Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel

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Gary Butler, Self Advocate and Trainer with Beyond Words and St George’s, University of London, said:“Working makes me feel good, it gives me independence and helps pay the bills.These new books will be good to help other people achieve what I have” Katie joins us from her previous role with the Southwark Schools' Learning Partnership and Dulwich College. She has also held senior roles with The Food Chain, the Neurological Alliance, and the International League of Dermatological Societies. Katie brings a broad set of skills and experience in the education and charity sectors and her passion for visual literacy will help us spread the news about Beyond Words and make sure that more children and adults can benefit from our word-free stories.

The most mindblowing of all the stories and research on animals was the killer whale and dolphins. Unbelievable how they have saved countless lives of people and dogs. Our capturing and holding them in captivity in zoos and marine parks is atrocious. Like elephants, they need to live with their families. Japan needs to stop overfishing and the U.S. and Canadian Navy must stop underwater bombing and sonar. Humans, as a species, are destroying the planet and the animal kingdom. This book reminds us of the fragility of the planet and why we need these animals to survive. The author is a famed conservationist, a marine biologist and has a PhD in ecology from Rutgers University. Reading this book was fascinating due to its depth of information and the wisdom I found in the lines. Here is one quote: Uno de los mayores errores del ser humano ha sido relegar a los animales a escalones inferiores, debido a la falta de sus capacidades para sentir y pensar igual que hacemos nosotros. Este brillante libro de Carl Safina viene a demostrarnos que el ser humano no es la medida de todas las cosas. Páginas llenas de ejemplo, estudios científicos y observaciones realizadas nos marcan una nueva dirección acerca de lo que no supimos ver antes sobre la mente animal. When the War Cameis an expansion of Beyond Words’ previous short resource on the war in Ukraine. Continuing their work with Polish artist Lucyna Talejko-Kwiatkowska, they have produced a full-length picture story about a family from Ukraine who is forced to flee their home. The book is aimed at helping those fleeing unimaginable circumstances to begin to tell their own stories and talk about their feelings. It may also be useful to help build empathy and understanding amongst children and adults in countries welcoming refugees. As the story has no words, it can cross language barriers and be used in a wide variety of contexts. This book is dedicated to the people of Ukraine.Because this book truly is beautiful. And moving. Because it allows us to see animals as intelligent beings with inner lives and emotions – even personalities. And those of us who have domestic pets, probably already know this. Some of our new graduates have decided to set up their own book club at City Lit, while some will also be setting up a book club at an organisation they attend near them. Learning from a group of Beyond Words trainers including people with learning disabilities, they have found out: You want your doctor or social worker to be a good listener. Our stories told in pictures will help them explain things to you. Just as importantly our stories will help you to ask questions and be reassured that the professional understands your wishes and concerns. Professionals need to practice their listening skills. Our books will help them to listen to you.

She concluded: “ This has empowered them to be able to help each other more. As part of further learning in our Healthy Minds sessions, the students have participated in role play activities on what to do if they think someone is feeling sad or lonely.” Whether you are reading the book with one person or a group, encourage people to tell the story in their own words. You will discover what each person thinks is happening, what they already know, and how they feel. You may think something different is happening in the pictures yourself, but that doesn’t matter. Wait to see if their ideas change as the story develops. Watch, wait and wonder. Employment advisers will visit the Beyond Words’ book clubs to use the new books and help members explore volunteering and work. People with learning disabilities will be trained as a national network of peer supporters to work with the clubs.In 2011 with the support of the University, Sheila launched a new charity in which she hoped Nigel’s leadership potential would be able to develop. Since its launch in the community, Beyond Words has evolved in unexpected ways, always seeking to find ways to empower people in their own lives - including in schools. Beyond Words is now an award-winning small charity with a growing impact, even finding new ways to reach people during the pandemic.

Safina is an ecologist. In this book, he delves into the inner worlds through 4 parts – elephants, wolves, orcas and comparisons to other animals. This is a stunning book, the section on killer whales a true revelation—and as Safina himself points out, since the study of the behaviour, emotions, intelligence and consciousness of our fellow creatures is such a relatively new field (mere decades, barely begun) there are more revelations to come. And yet, surprisingly perhaps given its subject, Beyond Words is not an angry book; it’s remarkably restrained—albeit through gritted teeth at times when describing some of the grosser idiocies and atrocities routinely perpetrated on other animals by us. Some of the conclusions drawn in reference to dog behavior are briefly referred to in Safina's book. Safina's book is less about scientific experiments. Safina's book is based on studies of animals in the wild and the resultant conclusions that can be drawn. At first, statements made had me asking, “Where is your proof?!” By the end I was totally in sync with what the author was stating.What Animals Think and Feel by Carl Safina is a book brimming with amazing research and stories about the lives, abilities, the complex behaviors, and cultures of some of earth’s most fascinating animals (notably—elephants, wolves, dogs, and cetaceans, though remarkable references to turtles and birds and others are here too).