by Betty White
First published 2011
Betty White opens her heart to readers through decades of relationships with remarkable zoo animals. She introduces Gita, an elephant whose gentle nature touched everyone who met her, and Kelly, a powerful silverback gorilla who became one of her most cherished friends. White draws from her years as both entertainer and passionate animal welfare advocate to reveal the distinct personalities behind each creature. She shows how these bonds shaped her understanding of intelligence, emotion, and connection across species. The book captures the joy White found in these friendships and her commitment to protecting the animals she grew to love. These are stories of mutual recognition between human and animal, told by someone who dedicated her life to both entertaining people and championing creatures who cannot speak for themselves.
Genres: biography, animals, memoir, non-fiction
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family
286 pages · Hardcover · Thorndike Press