Corporal Wojtek Supplies the Troops Heroic Animals

During World War II, when a group of Polish soldiers found an orphaned bear cub, they eagerly took him in as their pet and named him Wojtek. As the young bear grew, he became friends with the soldiers, lifting their spirits as he learned to imitate them around camp. Later, Wojtek was helpful in combat by carrying many heavy shells during the Battle of Monte Cassino in Italy. Learn how Wojtek showed his courage in battle and earned the rank of Corporal during history's biggest war.

About the Author :
Bruce Berglund is a writer and historian. For 19 years, he taught history at Calvin College and the University of Kansas. His courses included the history of China, Russia, women in Europe, sports, and war in modern society. He has earned three Fulbright awards and traveled to 17 countries for research and teaching. His most recent book is The Fastest Game in the World, a history of world hockey published by the University of California Press. Bruce works as a writer at Gustavus Adolphus College, and he teaches writing classes at the Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis. His four children grew up reading books from Capstone Press, especially the graphic novel versions of classic literature. Bruce grew up in Duluth and now lives in southern Minnesota. Dolo was born and raised in Buenos Aires and always loved to draw. As a teen she took an animation course where she discovered the basics of cartooning. After art school and working in studios, she took the leap into illustration and comics! Since starting her career she has illustrated graphic novels, books, and magazines as well as her own graphic novel "Luka's Journey" and one of Capstone´s Courageous Kids titles.

Review :
These new graphic novels in the Heroic Animals series tell about several animals that became famous for their acts of service. In five brief chapters, each book details the central animal's background and training (if any), or how it came to serve, as well as its notable achievements. Corporal Wojtek was a bear that was officially inducted into the Polish army during WWII in order to remain with the unit that had adopted him in the Middle East--and was later promoted for his role in the unit's supply work. Patron has served as a mine-detecting dog in the recent conflict in Ukraine, where he also became a symbol of anti-mine education for children. Scarlett was a stray cat who rescued her five kittens from a burning building in Brooklyn, New York. Trakr was a police dog who may have helped locate the final survivor from the World Trade Center following the 9/11 attacks. The dramatic settings and charismatic animal subjects in these books lend themselves well to graphic-novel treatment. A recap of the animal's story, a glossary, a "read more" section, and author/illustrator biographies in the end matter provide the requisite nonfiction elements for academic use. The books will likely appeal to animal lovers and to fans of disaster series such as I Survived. Because the books deal with war and disaster and include some vivid illustrations, the content is best suited for readers prepared for these difficult elements.--Miriam Aronin "Booklist" True stories of heroic animals are presented in graphic novel format, from a military bear in World War II to the bomb-hunting dog that saved lives in the current war in Ukraine. Text boxes provide introductions and background information, while word balloons carry the mostly fictionalized dialogue between characters; actual quotations appear in bold font. Comic book style illustrations provide visual ­backdrop, conveying events and personalities effectively. Panels consistently pace each story, while larger frames are used for more dramatic moments, showing kittens stranded in a fire (Scarlett Braves the Flames), for example, and a search dog ­arriving at Ground Zero (Trakr Searches for Survivors). While the animal exploits are the focus, their ­relationships with humans are also ­explored. VERDICT An appealing combination of true-to-life animal heroes and graphic novel storytelling.--Steven Engelfried, formerly at Wilsonville Public Library, OR "School Library Journal"