Long ago, in 1796, a woman named Sarah Gnomes and her cow, Blossom, both got sick with a disease called cowpox. People noticed that if you got cowpox once, you wouldn’t get it again. A doctor named Edward Jenner thought that if he gave a boy cowpox, it might protect him from a much worse disease called smallpox. He tried it, and it worked! Thanks to Dr. Jenner, Sarah, and Blossom, smallpox, which once harmed millions of people, is no longer a threat. Did you know the word “vaccine” comes from the Latin word “vaca,” which means cow?
In 1917, during World War One, a stray puppy wandered into a soldier camp. A soldier named Robert Conroy found the puppy and named him Stubby because he was small. Stubby learned to do tricks like saluting soldiers and even did brave things to help them. He warned soldiers about dangerous gas, helped find wounded men, and even caught a spy! Later, Stubby became the mascot of Georgetown University when Robert went there to study. Isn’t that cool?
Before cell phones, during World War One, the United States used pigeons to send secret messages. One special pigeon was named Cher Ami, which means “dear friend” in French. Cher Ami delivered 12 important messages, and on his last mission, he helped save 194 soldiers known as The Lost Battalion. Even though he was injured, Cher Ami’s bravery made a big difference. Did you know the US Army used about 600 pigeons to send messages during the war?
A soldier named Harry Colburn once bought a black bear cub from a trapper and named her Winnie, after his hometown of Winnipeg. Winnie traveled with Harry to France during the war. She later lived in the London Zoo, where she met a boy named Christopher Robin. This friendship inspired the famous children’s story “Winnie the Pooh.” Did you know the real Christopher Robin had a teddy bear named Winnie and other stuffed animals that inspired the characters in the story?
In a small Alaskan village called Nome, a terrible sickness called diphtheria spread, and people needed medicine fast. A team of sled dogs, led by a dog named Togo, traveled 261 miles through snow and ice to deliver the medicine. Togo’s journey was the longest and most dangerous part of the trip, which saved many lives. Did you know the trip to Nome was so cold that it reached -85 degrees Fahrenheit (-65 degrees Celsius) and took seven days?
On a British Royal Navy ship, sailors found a cat named Simon. Simon was injured during an attack but still comforted the sailors and helped get rid of rats on the ship. This kept the sailors’ food safe and made Simon a hero. When Simon returned to Great Britain, he became famous and received lots of fan mail!
In 1959, two monkeys named Abel and Baker went on a special mission to outer space. They flew on a rocket 360 miles above Earth and safely returned, proving that living beings could survive space travel. Thanks to Abel and Baker, scientists felt confident to explore space further, eventually sending humans to the Moon. Did you know that just two years after their mission, the first human orbited the Earth?
In 1971, a gorilla named Coco was born. A student named Penny Patterson taught Coco sign language, and Coco learned over a thousand signs! Coco showed emotions and feelings, changing how we understand animals. Did you know Coco’s full name was Hanabiko, which means “fireworks child” in Japanese, because she was born on the 4th of July?
These amazing animals all made the world a better place in their own special ways. What will you do to change the world? If you love stories, ask your grown-up to help you explore more fun tales. You’ll be glad you did!
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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**Amazing Animals Who Changed the World**
**Blossom the Cow**
In 1796, Sarah Gnomes and her cow, Blossom, both became sick with a disease called cowpox. Some people said anyone who got cowpox once would never get it again. Dr. Edward Jenner wondered if giving a boy cowpox could help him be protected from smallpox too. The doctor tried and succeeded. Now, thanks to Dr. Jenner, Sarah, and Blossom, the disease that once killed 300 million people is gone for good. Did you know the word “vaccine” comes from the Latin word “vaca,” meaning cow?
**Stubby**
One day in 1917, a stray puppy found his way into the midst of World War One. A soldier named Robert Conroy fell in love with the little dog and let him stay, calling him Stubby because he was so small. Stubby learned to do tricks like salute the soldiers, but he also did brave things that saved lives. During his 17 battles, Stubby alerted soldiers to dangerous gas attacks, helped medics find the wounded, and comforted injured men. Once, Stubby even captured a German spy. Did you know that in 1921, when Robert went to study law at Georgetown University, Stubby came along with him and became the school mascot?
