WildLives: 50 Extraordinary Animals that Made History

By Author / Illustrator

Ben Lerwill, Sarah Walsh

Genre

Animals

Age range(s)

Publisher

Nosy Crow

ISBN

9781788007351

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

16-01-2025

Synopsis

In this fascinating and touching book, children can learn about 50 courageous creatures from around the world and throughout history.

This fully illustrated collection gathers heart-warming, surprising and often emotionally powerful stories of bravery, discovery and friendship. Featuring a range of animals - from heroes, helpers and adventurers to achievers and many more - young readers will discover some of the most famous and unforgettable animals of all time, including Pickles the dog, who tracked down a stolen World Cup trophy; The first mammal to be cloned - Dolly the sheep; and Cher Ami, the heroic pigeon who saved hundreds of lives - and many others!

Compelling and visually arresting in equal measure, WildLives is the perfect introduction to just some of the amazing animals whose wild lives have made history. Related teaching resource pack available on the Nosy Crow website. Other titles in the series include: HerStory and YouthQuake.

Spread from WildLives: 50 Extraordinary Animals that Made History, published by Nosy Crow

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Reviews

Sue

Now in paperback, WildLives: 50 Extraordinary Animals that Made History is a wonderful book which celebrates 50 remarkable animals from around the world, telling their exceptional stories. Each is a powerful tale, many full of courage and love, and each a joy to read.

The range of animals whose stories form this collection is incredible, reminding the reader of just how extraordinary animals can be. The adventures of two special felines are recorded here - Bob, the street cat who became very famous, and Simon, a cat who made his home on a warship. Elsa the lion, whose story became known through the 'Born Free' series of books, is also included. Dogs also feature: Greyfriars Bobby and Sergeant Stubby stories are perhaps better known, but the reader can also find out about Pickles who discovered the World Cup after it had been stolen, earning the gratitude of the England team who won it four months later! Balto (a husky from Alaska) earns a place in the book for being the lead dog in a team transporting essential medication through howling gales and blizzards, saving the lives of ill children. But it's not just dogs and cats. Huberta (a hippo), Sam (a koala), Lin Wang (an elephant) and Moko (a dolphin) are just a few of the other creatures represented.

The book is organised into different categories - Rescue and Protect, Adventure and Explore, Change and Solve, Discover and Pioneer and Inspire and Influence- and offers a comprehensive glossary and index, making it easy to locate specific information or to simply enjoy browsing. There is also a map of the world, showing where each creature was born.

Published in the same format as HerStory and Youthquake, Wild Lives is a beautifully produced book, full of lovely illustrations, but also including photographs, documents and quotes. It is a fascinating collection, perfect for inspiring young readers.

112 pages / Reviewed by Sue Wilsher, teacher