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Living Forest #1
How's Inky?
A porcupine and his pals offer some highlights on happiness! "Inky the porcupine--I hardly know whether to bless him or curse him!" the author writes. "Whichever I do, he won't care a flick of hi
127 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1943
5 people are currently reading
139 people want to read
About the author
Sam Campbell
76 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 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 7, 2018
When a little porcupine becomes the topic of conversation people want to talk to you about, you either accept it or become annoyed. Nature writer Sam Campbell though thought the question, How’s Inky? the perfect title to title the first book of what would eventually become the Living Forest series.
Campbell wrote about the adventures of Inky the porcupine around his home in the animal sanctuary of Wegimind that he along with two other men supervised through spring, summer, and fall every year. Inky was one of five orphaned baby animals that the sanctuary cared for and helped to survive before releasing them into the wild. Although Campbell does talk about the other four animals, it’s Inky that is the one Campbell focuses on because of Inky’s view of life and what it can teach people.
How’s Inky? was not the first book Campbell wrote nor his first public exposure, which was a nature radio program first aired in Chicago in the 1930s. Known as the ‘philosopher of the forest’, this book shows why Campbell was given that moniker as his lessons from nature are written in a down-to-earth style that readers of all ages will enjoy. Campbell does speak of God as part of his lessons, but the book is does not ooze religion.
At a quick 127 pages, How’s Inky? is a fun read for all ages and highly recommended if you enjoy nature books and for a nice read for a rainy day.
Campbell wrote about the adventures of Inky the porcupine around his home in the animal sanctuary of Wegimind that he along with two other men supervised through spring, summer, and fall every year. Inky was one of five orphaned baby animals that the sanctuary cared for and helped to survive before releasing them into the wild. Although Campbell does talk about the other four animals, it’s Inky that is the one Campbell focuses on because of Inky’s view of life and what it can teach people.
How’s Inky? was not the first book Campbell wrote nor his first public exposure, which was a nature radio program first aired in Chicago in the 1930s. Known as the ‘philosopher of the forest’, this book shows why Campbell was given that moniker as his lessons from nature are written in a down-to-earth style that readers of all ages will enjoy. Campbell does speak of God as part of his lessons, but the book is does not ooze religion.
At a quick 127 pages, How’s Inky? is a fun read for all ages and highly recommended if you enjoy nature books and for a nice read for a rainy day.
August 16, 2012
This is a great book if you are interested in forest life. Sam Campbell spent a lot of time with his animal friends and does a great job of comparing their behaviors to how our relationship with God should be. My Mom used to read these to my brother and I on Sabbath afternoons and we always enjoyed them. I am in the process of reading his 10 book series to my kids.
October 13, 2018
The writing style is from a different era, but please persist. This story is delightful.
December 2, 2023
Pretty good! Fun, true stories of human and animal friendship. The chapters also have great morals to take to heart. It sometimes took a slow pace which made some chapters drag a little, but to me this doesn’t detract much from the read.
April 9, 2015
One of the best written books for kids and not only.
January 10, 2018
When I was a kid my mom would always read to my brother and I before we went to bed. One of our favorite series to read through was a series of books written by naturalist Sam Campbell. "How's Inky" is the first in the series, although there's no strict chronology to them. In each book Mr. Campbell recounts his adventures in natures and with animals during a season as his cabin in a nature sanctuary. Doing some research, I found out this sanctuary is in northern Wisconsin. Growing up in California, I imagined his sanctuary was in some backwoods Canadian wilderness. If I'm being honest, I still feel like northern Wisconsin is that foreign.
"How's Inky?" is the first book Mr. Campbell published and starts introducing us to some of the animals and people we will meet later in the series. Mr. Campbell, along with two friends, Judge Norton and Bobby, are spending a relaxing season (April-November) at the cabin. They are contacted by some forest rangers that an accident has orphaned a porcupine and would they take it in? The three immediately say yes. Suddenly and in quick succession they are contacted about several other animals that life that are orphans: a fawn, a woodchuck, and two raccoons.
The three men make a side-cabin a nursery of sorts where these various baby creatures can be kept safe and fed. The porcupine they name Inky, the fawn Bobette, the raccoons Rack and Ruin, the woodchuck Sausage befriend each other and cause all sorts of mayhem for the men.
