This beautifully illustrated 79 page book tells the magical story of animals, showing the reader their wisdom, follies, spirits and personalities. The animals seem like people to us - albeit strange and extraordinary people - just as they do to the little girl who finds herself living among them after Coyote rescues her in the wilderness. Le Guin uses the animals to take us in and help us remember, deep within our own ancient histories, their sacredness and magic, as well as that of the earth, thereby heightening our own compassion and sense of the holy.