• Booklist Reviews : Booklist Reviews 2014 December #2
  *Starred Review* This engaging large-format volume offers 19 surprising, amusing, and endearing stories of real animals doing unusual things. Some kids have already read about Balto, Pale Male, or Owen and Mzee, but the familiar stories here are well worth retelling, and the new ones are equally amazing and memorable. After all, how many have heard of the elephants that danced a ballet choreographed for them by George Balanchine? Then there is the flock of sacred geese that warned ancient Romans of a sneak attack by the invading Gauls. And what about the two English pigs that escaped on their way to the slaughterhouse, swam across the icy River Avon, and, as twentieth-century media darlings, found a safe haven in the end? Throughout the collection, the subjects are well chosen, and the writing by Yolen and her adult children is consistently fine. Painted in acrylics and digitally enhanced, the appealing illustrations feature rich colors, sensitive character portrayals, and dramatically composed scenes. An informative sidebar accompanies each story, an appended world map points out the settings, and a photo-illustrated "cast of characters" briefly summarizes the narratives. Well suited to reading alone or reading aloud to younger children, this handsome book is a treasury of highly enjoyable animal stories. Copyright 2014 Booklist Reviews.

Born and raised in New York City, JANE YOLEN now lives in Hatfield, Massachusetts. She attended Smith College and received her master's degree in education from the University of Massachusetts. The distinguished author of more than 170 books, when she is not writing, Yolen composes songs, is a professional storyteller on the stage, and is the busy wife of a university professor, the mother of three grown children, and a grandmother.JUI ISHIDA, born in Taiwan, was raised in Japan. After graduating from the Art Center College of Design, Ishida has had an illustrious career as an accomplished children's book illustrator.  Her unique style has been praised for its exquisite color and design.

Born and raised in New York City, JANE YOLEN now lives in Hatfield, Massachusetts. She attended Smith College and received her master's degree in education from the University of Massachusetts. The distinguished author of more than 170 books, when she is not writing, Yolen composes songs, is a professional storyteller on the stage, and is the busy wife of a university professor, the mother of three grown children, and a grandmother.

JUI ISHIDA, born in Taiwan, was raised in Japan. After graduating from the Art Center College of Design, Ishida has had an illustrious career as an accomplished children's book illustrator.  Her unique style has been praised for its exquisite color and design.