A Chimp in the Family: The True Story of Two Infants--One Human, One Chimpanzee--Growing Up Together

Rating:
Summary: The unique account of rearing two babies side by side
Review: A Chimp in the Family is the true story of an ecologist and conservationist who took an infant chimpanzee into his home when she was abandoned by her mother. Six months later, his son was born. A Chimp in the Family is the unique account of rearing two babies side by side as one's own kin. Offering heartfelt tales of struggling with infant care and the milestones of early childhood, A Chimp in the Family also offers the unique difficulties in attempting to persuade a hand-reared chimpanzee to socialize with others of its kind. Happiness and heartbreak blend in A Chimp in the Family, which details social and emotional bonds between humans and animals from an intensely personal point of view.


Rating:
Summary: Unsentimental and touching
Review: this book proved far better than many similar works about raising baby animals. it is well written and not excessively sentimental or anthropomorphic, though the author does discuss the close relationship between chimps and humans, genetically and behaviorally.

be prepared: it has an unhappy ending.

definitely worth a read.