Historical Animals: The Dogs, Cats, Horses, Snakes, Goats, Rats, Dragons, Bears, Elephants, Rabbits, and Other Creatures That Changed the World
Julia Moberg, illus. by Jeff Albrecht Studios. Charlesbridge/Imagine!, $15.95 (96p) ISBN 978-1-62354-048-7
Moberg (Presidential Pets) celebrates animal celebrities, both well known and forgotten, with subjects that include Rin Tin Tin, Punxsutawny Phil, and Dolly the sheep. Companions to famous humans include Seaman, a Newfoundland that accompanied Lewis and Clark during their explorations; Mozart’s starling, which sang along with his musical compositions; and Peter Piper, the rabbit that inspired Beatrix Potter’s work. Moberg introduces each animal with a peppy poem, explaining why it is notable (“In nineteen fifty-two/ During the Korean War,/ A Mongolian mare named Reckless/ Joined the Marine Corps”), followed by bulleted lists of facts about the animal that offer historical and social context. Full of wild-eyed, slavering, and scraggly creatures, Albrecht’s caricatures exude attention-grabbing madcap energy, though are somewhat at odds with the tone of the text. Ages 8–12. (Feb.)
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Reviewed on: 12/15/2014
Genre: Children's