Mr. Campbell weaves life lessons throughout his memoirs. In this book, the main idea is that nature always knows best. Sometimes humans feel they know better and this is sometimes to human and animal detriment. In this case, the animals get out of the cabin one day and the men worry themselves trying to track them down. The problem is, the animals are listening to their instinct and camouflage themselves. The men calm down and most of the animals do come back to the cabin. From that time on though the creatures become more and more independent and more wild. Bobette leaves the clan first and becomes the most shy at approaching the men when they see her out in the wild. Sausage builds her tunnels under the cabin, Rack and Ruin make a home in a tree and only Rack seems to maintain his relationship with humans. Inky sets up home in trees all over the sanctuary but is the friendlies to the men, calling out to them when he sees/hears them or when they call to him.
From this, Mr. Campbell reminds us that there's an order to things and sometimes when we try to control more than we are supposed to, we upset this balance. Instead, we should work on observing the natural order and doing our part to help nature continue on it path. I appreciated this approach mostly because it seems the animals seem able to adapt to the wild, which should be the goal when you're raising wild animals. It's also a good reminder that as humans we can't control each other, not even other humans. I've had to learn this lesson as a teacher. It's been hard not to make decisions for students (and sometimes parents), but there comes a point where I have to recognize a situation in which I can't control everyone's decisions and I can only be responsible for my reaction and the choices I give people. Of course, remembering all of this it makes me want to spent months alone in the wilderness.
"How's Inky?" is the first book Mr. Campbell published and starts introducing us to some of the animals and people we will meet later in the series. Mr. Campbell, along with two friends, Judge Norton and Bobby, are spending a relaxing season (April-November) at the cabin. They are contacted by some forest rangers that an accident has orphaned a porcupine and would they take it in? The three immediately say yes. Suddenly and in quick succession they are contacted about several other animals that life that are orphans: a fawn, a woodchuck, and two raccoons.
The three men make a side-cabin a nursery of sorts where these various baby creatures can be kept safe and fed. The porcupine they name Inky, the fawn Bobette, the raccoons Rack and Ruin, the woodchuck Sausage befriend each other and cause all sorts of mayhem for the men.
Mr. Campbell weaves life lessons throughout his memoirs. In this book, the main idea is that nature always knows best. Sometimes humans feel they know better and this is sometimes to human and animal detriment. In this case, the animals get out of the cabin one day and the men worry themselves trying to track them down. The problem is, the animals are listening to their instinct and camouflage themselves. The men calm down and most of the animals do come back to the cabin. From that time on though the creatures become more and more independent and more wild. Bobette leaves the clan first and becomes the most shy at approaching the men when they see her out in the wild. Sausage builds her tunnels under the cabin, Rack and Ruin make a home in a tree and only Rack seems to maintain his relationship with humans. Inky sets up home in trees all over the sanctuary but is the friendlies to the men, calling out to them when he sees/hears them or when they call to him.
From this, Mr. Campbell reminds us that there's an order to things and sometimes when we try to control more than we are supposed to, we upset this balance. Instead, we should work on observing the natural order and doing our part to help nature continue on it path. I appreciated this approach mostly because it seems the animals seem able to adapt to the wild, which should be the goal when you're raising wild animals. It's also a good reminder that as humans we can't control each other, not even other humans. I've had to learn this lesson as a teacher. It's been hard not to make decisions for students (and sometimes parents), but there comes a point where I have to recognize a situation in which I can't control everyone's decisions and I can only be responsible for my reaction and the choices I give people. Of course, remembering all of this it makes me want to spent months alone in the wilderness.
December 30, 2017
When I was a kid my mom would always read to my brother and I before we went to bed. One of our favorite series to read through was a series of books written by naturalist Sam Campbell. "How's Inky" is the first in the series, although there's no strict chronology to them. In each book Mr. Campbell recounts his adventures in natures and with animals during a season as his cabin in a nature sanctuary. Doing some research, I found out this sanctuary is in northern Wisconsin. Growing up in California, I imagined his sanctuary was in some backwoods Canadian wilderness. If I'm being honest, I still feel like northern Wisconsin is that foreign.
