(Shaking my head) Why am I not surprised that this would probably go down just fine with a certain group of parents. Is nothing sacred?

Hmm. People anthropomorphize animals attributing human feelings to them. Then other people deny that animals have feelings at all. Both are sources of error in the real world. Still, what does that have to do with the fact that children are children and like stories? Capt. Marryat was asked by his children to write a sequel to "The Swiss Family Robinson". He found the island they were shipwrecked on unrealistic and wrote a new book with a more realistic selection of plants and animals. He was a stickler for accuracy and facts, even when writing children's books. On the other hand wasn't it more educational in a practical sense to include details of the value of more plans and animals even if they would not be found that way in nature. George MacDonald wrote fairy tales for children. No one should get upset over a bit of fantasy in children's books. Still, believing in Bambi can get children and adults killed. Real animals will kill you and eat you.