I grew up with dogs in the house. I spent my whole childhood with some sort of dog in my life. My family owned dogs, fostered dogs, dog & cat sit for the neighbors, and even showed dogs at one point. When my wife and I got married we had a dog before we had kids. We joke, but are 1/2 serious too, that she was our first child.
That love of dogs, and history in general, means I absolutely adore the new 48-page hardcover book Pets and Their Famous Humans by Ana Gallo. The book is charmingly illustrated by Katherine Quinn. Together the two have assembled a collection of pet-related stories, children will find out about some of history’s most important scientists, artists, writers, and musicians and their beloved animals.
Did you know that Mozart’s pet starling was the inspiration for his Piano Concerto No. 17? Or that writer Dorothy Parker loved animals so much she let a pair of alligators swim in her bathtub? These are just a couple of the stories in this delightful and surprising collection that profiles the strong bond between humans and their pets. Some of these stories are touching: Frida Kahlo memorialized her pet deer Granizo in her painting The Wounded Deer. Some are a little quirky: Albert Einstein, convinced that his parrot, Bibo, was sad, told bad jokes to cheer the bird up.
Each of these wonderfully entertaining stories is made even more appealing by Katherine Quinn’s captivating illustrations. Rich in detail and reminiscent of folk art, they capture the humor and poignancy of these fascinating pairings. Together these stories and illustrations will create lasting impressions that will help young readers identify historic figures and spark joy in friendships with the animals in their own lives.
– Pets and Their Famous Humans
Have you read the book? Do you have a favorite story from it? Let me know in the comments.