“One Big Happy Family: Heartwarming Stories of Animals Caring for One Another”
By Lisa Rogak
Thomas Dunne Books,
146 pages
As you probably know, a couple of big competitions take place this month: the Winter Olympics and the Westminster Dog Show. I’ve been able to watch highlights from the XXII Winter Olympic games, but, to my dismay, I missed all of the action and drama of America’s top canine contest. The winner, a wire fox terrier named Sky, who looks like a very spunky gal, certainly worthy of a trophy, and perhaps a hefty bowl of kibble, made me grin despite not being able to view the events leading up to her crowning achievement.
Since I didn’t get my fill of high-spirited pooches this year, I decided to find something to satisfy my deficit of animal adorability. Of course the library is my go-to spot to begin such a quest — no surprise there — but I still get a kick when I locate the perfect book.
This week’s search led me to a real gem: “One Big Happy Family” by Lisa Rogak. Adorable creatures? Check. Stories so heart-warming, you just might “squee” with delight? Check. In other words, if you need a pick-me-up — maybe because you missed the dog show, too, or all of the snow and rain has finally beaten you down — this tribute to interspecies adoption (as so aptly described on the book’s back cover) will help to chase away whatever ails you.
Every story is worth reading, but I have a few favorites. Like the German shepherd taking care of Bengal tiger cubs (aww); the marmalade-colored mother cat acting as a surrogate to seven baby chicks (squee!); and — get ready to melt — the abused greyhound who was taken to a wildlife sanctuary to rehabilitate, then became a nurturer herself to an abandoned fawn, orphaned fox kits, and, most amazingly, a bevy of bunny babies (double squee!)
To find out more about these and other incredible animals taking care of each other (even a goat and a wolf pup!), please check out this week’s book. You’ll be happy you did.
