3.

'Twas the Night before Thanksgiving. Written and illustrated by Dav Pilky. Scholastic, 1990. 32 pages. School children on a field trip to a farm save the lives of eight would be Thanksgiving turkeys. Poetry Picture book. Interest level: Grades PreS-3.

Victor, the Vegetarian: Saving Little Lambs. Written by Radha Vignola. Illustrated by Julia Bauer. AVIVA!, 1994. 56 pages. Victor, a boy who lives on a farm with his parents, realizes he doesn't want to eat lamb chops and runs away with his lambs to save their lives. Fiction picture book. Interest level: Grades 1-3.

Farm Animals Links and Lesson Plans:

Click here to read Farm Sanctuary farm animal stories and click here to visit their Kidz Club.

For Farm Sanctuary's Cultivating Compassion lesson plans (grades 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12), click here.

Your Food Lesson for grades K-2, from the United Federation of Teachers.

Exploring Good Food Habits Lesson for grades 2-3, from the United Federation of Teachers.

Barnyard Gossip Lesson for grades 3-5, from the United Federation of Teachers.

Studying Human Nutrition Lesson for grade 6, from the United Federation of Teachers.

Farm Sanctuary and United Poultry Concerns both sell a number of excellent children's books about farm animals. Visit their sites to find out how you can help farm animals.

Visit the Humane myth Web site, a site dedicated to working to create a just and nonviolent future while exposing the" humane myth" - the idea that it is possible to use and kill animals in a respectful or compassionate or humane manner.

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