Courageous Creatures

I Survived True Stories

by Lauren Tarshis

Lauren Tarshis's New York Times bestselling I Survived series tells tales of brave kids who survive harrowing events. Now, Lauren Tarshis tells the true stories of several animals who face challenges of their own and the humans who help them survive.

ANIMALS. SURVIVORS. HEROES. The author of the New York Times bestselling I Survived series shares four thrilling true stories of animals who have faced disaster—and come through. You’ll meet courageous animals and also inspiring humans who show how we can help protect the creatures who share our precious Earth.



Includes real-life stories

The pigeon hero of World War ITwo captured dolphins and the hero who helped them return to the sea20,000 penguins saved from an oil spill disasterTwo orphaned cheetahs and their unlikely new dad

This fourth book in the I Survived True Stories series is perfect for fans of the I Survived novels or anyone who loves stories about animals beating the odds. It's a great choice for reading alongside I Survived the Battle of D-Day, 1944, which features a carrier pigeon character.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Childrens, Middle Grade, Animals, Juvenile

176 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 2, 2021

About the author

Lauren Tarshis often wonders how she came to spend most of her waking moments thinking about disasters, as the author of the children's historical fiction series "I Survived." Each book takes readers into the heart of history's most thrilling and terrifying events, including the sinking of the Titanic, the Shark Attacks of 1916, Hurricane Katrina, the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the San Francisco earthquake, 9/11, and the Battle of Gettysburg. Writing these books often makes her feel very nervous, as though at any moment a volcano could erupt right outside her window. Then again, she has learned a thing or two about avoiding being eaten by a shark.
Lauren is also the author of the the award-winning Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree and its sequel, Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell in Love.

For more information, go to her website: www.LaurenTarshis.com

And check out the I Survived Website: www.Scholastic.com/ISurvived

Reviews

[Jasmine from How Useful It Is · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic read! I loved reading this book! That’s big coming from me because I normally fall asleep reading nonfiction but this book was surprisingly easy to read. It’s full of fun facts. Animals’ aid during wartime were amazing. The dolphins’ stories were sad and it’s so bad about what happened to them through tuna fishing boats when they are such sweet happy looking creatures. Dolphins sounded like humans based on the facts of how they live. I’m surprised to learn that they can only stayed maximum of 12 minutes underwater before coming up to the surface for air. So many facts about dolphins that I don’t know. I loved learning how smart the animals were and how helpful they can be like how dogs help humans with their sense of smells!


This book started with a story about pigeons. They acted as messengers to communicate between soldiers and home-base. One pigeon in particular was named Cher Ami and it saved 200 soldiers from bombs that were dropped by the Americans meant to kill the enemy but weren’t aware that Americans were there. In the next few pages, readers will learn more about pigeons and how they knew which way to go. There were examples of other animals that knew their way home and one you may thought oh yeah are the salmons because they migrate from saltwater to fresh water. The next story was how a man saved two dolphins that were captured to sell at hotels for attraction purposes. The third story followed the African penguins and how they were affected by the oil spill that was accidentally spilled into the ocean. There was another story before information were given to readers about how we can help protect animals from human harm such as using less plastics because it ended up in the ocean and killing marine animals. There were books and websites as well as nonprofit organizations given to readers that are dedicated to helping wildlife.


Courageous Creatures was very well written and a fast paced read. It was interesting and fully captured my attention. Often I couldn’t put this book down. This book is good for young readers because there are definitions to big words such as echolocation, molting, and preening. Additionally, there are directions on how to pronounce big words such as cetaceans and sirenians. The story on the African penguin rescue were heartbreaking. It’s neat to read the details about penguins. I didn’t know that penguins shed all of its feathers and regrow them again once a year. Despite sad stories, the author was able to bring humor into this read with information of how awful the odors in the air was when mix with thousands of penguins’ droppings, dead fishes, poisonous oils, and human sweats. Volunteers vomited upon entering the sites to help clean these penguins that were covered in oils from the oil spill. It was sweet to read the process it took for wild penguins to trust humans whom they have never seen before. I will give this book to my 10 year old to read now that I have finished it. I recommend everyone to read this book and to check out the series!

xoxo, Jasmine at www.Howusefulitis.com for more details

Many thanks to Scholastic for the opportunity to read and review. Please be assured that my opinions are honest.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an amazing book!!! I loved reading every minute of it. I also fell in love with each of the animals that were talked about. So much information about these important animals and how they helped us. And how it is so important for us to help them. One way is to read this author's I survived true stories series. I want to read them all.

[Sandy Sopko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Students who love animals will enjoy this collection of stories about penguins, dolphins, pigeons and cheetahs.

[McKenzie Richardson · Rating 3 out of 5]

For more reviews, check out my blog: Craft-Cycle

Another good nonfiction read in the I Survived series. This one follows different animals in their quest for survival and the humans who helped them along the way. Great for those interested in learning about animals.

It should be read with the knowledge that not all the stories are entirely happy. They each have a relatively nice ending, but there are also those who don't survive. In general, the stories are presented positively but do not hide the more violent and deadly aspects of animals living in the wild.

Follow Cher Ami, the carrier pigeon flying through WWI warfare to make her way home, Nica and Blue Fields, dolphins captured for a swim-with-the-dolphins program then abandoned in a dirty tank and their journey back to the sea, the rescue efforts to save thousands of African penguins after an oil spill, and Toki and Sambu, two orphaned cheetahs learning to live in the wild with the help of their human teachers.

Each section begins by telling the story of the animals and the dangers they faced, then gives more information about the animals involved as well as additional sections about similar animals and related historical information.

At the end are a few ways kids can help wildlife and protect the planet as well as helpful organizations and a list of additional readings.

Overall, a nice blending of animals and history. A good progression from historical fiction into nonfiction for fans of I Survived.

[Summer Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is more about people who help animals than animals who do brave things. Just so you know. The pigeon was courageous; the rest were rescued.

But that's not to say this wasn't a great book! It was well-researched, as always. The writing is for kids without taking down to them. And I learned a thing or two I hadn't known before. A fun read.

[Francis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting stories of different animals and their determination and will to survive. My favourite was the story of the carrier pigeon. That was remarkable!!

[Kim Hampton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love this series and it's a great way to teach kids about nature and history.

[Bobby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel as if they could have made this book shorter, and it would have been easier to finish the book so I could complete my goodreads challenge of 85 books.

[Lori Carrasco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent non-fiction book that is of high interest to young readers.

[Arjun · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think the stories are really good but they should be longer, and I like stories about animals saving humans is better than the opposite.

[Rakayle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bought this book. Easy read. Really liked the first story.

[PottWab Regional Library]

SM

[Susie Giesbrecht · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing! I love the facts!
it gives. It's a great book for young ages!

[Weston Mattern · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cool. Interesting. 💪🏿❤️👏