Cover of Animal Stories by Jane Yolen, Adam Stemple, Heidi E Y Stemple, and Jason Stemple

Animal Stories: Heartwarming True Tales from the Animal Kingdom

I was asked (at a time when I was incredibly busy) by National Geographic too do a book of amazing (often heroic) animal stories. I said only if I could write it with my children, all of whom were well-published writers. They agreed. I made a list of fascinating animal stories, from the dog (& team) that brought the sick children in Alaska during a stormy winter, to the geese in Roman times that saved a battalion of Roman soldier. The kids added more. (At that time Heidi, costumer for Amherst Ballet, discovered that Balanchine had created a dance for elephants and ballerinas We divided them up–they each doing four and me ten though Nat Geo dropped one of mine. The design for the book is sensational. What’s not to love?

Also from us and National Geographic: Fly With Me: National Geographic Book of Birds

What reviewers have said:

  • “vibrant storytelling…moments of humor, warmth, and surprise run throughout this collection.” — Publishers Weekly
  • “This charming compilation of animal stories gives young readers a great variety of stories to ‘ooh’ and ‘ahh’ over…The book also houses one of the most extensive recourse and further reading sections that I have ever seen in a children’s text, but is absolutely excellent for parents or teachers who would like to provide more information to interested younger readers. I would consider this an excellent resource for any elementary teacher.”–Children’s Literature – Jean Boreen