“If having a soul means being able to feel love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals are better off than a lot of humans.“
~James Herriot
As a small child I was blessed to have a mother who was faithful to read to me. Sadly, I’ve forgotten many of those books over the years. But one of the delights of becoming a parent yourself is becoming reacquainted with some of those old favorites. For me, one of those sets of stories is by author James Herriot. His birthday is in October and, in celebration, I’m revisiting his stories once again.
Herriot was a veterinarian in Britain in the mid 1900’s and wrote books based on all he encountered during his years of working with all manner of animals and people. I remember my mother reading aloud to my brother and I stories from his eight volume set of books for adults. Those stories magically transported us from our small home in Oregon to the rolling hillsides of the Yorkshire Dales. Herriot’s homespun writing style and wry humor delighted us. Even now, years later, I remember laughing aloud at some stories, marveling in wonder as he described the birth of an animal, and wrinkling up my nose at the smells he described.
Herriot also turned some of those stories into picture books. Two Decembers ago my seven-year-old son and I read our way through all of them. I often found my twelve-year-old daughter listening as well and occasionally chiming in with an, “Oh, I love this one!” The stories are accompanied by wonderful illustrations that lend them even more depth.
The picture books were published individually and then later published all together as a Treasury (James Herriot’s Treasury for Children: Warm and Joyful Tales from the Author of All Things Great and Small). It is one of those volumes I’ll continue pulling off my bookshelves, especially when we are looking for a quick read to enjoy with a cup of tea or hot chocolate.
The adult books can be found on audio and have been turned into a 8 season Drama (made in the 1970s) as well as a show about Herriot’s early years (made in 2011). So, if you are looking for something to read with your kids or would just enjoy a trip to the Yorkshire Dales through some delightful storytelling check out some of Herriot’s work this fall.
In the hope of threading stories, threading lives….
Tina
{Amazon Links are affiliate links meaning if you like one of our recommendations and purchase it, we receive a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks!}