Animals Welcome: A Life of Reading, Writing, and Rescue (review)

Author Peg Kehret shares her experiences with animals (both wild and domestic) and gives readers a peek into her life as a writer, pet owner, cat fosterer, and all-around animal champion on her ten acres of woods in Washington State. Kehret's emphasis here is squarely on the "rescue" part of the subtitle, although she does introduce some of the real-life animals (and people) behind various characters in her novels (real cats Mr. Stray and Mama inspired the character of Mrs. Stray in The Ghost's Grave, for example). The text is both entertaining and informative, as the author provides plenty of specific details about individual animals and their care, including house pets, strays, foster kitties, and wild critters. The writing is sometimes so measured and thoughtful that the pacing lags a bit, but quieter kids will appreciate Kehret's calm, steady approach, and there are many humorous incidents and poignant moments that enrich the account. Kehret is also particularly adept at giving kids a realistic look, via her personal experiences, at issues such as the pros and cons of animal shelters, feeding wildlife, and interacting with feral strays ("Like so many things in life, I can't control the outcome of my efforts. All I can do is feed him, to keep him as safe and comfortable as possible, and to keep talking to him"). Readers will also find it satisfying to be able to see many of the animals Kehret describes in the numerous black and white photographs sprinkled throughout the book. This will be an easy sell to Kehret fans and other animal lovers.