Animals in Children’s books…..

It bothers me sometimes how animals are depicted in children’s books.   They are rarely depicted in their natural habitat.  Normally, they wear clothing, talk, and live in human style houses.   I don’t mind the talking part…it wouldn’t work too well for a book if they never spoke, but I don’t understand why animals can’t be written about in a setting that is natural to them.

River has a book called A Birthday Cake for Little Bear.  It is a cute book….except for the fact that the pig has meat all over his kitchen…including pork!  I mean, how odd is that?  They couldn’t have just plants and herbs all over his kitchen..it would make more sense!