Heroes: Incredible True Stories of Courageous Animals
What’s inside...
Thirty-three incredible stories of animal heroics from the team that brought you Blue Peter Award-winning SURVIVORS. For as long as there have been wars, animals have been out there saving lives. This book highlights courageous dogs, cats, birds, horses, and even a bear that have shown courage and devotion. Including stories such as Jet the Alsatian, who pulled survivors from burning rubble during the Blitz, and Gallipoli Murphy, the donkey who served as an ambulance. Through these extraordinary stories, we are reminded that heroes come in all forms, and not all heroes are human. The book features glorious full-colour double-page illustrations and has received praise for its inspirational and beautifully illustrated true-life stories.
Age
9-11
Length
192 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What qualities make these animals heroes in your eyes?
How did the stories of these courageous animals make you feel?
Which animal's story inspired you the most, and why?
If you could meet one of the animals from the book, who would it be and what would you ask them?
How do you think these animals impacted the lives of others around them?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their feelings about the stories by asking them how each story made them feel and why.
Discuss the definitions of courage and bravery with your child, and ask them to give examples of courageous actions from their own lives.
Use the stories as a springboard to talk about empathy and kindness, asking your child how they can show similar traits in their daily life.
Help your child identify and relate to the emotions displayed by the animals, enhancing their emotional intelligence.
After reading, consider doing a creative activity like drawing their favorite heroic animal from the book, encouraging them to add a background story that imagines the animal's next adventure.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Bravery and courage
Explanation: This book showcases stories of animals who display incredible bravery, often risking their own safety to help others.
Real-World Application: Children can learn the importance of acting courageously in difficult situations in order to help friends, family, or even strangers in need.
Example Lesson: Loyalty
Explanation: The animals in the stories often exhibit unwavering loyalty to their human companions, which contributes to their heroic acts.
Real-World Application: Kids can understand the value of being loyal and steadfast in their relationships, learning to support others who rely on them.
Example Lesson: Empathy
Explanation: The stories highlight how animals can sense emotions and respond to distress, which demonstrates empathy.
Real-World Application: This can teach children to notice and respond to the feelings of others, fostering a sense of empathy and care in their interactions.
Example Lesson: Problem-solving
Explanation: Many of the highlighted animal heroes had to find quick and innovative solutions to save the day.
Real-World Application: Children can be encouraged to think critically and come up with creative solutions when faced with challenges.
Example Lesson: The impact of small acts
Explanation: The book illustrates that even small actions can have big effects, such as a dog barking to alert someone in danger.
Real-World Application: Kids can learn that even their small actions can be significant and have a positive impact on others.