From the illustrator of Herstory (a Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2018) comes a fascinating and touching book about fifty extraordinary animals that made human history! Discover these amazing true tales of wild and wonderful lives—animal lives, that is! We often read heroic stories of brave people who made their mark on history. But did you know there are some pretty courageous creatures in our world, too? This captivating collection gathers fifty heartwarming, surprising, and powerful true stories of animals around the world who displayed immense bravery, aided in groundbreaking discoveries, and showed true friendship. Featuring a range of animals—from heroes to helpers, adventurers to achievers, and many more—young readers will discover some of the most unforgettable animals of all time. Compelling and gorgeously illustrated, WildLives is the perfect introduction to some of the amazing animals whose wild lives have made history. Gr 4–8—Lerwill introduces readers to 50 animals that have left their mark on the world. The book is divided into five sections, each of which includes the stories of 10 animals related to the designated topic. The stories feature animals that have saved lives such as Cher Ami, a female homing pigeon who was used by the U.S. Army Signal Corps in France during World War I, and Sergeant Stubby, a dog who served in 17 battles on the Western Front. The text also highlights animals who have taught humans more about the natural world. David Greybeard was the chimpanzee studied by Jane Goodall; Alex was a parrot who learned to understand hundreds of words. The text covers both domesticated animals (cats, dogs, and horses) and wild animals (a rhino, an elephant, and a falcon). Each two-page spread is nicely balanced between text and illustrations. Photographs are included with some of the stories. A map, a glossary, and an index are included, but the book lacks a works cited page or a bibliography. VERDICT An interesting collection of tales for readers who enjoy true stories about unusual animals. For general purchase where such collections are needed and enjoyed.—Heidi Grange, Summit Elementary School, Smithfield, UT "Vibrant illustrations enhance the sense of personality, bringing these animals to life....A solid addition to nonfiction collections, perfect for fans of animal history and inspirational stories." -- Booklist Online ― April 1, 2020 "An interesting collection of tales for readers who enjoy true stories about unusual animals." -- School Library Journal ― January 31, 2020 Ben Lerwill grew up in a small village in England, where he spent most of his time either outside, dreaming or reading—sometimes all at the same time. He works as a travel writer and children’s author, and when he’s not doodling in notebooks overseas he lives with his family in a (different) small village in England. Sarah Walsh grew up in upstate New York. When she was young she was obsessed with animals. So much so that she wanted to be one, and wore different animal costumes all year round. She also knew in her heart that she would be an artist someday…if she worked hard enough! Sarah is now an internationally published illustrator and lives with her family in Kansas City. Cher Ami CHER AMI The pigeon who saved the lives of soldiers FLY AWAY HOME War heroes don’t often have wings. When we talk about bravery in battle, we usually think of people who have risked their lives to help others. We don’t often think of birds, which is why the tale of Cher Ami is so extraordinary. In 1918 in France, during the First World War, the little pigeon managed to save almost 200 lives. Homing pigeons like Cher Ami are incredible birds. Each one learns to know where its home is, and will return there even when that home is many, many miles away. For this reason, homing pigeons—also called carrier pigeons—have been used for hundreds of years to send messages across long distances, with small notes attached to their legs. The message Cher Ami carried for many miles. BRAVERY IN BATTLE In the First World War, the United States Army used more than 600 birds to carry messages across the battlefields of France. None of them was quite as heroic as Cher Ami. She had already delivered more than ten important messages during the war, but her final mission was her most famous. On October 4, 1918, she came to the rescue when a battalion of American soldiers found themselves in a very dangerous situation. The soldiers, led by Major Charles Whittlesey, were being fired at by both the enemy and their own side, who didn’t realize they were there. They needed to get a message out to stop the attack—and fast. The major wrote a note that read: “We are along the road parallel 276.4. Our artillery is dropping a barrage directly on us. For heaven’s sake stop it.” It was tied to the leg of Cher Ami, and while bombs and bullets whistled through the air, the bird rose into the sky. Cher Ami was aw