I had a childhood filled with books, and I remember nearly all of them. However, a few series stood out and withstood countless rereads that have continued through adulthood. One of these is Sam Campbell’s Living Forest Series. It was one of the Big Three (the others were Chronicles of Narnia and Swallows and Amazon) that greatly defined my childhood, and I have had great joy in introducing them to my children in turn.
Set largely in Northern Wisconsin with occasional canoe trips to Canada, the Sam Campbell books are the chronicles of his experiences living on a wildlife preserve.
He and his wife Giny cared a great deal about the natural world, and these books are the outpouring of that care. I am hesitant to refer to them as environmentalists as that conjures the wrong picture. Rather, they were Christians who had a great reverence for nature and a desire to protect and preserve it. While hunters who wandered onto their preserve had the tendency to be the “bad guys,” Mr. Campbell was always clear that he objected to hunting as a sport, and that hunting to provide food was different.
The heart and soul of these books though are the orphaned creatures that wound up being raised by the Campbells. With incredible comedic timing, Mr. Campbell brought to life the antics of baby porcupines, deer, squirrels, and raccoons, and with love he recorded their continued interactions and relationships with them as they returned to wild as adult animals. And animals weren’t the only children who benefited from Sanctuary. Several young people spent time with the Campbells, learning about nature, and Mr. Campbell records their growth and antics with the same fondness as he does their wild charges. Teaching children across the country, particular in cities, about the wonder and marvel of nature might not seem like a ministry to some, but the Campbells clearly treated it as such.
These books remain in the top five of my list of books everyone should read. Even kids who aren’t animal crazy can related to these books, and I think they have messages that are missing in most recent literature. Our culture is fast passed, and our books and movies reflect that. The Campbell books are about a slower, more reflective life, and the fruit it yields. I can recommend these books across the board with no reservations whatsoever.
Living Forest Series
How's Inky
Too Much Salt and Pepper
Eeny , Meeny Miney , Mo and Still Mo
A Tippy Canoe and Canada Too
On Wings of Cheer
Moose Country
The Seven Secrets of Somewhere Lake
Loony Coon
Fiddlesticks and Freckles
Beloved Rascals
Sweet Sue's Adventures
Calamity Jane