Kelly McFarland
Pets and Their Famous Humans by Ana Gallo and illustrated by Katherine Quinn is a unique take on pop culture, in a picture book.
It’s an illustrated collection of pet-related stories, that both adults and children will find a really fun read, as they discover facts about of history’s most important scientists, artists, writers, and musicians and their beloved animals.
Did you know that Mozart’s pet starling was the inspiration for his Piano Concerto No. 17? Or that writer Dorothy Parker loved animals so much she let a pair of alligators swim in her bathtub?
These are just a couple of the stories in this delightful and surprising collection that profiles the strong bond between humans and their pets. Some of these stories are touching: Frida Kahlo memorialized her pet deer Granizo in her painting The Wounded Deer.
Some are a little quirky: Albert Einstein convinced that his parrot, Bibo, was sad, told bad jokes to cheer the bird up. Each of these wonderfully entertaining stories is made even more appealing by Katherine Quinn’s captivating illustrations. Rich in detail and reminiscent of folk art, they capture the humour and poignancy of these fascinating pairings.
Our favourite is about Fashion designer, Karl Lagerfeld. Over Christmas 2011, he was supposed to care for a cat named Choupette, but the two became inseparable. Choupette had a diamond collar, she ate at the table with Karl and even had her own assistant. She even has her own Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram accounts.
Together these stories and illustrations will create lasting impressions that will help young readers identify historic figures and spark joy in friendships with the animals in their own lives. It also gives adults a laugh and lets them learn something new.
You can get a copy of the book here.
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