Animal Superstars

A lively and surprising collection of true stories celebrating the intelligence, courage and unpredictability of animals. 

Animal Superstars gathers twenty true stories of animals whose surprising abilities have challenged human expectations and changed the way we understand the animal world. With Jacopo Olivieri’s brilliant storytelling and Caterina Spiezio’s scientific insight, each episode becomes a fast-paced narrative in which fact is every bit as gripping as fiction.

From Alex, the Congo African Grey parrot who named objects, counted, recognised colours and even grasped the idea of zero, to Koko, the gorilla who communicated with over a thousand signs, the book explores the different ways animals think, feel and interact with humans. Some stories are heroic, like the story of Cher Ami, the WWI homing pigeon who saved an encircled battalion despite being gravely injured; others reveal hidden intelligence, like Clever Hans, the horse who appeared able to solve equations until scientists discovered he was reading subtle human cues. The book also includes legendary friendships and long-lasting bonds, like Malena and Klepetan, the Croatian storks separated by an injury, remained devoted for twenty years as Klepetan flew 13,000 km every spring to return to Malena.

A book by Book on a Tree