The author of these heartwarming essays writes, "All my life I have wondered what it feels like to be a horse." Rudner (A Chorus of Buffalo
) has driven for hours to find a homeless dog, lost her heart to a pack mule and fallen in love with a baby gorilla because she believes that connecting with animals, whether domestic or wild, is as important as connecting with people. Rudner cites a passage in the book of Job: "But ask now the Beasts/ And they shall teach thee," and she demonstrates the wisdom of this by telling of the experiences she has had with dogs, cats, coyotes, wolves and other animals, showing how they have changed her life. For example, from her horse she learned to deal with an unfamiliar obstacle in the road—it's difficult at first but in the end "simply a step on a path." By watching a colony of penguins, she learned to accept that death is a fundamental part of life. Her compelling message is that because we share our planet with the animals, it's important to seek connections with them so that we may learn how to live in balance with the natural order of things. (June)
