Pallenberg Wonder Bears - From the Beginning follows members of a Cologne, Germany family from the mid-1800s to the present, profiling those who immigrated to the United States and those who did not. Joseph was an animal anatomist and renowned sculptor. Christian was an engineer who patented his inventions and eventually worked in the Detroit auto industry. And Emil trained acrobatic bears, eventually headlining in Vaudeville and Ringling owned circuses. Considered to have been the greatest bear trainer of his time, he taught by example, as well as by using his gentle voice and hand signals. In 1908 he became the first person to teach a bear to ride a bicycle and later taught his bruins to roller skate, play musical instruments and walk the tight rope. Emil's bears appeared in three major motion pictures -- and one was on Broadway for over a year in a Jerome Kern/Oscar Hammerstein musical. Yet when he and his Wonder Bears were not performing, they all lived harmoniously in the little shoreline town of Clinton, Connecticut.
"Pallenberg Wonder Bears - From the Beginning is a captivating narrative you couldn't have dreamed up, but won't want to put down. I've been in publishing for a long time and at this point it takes something really unique to raise my eyebrows -- and this story certainly did, from the very first page."
-- Justin Race, Director Purdue University Press
"The rich history of Pallenberg's Wonder Bears has been brought to life through the meticulous research of Peggy Adler and Dibirma Jean Burnham. They weave together the fascinating story of the world's most famous bear act through newly revealed documents and rare photographs that transport the reader back to an era when audiences marveled at Emil Pallenberg's skillful training and embraced the performances of his amazing bears."
-- Chris Berry, Circus Historian
"Presented in a chronological history from 1854 to 2018, Pallenberg Wonder Bears - From the Beginning is laid out in meticulous detail and will have an immense and enduring appeal to readers with an interest in the history of the American Circus and it's animal acts. Especially recommended for community and college/university collections, it should also be noted for personal reading lists."
- Margaret Lane's Bookshelf, Reviewers Book Watch
"Unquestionably the definitive work on the Pallenberg performing family and their trained bears. Extensively researched, generously illustrated, and executed with a deep appreciation for what the Pallenberg family accomplished. Included is a comprehensive timeline of the Pallenberg family. The authors should be rewarded for their affectionate tribute to this icon family of performers. Highly recommended if you wish to learn the history of performing bears and the caring family of trainers. Bears are highly intelligent creatures and if they could but read, they'd recommend this book as well!"
- Brad Zinn, Brad Zinn Entertainment, Inc.
