As a young child, Peterson’s original playmates were wild animals. She grew up in a Forest Service lookout cabin in a forest preserve on the border of California and Oregon. Her father was a forest ranger, later to become the Chief of the U.S. Forest Service. Peterson is directing us to look beyond the companionship we enjoy with our domesticated animal friends and invites us to explore how wild animals can become our guides and fellow travelers, helping us navigate the stresses of daily life in a rapidly changing planet. For example, she shares the poignant story of an elderly woman who had Alzheimer’s and lost her memory of friends, family, and even her own name. But this doyenne knew the birds, knew who she was as she came weekly to feed the gulls. She also shares the story of working with animal allies that empowered young teens in a classroom setting. Highlighted is the need for playfulness that enhances our survival. She shares the research done by Stuart Brown, M.D., founder of the National Institute for Play who has been able to demonstrate a correlation between the absence of normal play patterns in young people and mass killings. Peterson delights us with her many adventures with dolphins, beluga whales, orcas, and wolves.
