From bestselling nature writer and Newbery Medal winner Jean Craighead George comes an autobiographical story about how wild it can be living in a house full of animal fans. Imagine living with a skunk in your closet, a bat in your refrigerator, and a tarantula in your purse! In this hilarious autobiographical account, Newbery Medal–winning author and acclaimed naturalist Jean Craighead George describes her adventures in a house full of wildlife enthusiasts—and the amazing animals themselves. Grade 3-6?Transporting tarantulas in a purse may not be the norm elsewhere, but in the George household there's nothing unusual about it at all. A robin in a teacup, an owl in the shower, a bat in the refrigerator...all perfectly ordinary for a family of animal lovers. Noted for her environmental fiction and animal stories, George also shows readers how entertaining real life with wild creatures can be in this delightful autobiographical tale. Continuing a tradition started by her father, the author raised every sort of wild animal right alongside her own children. In a time when "anyone was free to bring home the earth's creatures to nurture and think about," George certainly did. Told in a casual and thoroughly engaging manner, the stories will enchant all animal lovers and even those who aren't. The integration of little-known facts will pique further interest as well. Equally entertaining for adults and children, these brief, amusing vignettes make wonderful read-alouds to share with the whole family.?Lisa Wu Stowe, Great Neck Library, NY Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. Over the years, George (There's an Owl in the Shower, 1995, etc.) and her three children moved a lot, but wherever they went they gave succor, shelter, and affection to a succession of injured or homeless wild creatures, from ferrets to falcons, spiders to salamanders, bats to box turtles. A screech owl who had fallen from his nest became a TV and toy-train addict in the Georges' care before his eventual return to the wild. Another time, a friend brought a duck egg and a goose egg to the Georges, both of which hatched into birds that grew up convinced they were people. The story nearly ended in disaster when the goose and duck were arrested by a local police officer for disturbing the peace, but George, as usual, came to the creatures' rescue. The book is brimming with similar stories, all narrated with humor and warmth, and all of which will show George's many fans yet another aspect of her life and work. (Nonfiction. 8-12) -- Copyright ©1996, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. “A one of-a-kind lesson in living with nature. Endearingly told.” - Publishers Weekly “Narrated with humor and warmth.” - Kirkus Reviews “These brief, amusing vignettes make wonderful read-alouds to share with the whole family.” - School Library Journal 1 Screech Owl 6 Ducklings 1 Weasel 1 Toad 3 Crows 1 Raccoon 3 Salamanders 1 Goose 7 Sunfish 1 Skunk 1 Tarantula And that's just the beginning of the list'Jean Craighead George has counted at least 173 wild pets that became part of the family as she raised her three children. As the Georges cared for this wildly varied assortment of animals, their stories made their ways into the books that Jean was writing, many of which have become children's classics. Humorous, heart-warming, and just plain entertaining, these stories by Newbery Medalist Jean Craighead George recall what life was like as she raised three children and 173 wild pets. On any given day there might be a bat in the refrigerator, an owl in the shower, or a crow at the kitchen table. Jean Craighead George’s respect for nature and its many creatures is evident in all of her writing. Here, she offers a personal, firsthand account of the many animals that made their way into her life and her books. 1996 ‘Pick of the Lists’ (ABA) 1996 Children’s Books (NY Public Library) Jean Craighead George  wrote over one hundred books for children and young adults. Her novel Julie of the Wolves won the Newbery Medal in 1973, and she received a 1960 Newbery Honor for My Side of the Mountain . Born into a family of famous naturalists, Jean spent her entire career writing books that celebrated the natural world. Richard Cowdrey has illustrated numerous books for children, including Bad Dog, Marley! by John Grogan, Animal Lullabies by Pam Conrad, and Frosty the Snowman by Steve Nelson and Jack Rollins. He is the owner of a yellow Labrador, Murray, whose behavior is remarkably similar to Marley's. He lives in Ohio with his wife and children.