Parents' Guide to

Carnivores

By Tracy Moore, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 5+

Hilarious tongue-in-cheek tale teaches acceptance.

Book Aaron Reynolds Picture Book 2013
Carnivores Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

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age 8+

Based on 1 parent review

SpookyDana
SpookyDana Adult
November 5, 2019
age 8+

Confusing and Disturbing

This book was pretty disturbing and scientifically unsound. For example, octopuses, dolphins, and narwhals are carnivores, with a diet exclusively of meat and they are presented as vegetarians multiple times throughout this book, as are many omnivores like raccoons. Not only is the entire book confusing, but it’s gruesome and upsetting. It claims to be a message of acceptance, but that is absolutely not the vibe I, nor the other adults/parents I showed this book to, received. This was permanently removed from our family bookshelf. I would describe this book as violent, sickening, and with no educational value. This is a book for people who think eating a steak well done with ketchup is peak machismo and would like to brainwash their child into the same line of thinking.

This title has:

Too much violence
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

When a group of carnivores are hurt by their reputations as savage meat eaters, they band together to try to fit in, attempting everything from disguises to abandoning meat eating altogether. Along the way, they have to figure out how to accept themselves, and how to live with being misunderstood.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1):
Kids say: Not yet rated

CARNIVORES is a tongue-in-cheek riot. Told from the perspective of animals who long for acceptance in spite of their bad raps, the book explores the hilarious lengths to which people (and animals) will go to fit in, rendered vibrantly with mixed-media illustrations that wouldn't be out of place in a graphic novel.

For kids, the bold, silly humor and social concerns of these bloodthirsty predators will be a hilarious read. For parents with school-age kids, the notion that there's just no use trying to be something you're not is a valuable lesson that can't be taught soon enough.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about meat eating vs. vegetarianism. What are some reasons for eating meat? What are some reasons against?

  • Many animals eat only meat, but some eat just plants. Humans can subsist on protein found in plant and animal sources. What kinds of protein do you eat in your family? What's your favorite?

  • What does it mean to fit in? Have you ever felt you should change something about yourself to fit in? What happened? How did it make you feel?

Book Details

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