Illustrated by Boris Artzybasheff I have a confession to make: I don't like animal stories. I don't know why. I can't explain it. I just don't find them interesting. Of course, there are some animal stories just so well-written that even non-animal story lovers like myself enjoy them. :o) In Gay-Neck: The Story of a Pigeon written by Dhan Gopal Mukerji and illustrated by Boris Artzybasheff (Dutton Juvenile; reprint edition, 1968), a very engaging narrator shares the daring adventures of his pigeon, Gay-Neck. Gay-Neck is a beautiful and talented pigeon ("soul of flight, pearl among pigeons"). I got swept up in Gay-Neck's escapades. He flies in the face of storms, gets into skirmishes with birds of prey, fights for leadership in the flock, participates in pigeon competitions, and becomes the glory of the Indian army in the first World War! Gay-Neck is a great example of a book that is both educational and an interesting story. It satisfies children's c...