WHEN VIEWING ON A MOBILE DEVICE -- DOUBLE TAP TO ZOOM 8  chapter 2 rich with meaning, and supportive of children’s development. Focusing on children’s relationships with animals encourages and expands children’s affinity for living things. Children’s innate love for animals seems to be universal. While most adults tend to place value on animals based on their relationship to humans (for example, valuing them for companionship, food, or products, such as leather or wool), young children seem to value animals simply because they are. This is called intrinsic value. Many children recognize the intrinsic value of animals not because of what they do for us, what they give to us, or how they help us, but simply because they are living creatures. Children don’t consider the elements and nuances of their relationships to and love for animals. Most simply love animals without question or analysis. Ask a group of preschoolers what they think of animals, and they’ll express that disliking animals is simply “wrong,” that caring for animals is just a natural, normal way of being. While the reasons that adults and children alike find animals so exciting and captivating may be rooted in our biology, psychology, or something else, there’s no denying animals’ widespread appeal. But what specifically about the animals makes them so special to children? Why are children universally drawn to animals? Animals have many common characteristics that appeal to children. But how children perceive animals and their characteristics is influenced by many factors: cultural and family beliefs and values; media such as books, COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL