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Living Forest #7
The Seven Secrets of Somewhere Lake: Animal Ways that Inspire and Amaze
The Seven Secrets of Somewhere Lake is one of the best books that have come from the pen of this popular author, photographer, lecturer and naturalist. In the summer Sam and Giny plan to make a movie film of the Grand Canyon country. This year, they say, there are to be no baby animals taken in to be cared for. No sooner do they make this resolve than fate dooms it, with several large snickers. They have no choice but to "adopt" in rapid Zipper, a half-starved fawn; Zowie, a baby red fox; Zanie, a taffy-colored puppy, and Zinnia, a tiny skunk! Then, as if that isn't enough, seven young beavers are literally dumped into Sam's lap.
Paperback
First published January 1, 1952
62 people want to read
About the author
Sam Campbell
77 books16 followersSamuel Arthur Campbell was born August 1, 1895 in Watseka, Iroquois County, Illinois. He was the youngest of two children born to Arthur J. and Katherine "Kittie" (née Lyman) Campbell.
Sam Campbell was many things including a writer, lecturer, photographer, and diligent student of nature. He studied wild animals from his home, which he called the Sanctuary of Wegimind, and during his various travels.
Sam been cited the finest ever in writing about nature, forest, and wildlife. Sam, the genial "philosopher of the forest", was known to more families and young people than any other author-lecturer. Hundreds of schools and audiences demanded his return year after year.
Campbell died April 13, 1962 in Barrington, Illinois.
Also visit the website : http://philosopheroftheforest.com/
Sam Campbell was many things including a writer, lecturer, photographer, and diligent student of nature. He studied wild animals from his home, which he called the Sanctuary of Wegimind, and during his various travels.
Sam been cited the finest ever in writing about nature, forest, and wildlife. Sam, the genial "philosopher of the forest", was known to more families and young people than any other author-lecturer. Hundreds of schools and audiences demanded his return year after year.
Campbell died April 13, 1962 in Barrington, Illinois.
Also visit the website : http://philosopheroftheforest.com/
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 31, 2018
The Grand Canyon is considered one of the world’s greatest natural features and living in and around it are numerous species that add to its wonder, especially when you are a naturalist. The Seven Secrets of Somewhere Lake is the seventh book of Sam Campbell’s Living Forest book series in which Sam, his wife Giny, and friends both new and old have interactions with animals both at the Sanctuary of Wegimind and the Grand Canyon.
The Campbells begin the book making a sincere pledge to one another not take in any baby animals, but then a trapper family sends them a letter asking for help. That help turned out to be taking in fawn named Zipper, then a few days later it was taking in Zowie a baby fox from the same family, next was an puppy abandoned right in front of them that they named Zanie, next was a baby skunk named Zinnia they saved from some dogs, and finally were seven beavers—the titular secrets—they hid in a secluded lake. The Campbells found themselves in a dilemma as they planned to go to the Grand Canyon to take film and pictures of animals around the natural wonder; luckily they were able to get their young friends Hi-Bub and Tony come to spend the summer at the Sanctuary freeing them to head to Arizona. While the Campbells are around the Grand Canyon they made friends with a Hopi named John Corn and his son Kona, who are instrumental in helping them get film and pictures of animals, when Sam remembers to take the lens off the camera. Meanwhile the boys sends numerous letters giving details about what was happening around the Sanctuary including interactions with one of the members of the trapper family—Bill—that make the Campbells nervous about the relocated beavers. Returning to the Sanctuary, the Campbells find the boys in good spirits and the beavers safe, and later learn that Bill had learned of the beavers and informed Sam so he could keep an eye on them as he’s rejoining the army thus making Sam change his impression of the man.
The book was as long as the previous few books in the Living Forest series at 236 pages, but this one was stylistically different. While Campbell’s own words featured the activities that he was a part of, the letters by Hi-Bub and Tony were quoted verbatim thus adding new voices for a non-insubstantial portion of the text while the Campbells were in Arizona. While animals were the main focus of the book, there were some important human issues that were faced with John and Kona missing their wife/mother, Hi-Bub struggling to find himself, and Bill’s own personal change of attitude towards animals. There is some classical Campbell philosophy, especially when it concerned Hi-Bub, but the focus on the book was nature and adventure.
The Seven Secrets of Somewhere Lake is another wonderful book by Sam Campbell that not only features animal and human antics and adventures in the Sanctuary but also the Grand Canyon. If you’ve enjoyed other books of the Living Forest series, you’ll also enjoy this book.
The Campbells begin the book making a sincere pledge to one another not take in any baby animals, but then a trapper family sends them a letter asking for help. That help turned out to be taking in fawn named Zipper, then a few days later it was taking in Zowie a baby fox from the same family, next was an puppy abandoned right in front of them that they named Zanie, next was a baby skunk named Zinnia they saved from some dogs, and finally were seven beavers—the titular secrets—they hid in a secluded lake. The Campbells found themselves in a dilemma as they planned to go to the Grand Canyon to take film and pictures of animals around the natural wonder; luckily they were able to get their young friends Hi-Bub and Tony come to spend the summer at the Sanctuary freeing them to head to Arizona. While the Campbells are around the Grand Canyon they made friends with a Hopi named John Corn and his son Kona, who are instrumental in helping them get film and pictures of animals, when Sam remembers to take the lens off the camera. Meanwhile the boys sends numerous letters giving details about what was happening around the Sanctuary including interactions with one of the members of the trapper family—Bill—that make the Campbells nervous about the relocated beavers. Returning to the Sanctuary, the Campbells find the boys in good spirits and the beavers safe, and later learn that Bill had learned of the beavers and informed Sam so he could keep an eye on them as he’s rejoining the army thus making Sam change his impression of the man.
The book was as long as the previous few books in the Living Forest series at 236 pages, but this one was stylistically different. While Campbell’s own words featured the activities that he was a part of, the letters by Hi-Bub and Tony were quoted verbatim thus adding new voices for a non-insubstantial portion of the text while the Campbells were in Arizona. While animals were the main focus of the book, there were some important human issues that were faced with John and Kona missing their wife/mother, Hi-Bub struggling to find himself, and Bill’s own personal change of attitude towards animals. There is some classical Campbell philosophy, especially when it concerned Hi-Bub, but the focus on the book was nature and adventure.
The Seven Secrets of Somewhere Lake is another wonderful book by Sam Campbell that not only features animal and human antics and adventures in the Sanctuary but also the Grand Canyon. If you’ve enjoyed other books of the Living Forest series, you’ll also enjoy this book.
January 1, 2016
This is an excellent book. This may be my favorite. It is really hard to choose from my favorite 6.
#1-Hows Inky?
#2-To much Salt & Pepper
#3-Eeny, Meeny, Miney, Mo--And Still-Mo
#4-A Tippy Canoe and Canada Too
#5-On Wings of Cheer
#6-Moose Country
#7-The Seven Secrets of Somewhere Lake
#8-Loony Coon
#9-Fiddlesticks and Freckles
#10-Beloved Rascals
#11-Sweet Sue's Adventures
#12-Calamity Jane
#1-Hows Inky?
#2-To much Salt & Pepper
#3-Eeny, Meeny, Miney, Mo--And Still-Mo
#4-A Tippy Canoe and Canada Too
#5-On Wings of Cheer
#6-Moose Country
#7-The Seven Secrets of Somewhere Lake
#8-Loony Coon
#9-Fiddlesticks and Freckles
#10-Beloved Rascals
#11-Sweet Sue's Adventures
#12-Calamity Jane
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January 11, 2024i don't know if i can emphasize just how fundamental this particular book was to me as a 9 year old. Like, rereading it now maybe 10 years later is utterly insane because i had completely forgotten all of it (haven't touched this series in years) but as soon as i hit specific sections i remembered being SO obsessed with this book. this is the reason why i wanted to go to the grand canyon so desperately as a kid and tbh the fact that i've been there twice now but haven't gone down on a mule is a tragedy that i will remedy SOMEDAY!! also i'd love to believe those letters were copied verbatim bc they've managed to get even funnier over the years letsgo
absolutely without a doubt my favorite of the 12.
absolutely without a doubt my favorite of the 12.
August 21, 2023
The most funny, heart-wrenching, heartfelt story. I adore Campbell's humor and narrative style, and all the stories are so fascinating and well-placed!
My sister and I have wanted to go down the grand canyon for years because of this book. I love it!
My sister and I have wanted to go down the grand canyon for years because of this book. I love it!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews