Throughout history, animals have shaped the world as we know it. But rarely have they received the recognition they deserve. Until now.
Julia Moberg grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Southlake, Texas. She atttended New York University where she received both her B.F.A. and M.F.A. in Dramatic Writing at Tisch School of the Arts. She is the author of Skies Over Sweetwater, a young adult novel. She currently splits her time between Paris, France, and Nashville, Tennessee.
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.
-Publishers Weekly
Alexander the Great would have been nothing without his horse,
Bucephalus. Jane Goodall would not have been able to conduct her
scientific research without the cooperation of her chimpanzee
subjects. Secretariat's wins on the track defined the sport of
horse racing. Using a format similar to the author and
illustrator's Presidential Pets (2012), Moberg offers brief
biographies of history's most influential creatures to highlight
the symbiosis between humans and their animal companions. Some are
practically celebrities, such as Beatrix Potter's Peter Rabbit and
Punxsutawney Phil, while others are not so well known, such as the
nameless Newfoundland that saved Napoleon Bonaparte when he fell
overboard in the Mediterranean and Cher Ami, the carrier pigeon who
saved an entire battalion in WWI. Each story is told in the form of
a short rhyming poem and accompanied by a full-page color
illustration in an appealing cartoon style. Historical stats about
the events and people involved, as well as extra trivia about the
species, fill the rest of each page. The format is reader-friendly,
and the subject matter is undeniably fascinating.
-Booklist
Chock-full of well-known animals, as well as historical figures
associated with different creatures, this title will attract
budding history buffs. Arranged chronologically, the book includes
Cleopatra and the asp responsible for her death; Beatrix Potter and
the pet rabbit upon which she based her stories; and Elsa the lion,
who was adopted—and eventually freed—by Joy and George Adamson.
Each entry contains a poem that describes the animal or event in
question, while “Historical Stats” includes basic information on
either the historical personage or the animal. “Did You Know?” and
“Tell Me More!” sections feature brief, related factoids (under
“Rin Tin Tin,” readers will learn about the use of dogs in film and
on TV). A full-page, caricaturelike cartoon accompanies each entry.
Anthropomorphism abounds: Nero’s tiger is shown feasting with the
ancient emperor, while Charles Darwin converses with his animal
buddies. While adults might groan at the sometimes forced humor and
poetry, the intended audience will eat this one up. Historical
fluff? Maybe, but if nothing else, this silly yet persuasive effort
will coax readers into enjoying history. VERDICT An entertaining
addition, though this selection won’t take the place of more
serious works.
-School Library Journal
Ask a Question About this Product More... |