How Stella Learned to Talk - Christina Hunger 4*

[Robin P]

Ever since I read the Dr. Dolittle books as a kid, I have been fascinated by the idea of communicating with animals and finding out what they want to say. I did a project years ago on primates that used sign language, such as Washoe the chimp and Koko the gorilla. Christina Hunger is a speech pathologist who uses language boards and tablets to help nonverbal children communicate. When she got a new puppy, she wondered if a dog could use such a method. Starting from simple words like "outside", Stella the dog learned dozens of words and began to combine them in new ways. She and the author became instant celebrities when their story was picked up by People magazine and then multiple news outlets. It's very inspiring in its passion for communication, for all people and for other species. This is a very fast and easy read. It also includes detailed information and tips for anyone who wants to try this with their own dog.