In the preface Jonathan Cranston writes that he hopes to convey his passion for animals in this book. He succeeds in doing that in the first few pages. He is clearly dedicated to animals and his work as a veterinary surgeon and this shows through in his writing. Many, many people will have read, and enjoyed, the James Herriot books and I'm sure this book will appeal to all these readers and to anyone interested in more unusual animals. The author's work has taken him all over the world as well as in more usual settings so his experiences are vast and make for a great read. The author has the ability to entertain at the same time as delivering interesting information about the animals he has had in his care. This book would make a perfect present for any animal lovers although I suspect some people who buy it to give as a present give into the temptation to read it themselves. They won't be disappointed. Definitely one to put on your wish list.