**Cher Ami the Carrier Pigeon**
During World War One, before cell phones made communication easy, the United States used carrier pigeons to deliver secret messages across long distances. One pigeon was called Cher Ami, meaning “dear friend” in French. Cher Ami carried 12 important messages during the war. On his last journey, although he was badly injured, the little pigeon successfully delivered a message that led to the rescue of 194 missing soldiers known as The Lost Battalion. Did you know that during World War One, the US Army enlisted the help of about 600 carrier pigeons to deliver secret messages?
**Winnie the Bear**
One day, a soldier named Harry Colburn came upon a beautiful black bear cub being held by a trapper. Harry felt concerned and bought her from the man for twenty dollars. Harry was a soldier heading off to war, and the bear, whom he named Winnie after his hometown of Winnipeg, sailed with him on a ship to France. Before long, Winnie became so big that Harry had to take her to the London Zoo, where zoo-goers were allowed to feed and play with her. That’s where she met a boy named Christopher Robin. The friendship inspired Christopher’s father to write “Winnie the Pooh,” which has been a favorite children’s story around the world since 1926. Did you know the real Christopher Robin actually had a teddy bear he named Winnie, along with a stuffed donkey, pig, tiger, and kangaroo, which inspired the characters Eeyore, Piglet, Tigger, and Roo?
**Togo the Sled Dog**
A terrible sickness called diphtheria broke out in the tiny Alaskan village of Nome. The town was too remote for planes or ships to access during the winter. People were dying, and more were getting sick every day. The only team that could quickly bring the life-saving serum was a group of Siberian sled dogs. Although a dog named Balto led the final team of the relay to deliver the serum, Togo was chosen to lead the longest and most dangerous stretch of 261 miles, running through snow and crossing frozen sea. Togo and the other sled teams completed a relay of about 675 total miles to save the village of 1,400 people. Did you know the trip to deliver the serum to Nome got as cold as -85 degrees Fahrenheit (-65 degrees Celsius) and took seven days, with drivers who at times could not even see the dogs in front of them because the weather was so bad?
**Simon the Cat**
A ship in the British Royal Navy was docked in Hong Kong when sailors smuggled a cat on board. The other sailors adopted him too, naming him Simon. Simon was injured in an attack, but he never lost his special ability to comfort wounded sailors and boost morale. The most helpful Simon wiped out a major infestation of rats on the ship, protecting their food supplies and keeping everyone on board healthier. The sailors, grateful for his efforts, hailed Simon a hero. Did you know when Simon returned home to Great Britain, he became an instant celebrity and received many letters from adoring fans?
**Abel and Baker the Space Monkeys**
In 1959, two monkeys named Abel and Baker were chosen for a special mission: they were going to outer space. On their rocket, a Jupiter missile, Abel and Baker flew into the sky 360 miles above Earth at more than 10,000 miles per hour. Look, they safely arrived back home to Earth, proving that mammals could survive space flight. Thanks to Abel and Baker, scientists had the confidence to move forward with space exploration, sending a man to the Moon, launching an International Space Station, and studying the possibility of life on Mars. Did you know two years after Abel and Baker returned, the first human, a Russian cosmonaut, launched into space and orbited the Earth for 108 minutes?
**Coco the Signing Gorilla**
In 1971, a gorilla named Coco was born. A student named Penny Patterson wondered if Coco could learn to communicate with humans through sign language. Coco surprised everyone by learning more than a thousand signs. When her pet cat died, Coco showed her ability to feel by making the signs for “cry,” “have,” “sorry,” and “Coco love.” Coco forever changed our understanding of how much we have in common with our animal friends. Did you know Coco’s full name was Hanabiko, Japanese for “fireworks child,” because she was born at the San Francisco Zoo on the 4th of July?
These animals all changed the world for the better in their own unique ways. What will you do to change the world? If you don’t have books, what are you waiting for? It’s a kid-safe, ad-free library full of storybooks brought to life. My favorite story on Books is “The Unicorn and Horse” because the horse feels like he’s, well, not beautiful, but he actually is. I’m going to explore more on Books, and you should too! Don’t wait around—ask your grown-up and start exploring more fun stories like these. You’ll be glad you did!
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This version maintains the essence of the original transcript while ensuring it is appropriate and clear.