"How's Inky?" is the first book Mr. Campbell published and starts introducing us to some of the animals and people we will meet later in the series. Mr. Campbell, along with two friends, Judge Norton and Bobby, are spending a relaxing season (April-November) at the cabin. They are contacted by some forest rangers that an accident has orphaned a porcupine and would they take it in? The three immediately say yes. Suddenly and in quick succession they are contacted about several other animals that life that are orphans: a fawn, a woodchuck, and two raccoons.
The three men make a side-cabin a nursery of sorts where these various baby creatures can be kept safe and fed. The porcupine they name Inky, the fawn Bobette, the raccoons Rack and Ruin, the woodchuck Sausage befriend each other and cause all sorts of mayhem for the men.
Mr. Campbell weaves life lessons throughout his memoirs. In this book, the main idea is that nature always knows best. Sometimes humans feel they know better and this is sometimes to human and animal detriment. In this case, the animals get out of the cabin one day and the men worry themselves trying to track them down. The problem is, the animals are listening to their instinct and camouflage themselves. The men calm down and most of the animals do come back to the cabin. From that time on though the creatures become more and more independent and more wild. Bobette leaves the clan first and becomes the most shy at approaching the men when they see her out in the wild. Sausage builds her tunnels under the cabin, Rack and Ruin make a home in a tree and only Rack seems to maintain his relationship with humans. Inky sets up home in trees all over the sanctuary but is the friendlies to the men, calling out to them when he sees/hears them or when they call to him.
From this, Mr. Campbell reminds us that there's an order to things and sometimes when we try to control more than we are supposed to, we upset this balance. Instead, we should work on observing the natural order and doing our part to help nature continue on it path. I appreciated this approach mostly because it seems the animals seem able to adapt to the wild, which should be the goal when you're raising wild animals. It's also a good reminder that as humans we can't control each other, not even other humans. I've had to learn this lesson as a teacher. It's been hard not to make decisions for students (and sometimes parents), but there comes a point where I have to recognize a situation in which I can't control everyone's decisions and I can only be responsible for my reaction and the choices I give people. Of course, remembering all of this it makes me want to spent months alone in the wilderness.
"How's Inky?" is the first book Mr. Campbell published and starts introducing us to some of the animals and people we will meet later in the series. Mr. Campbell, along with two friends, Judge Norton and Bobby, are spending a relaxing season (April-November) at the cabin. They are contacted by some forest rangers that an accident has orphaned a porcupine and would they take it in? The three immediately say yes. Suddenly and in quick succession they are contacted about several other animals that life that are orphans: a fawn, a woodchuck, and two raccoons.
The three men make a side-cabin a nursery of sorts where these various baby creatures can be kept safe and fed. The porcupine they name Inky, the fawn Bobette, the raccoons Rack and Ruin, the woodchuck Sausage befriend each other and cause all sorts of mayhem for the men.
Mr. Campbell weaves life lessons throughout his memoirs. In this book, the main idea is that nature always knows best. Sometimes humans feel they know better and this is sometimes to human and animal detriment. In this case, the animals get out of the cabin one day and the men worry themselves trying to track them down. The problem is, the animals are listening to their instinct and camouflage themselves. The men calm down and most of the animals do come back to the cabin. From that time on though the creatures become more and more independent and more wild. Bobette leaves the clan first and becomes the most shy at approaching the men when they see her out in the wild. Sausage builds her tunnels under the cabin, Rack and Ruin make a home in a tree and only Rack seems to maintain his relationship with humans. Inky sets up home in trees all over the sanctuary but is the friendlies to the men, calling out to them when he sees/hears them or when they call to him.
From this, Mr. Campbell reminds us that there's an order to things and sometimes when we try to control more than we are supposed to, we upset this balance. Instead, we should work on observing the natural order and doing our part to help nature continue on it path. I appreciated this approach mostly because it seems the animals seem able to adapt to the wild, which should be the goal when you're raising wild animals. It's also a good reminder that as humans we can't control each other, not even other humans. I've had to learn this lesson as a teacher. It's been hard not to make decisions for students (and sometimes parents), but there comes a point where I have to recognize a situation in which I can't control everyone's decisions and I can only be responsible for my reaction and the choices I give people. Of course, remembering all of this it makes me want to spent months alone in the wilderness.
