I'd flip through a bit before reading with the average young child. My daughter is 6 but not what I'd call 'average' on this subject so we read this. Even so, I'm putting off reading the other, similar book we got on the subject for a little while.
No matter how you look at it it's a tough subject. I had to control my emotions a few times. Most of the dogs died naturally long after the left their jobs.... but some didn't. And it's hard to read about a dog hurt in any scenario, especially, for me, when the dog so selflessly laid down his life for a human.
But the book - and the subject is a good one - that I believe everyone should learn about. Mattern even touched on Vietnam and how the dogs were abandoned to die after serving "their country". She doesn't go into much detail and I suppose that was on purpose but not having heard this until well into adulthood I'm thankful she introduced it at all. It should make you think about this country we live in. The country that still, to this day, classifies war dogs as "equipment". Show me equipment that knowingly puts their life on the line for a person, military OR civilian. It can't be done and my respect for this country can't get any lower at this point.

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