Rachel Can See Herself

The book is intended for kindergarten through second grade (ages five to seven).Rachel is a beautiful girl, and science fascinates her, and she likes to play with shiny objects. She tells her parents that she wants to become the best female scientist when she grows up. She watches her father doing simple hands-on science activities with magnifying glasses and mirrors at home to teach his students. She tells her parents that she also wants to become a veterinarian, the best animal doctor. Her parents tell her to start learning everything about animals if she wants to become the best veterinarian. Rachel asks if animals are shiny objects to as she enjoys playing with shiny objects too. Her parents respond, "It is for you to find out." She then asks her parents to take her to the Bronx Zoo.At the zoo, Rachel sees a giraffe and points at it. "I can see myself." This is where her learning about animals begins. Her parents answer, "No, Rachel, you cannot see yourself. This is a giraffe. It eats plants. Its habitat is the African savanna. Its babies are born alive and live on milk. The babies are called calves. A giraffe is the tallest mammal on Earth. Its long legs and long neck help it to reach the leaves on the trees. It can sleep standing up."As Rachel goes around the zoo she points at different animals, exclaiming "I can see myself". Her parents will respond " No Rachel, you cannot see yourself". They tell her the name of each animal, its habitat, what it eats, what the babies are called, and what the babies eat as written in the book.At the end of the story, Rachel finally sees herself.

-- Dr. Brown, John Hagan