One big happy family - Softcover

"This collection of tender stories and photos describes surprising interspecies relationships, many involving an adult predator suppressing its instinct to kill and taking on a parental role when exposed to an orphaned or abandoned baby animal that would ordinarily be its prey. ... Rogak's prose is buttressed by adorable pictures of the animals from different species snuggling or cuddling with each other. Impressively, the animals actively sought out the younger creatures in need. The stories exemplify the maxim that truth is stranger than fiction, and even if these incidents mark the exception rather than the rule, animal lovers of all ages will enjoy the book." --Publishers Weekly "This book 'sells' itself. It gathers 50 stories of animals of one species mothering (or, in several cases, fathering) babies from an entirely foreign species. The instinct to nurture young is almost universal, and, as these stories demonstrate, that instinct can sometimes trump the instinct to stay within one's own kind. ... Illustrated with irresistible color photos, this one is a charmer." --Booklist "Lisa Rogak in One Big Happy Family treats us to short but sweet stories of animals caring for animals of other species." --Animal People "Every page is an 'Awww!' moment, with surprising stories of interspecies adoption and friendships (the Dalmatian and her spotted sheep, the Labrador and her bunnies, a kitty and baby chicks - you get the idea) and accompanying photos ... Truly a book to make you happy, happy, happy." --TheDenverChannel.com

For all those touched by the stories in the bestselling book Unlikely Friendships, One Big Happy Family celebrates the intimacy and emotional connections of parenthood. Whether it's the border collie and the piglets, the cat and the ducklings, or even the golden retriever and the baby hippo, these are poignant, charming tales of animal moms and dads whose nurturing instinct overrides their species instinct. Filled with full-colour photographs, this book includes in-depth stories about animals that have reached out to save the lives of babies from other species and raise them as their own.