The Tarantula in My Purse: and 172 Other Wild Pets

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 deserves to be ranked among the great children's writers of our time. Of her previous books, Julie of the Wolves won a Newbery Medal and My Side of the Mountain is one of the most thrilling and engaging books ever written for kids. The Tarantula in My Purse is a memoir of sorts, telling the tales of the various animals that have passed through George's house, from "The Screech Owl Who Liked Television" to "The Goose and the Duck Who Were Arrested for Disturbing the Peace."