Born Naked CL

Now in his 70s, Mowat ( Never Cry Wolf ) looks back on the happiest years of his life in this delightful memoir of an idyllic boyhood. He has previously described his father, Angus, as the original hippie; his mother, Helen, was more sedate but reluctantly supported her husband's schemes. Growing up in rural Ontario and on the Saskatchewan prairies, Mowat had unlimited freedom to explore the countryside. He gives an entertaining account of the family's boating misadventures, of their move to Saskatoon with a home-built trailer, of a motor trip to Canada's west coast. Entranced by the prairie and its wildlife, Mowat spent most of his time there--often with Mutt, the much loved pet featured in The Dog Who Wouldn't Be. Photos. (Apr.)