33 Heroes: True War Stories of Courageous Animals
Celebrate the unique bond between animals and humans in these true war stories of courageous animals. 33 heroes shine a light in the darkness of war. 
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure here.

Heroes: Incredible True Stories of Courageous Animals

Please note: This book is recommended for age 9+ but while it portrays stories of hope and heroism, it does contain mature themes of war, death and other tragedies. Please preview to decide what age is appropriate for your family.
Heroes

Inspiring True Stories of Courageous Animals

Glorious full-color double-page illustrations throughout.

We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Written by the award-winning team of historian David Long and illustrator Kerry Hyndman, these extraordinary stories of animal heroes are destined to become favorites with older and younger readers alike.

Covering a wide range of historical subjects and portraying thirty-three incredible stories of animal heroics, this is the first of several titles in Long and Hyndman’s collection of inspirational biography collections. 

Illustrator Kerry Hyndman utilises earth-toned illustrations to portray these stories of brave animals in real life, smoky battlefields and cities of rubble. Her full-color double-page illustrations bring to life the most dramatic situations in this inspirational book and highlight the lifesaving messages and exploits of these amazing animals. 

Trilogy of Real Life Stories

Trilogy of real-life stories about animal heroes, courageous survivors and incredible rescue missions.

The 3 books in the trilogy are:

Heroes

Inspiring True Stories of Courageous Animals

Glorious full-color double-page illustrations throughout.

We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Survivors

Extraordinary Tales from the Wild and Beyond

Be shocked and amazed by these incredible real-life stories of extreme survival.

We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Rescue

Astonishing real-life rescue missions from on, under, and above the earth brought to you by the award-winning team behind acclaimed children's books, Survivors and Heroes.

We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
This trilogy is one of my top gift choices for children aged 9+. They are a great choice for that ‘hard to buy for’ child. With a focus on war and related events, the animal stories in Heroes: Incredible True Stories of Courageous Animals cover the first and second world wars, the Chinese Civil War, U.S. marines in the Korean War, the Cold War, military occupations in Ireland and Afghanistan and 9/11 Ground Zero. You could easily turn this into a geography and history study as you visit each chapter. Follow along with the locations and events on maps or globes as you read. 

You will journey with a plucky donkey in the chapter called Gallipoli Murphy and a young Mongolian racehorse in Sergeant Reckless. Meet Rip, a hero of the London blitz in Rescuer Among the Ruins and other dog stories that include Jet who a leapt ladder and Tich, the tough front-line fighter. Enjoy many breeds of canine characters and noncanine subjects dodging artillery shells in the midst of battle.

As a career rescue dog, a German Shepherd named Appollo was called in to search for survivors after the World Trade Center buildings collapsed on 9/11. Although facing a hopeless task, Appollo and the other rescue dogs found another role during the months of recovery that followed this tragedy. They became the support team for all the thousands of fire fighters and other rescue workers who would seek out their company in their break times. Sharing the burden of the overwhelming situation and the accompanying heartache, Appollo and other courageous dogs came together with their human counterparts in a joint mission to serve and honour those who had lost their lives but also to comfort one another in the midst of tragedy.

The Survivor Tree

This is one of my favorite beautiful books about 9/11 and The Survivor Tree.
The Survivor Tree

Inspired by a True Story

Through evocative prose and watercolor illustrations, The Survivor Tree: Inspired by a True Story takes the reader on a journey of hope and healing that parallels the events of September 11, 2001.

This Callery Pear Tree is planted in a place of honor on the 9/11 Memorial Plaza and is now known as "The 9/11 Survivor Tree." All profits from the sale of this book go to charity.

We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
New York City, NY USA – In 2013, we visited the 9/11 Memorial Reflection Pools in New York City, erected in place of the 2 World Trade Centre buildings that fell.
9/11 Memorial Beams. The light sources of these beams stand in place of the World Trade Centre buildings that fell, taking the lives of 2,753 people.
As well as horses and dogs, you will meet an abundance of other furry front-liners including cats, birds and bears. Read about the real bear named Winnie, the original Winnie-the-Pooh and her early life with the U.S. soldiers here: Finding Winnie

There is now an Animals in War memorial erected in Hyde Park, London dedicated to commemorating the fact that not all battles are fought by humans and honoring the animals who served. Also pictured is a bronze memorial in Canberra, Australia dedicated to brave Explosive Detection Dogs and their incredible handlers.
The Animas in War memorial, London, UK
Canberra, Australia – Sculpture commemorating the vital role and contribution of Explosive Detection Dogs and their handlers in war.

The Animal Stars Collection

Read more amazing true animal stories in this great collection from Jackie French’s Animal Star series.
Animal Stars (5 book series)

Captain Cook's goat is the first of many historical animals to bring the past to life.

The HM Bark Endeavour is sailing to Tahiti to map the transit of Venus, but there are rumours that once the task is completed, Lieutenant James Cook has a set of secret orders - orders that command him to search for the Great South Land. Isaac is twelve and has joined the crew of the Endeavour as a master's servant, good for scrubbing decks and not much else. He's certainly not considered good enough to fetch hay for the Goat who will provide fresh milk for Cook and his officers. And this goat even has more experience at sea than Isaac - she has already sailed around the world once, watching the ocean and lands slip by from her spot on the quarterdeck. Over the months on board the Endeavour, a friendship grows between the Goat and Isaac, one that will last through shipwreck, bushfire and illness. A friendship that helps in the discovery of exotic new lands ... Ages 9+

We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

Related Posts