May 21, 2021
An enjoyable little book about the author and his friends running a little nature habitat with five animals, a porkypine, two raccoons, a groundhog and a deer. They have pleasant adventures with some opportunities to moralize tossed in. If you are a bot older and a Christian, you won't mind the older vantage point and the belief in God. Younger atheists might want to avoid this one.
The descriptions of nature and the animals are quite enjoyable and the book is a nice place to get lost for an hour or so. Definitely give Sam Campbell a try if you want to enjoy a world of nature far removed from city life.
The descriptions of nature and the animals are quite enjoyable and the book is a nice place to get lost for an hour or so. Definitely give Sam Campbell a try if you want to enjoy a world of nature far removed from city life.
July 6, 2019
Adorable story,copyright 1943. This book will go into my favorites.
A wild life sanctuary provides the setting for this study in natural history at first hand, as three naturalists spend their holidays virtually running an orphanage for baby animals.The animals have lessons to teach as well as learn, and eventually they are given their freedom to come and go as they choose. A good personal experience story in the spirit of friendliness between man and beast.
A wild life sanctuary provides the setting for this study in natural history at first hand, as three naturalists spend their holidays virtually running an orphanage for baby animals.The animals have lessons to teach as well as learn, and eventually they are given their freedom to come and go as they choose. A good personal experience story in the spirit of friendliness between man and beast.
November 26, 2019
Delightful and amusing, a quick read. Campbell's light-hearted philosophizing is woven through anecdotes of life with wild creatures, and contains ideas that are sometimes inspiring and truth- based (e.g. each of us is unique and has a unique role to fill given by our Creator) and sometimes unorthodox (e.g. we must live out of our natural, good selves; evil is a societal construct). Inky is a most lovable critter!
July 10, 2017
I read this old classic with my grandson. He was tickled by it and pulled into the lessons taught from the wildlife described. It was a book I had read many years ago and it was fun to observe the timeless nature of it.
November 20, 2020
This was a read aloud with my 2nd grader and kindergartener.
The children loved it and looked forward to it. I appreciated the writing and the lessons in the book, but I really did NOT enjoy reading this aloud to them. I only persisted because they loved it!
The children loved it and looked forward to it. I appreciated the writing and the lessons in the book, but I really did NOT enjoy reading this aloud to them. I only persisted because they loved it!
February 13, 2018
I would love to add the series to our nature study next year.
December 14, 2018
We enjoyed this one! I especially liked his philosophical thoughts comparing us with the animals. The boys enjoyed the animal's activities.
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January 8, 2024these books are the reason I wanted DESPERATELY to be in conservation work as a kid (and still do but oh well lol)
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October 4, 2019Cute and an engaging kid's read with stories of forest animals and Sam Campbell's time spent in the forest.
August 5, 2014
“For we see here the proved pattern of creation….Inky never felt inferior. He stepped right out into the world to use the talents the Creator had given him.” Who is Inky? He is a porcupine. Author Samuel Arthur (Sam) Campbell (1895-1962), known as the “philosopher of the forest,” was a naturalist, writer, lecturer, photographer, and diligent student of animals who turned his home in “the north country” into a wildlife sanctuary called Wegimind. One year, he and his two assistants, Tom Norton, who was called “the Judge” because he looked like one, and a boy named Bobby, took in five orphaned baby animals—a deer named Bobette, a groundhog named Sausage (get it—“ground hog”), two raccoons named Rack and Ruin, and, of course, Inky--to raise and prepare for returning to the wild.
As Campbell wrote newspaper articles and gave lectures about these animals, people began asking, “How’s Inky?” So he decided to tell the story in a book. Eleven further volumes in this Living Forest Series of animal tales followed. I first heard about them in 2005 when the set was offered for sale in the Library and Educational Services catalogue. Therefore, when I saw this first volume at a homeschool conference, I decided to get it. The others are Too Much Salt and Pepper (1944); Eeny, Meeny, Miney, Mo, and Still-Mo (1945); A Tippy Canoe and Canada Too (1946); On Wings of Cheer (1948); Moose Country (1950); The Seven Secrets of Somewhere Lake (1952); Loony Coon (1954); Fiddlesticks and Freckles (1955); Beloved Rascals (1957); Sweet Sue's Adventures (1959); and Calamity Jane (1962).
The euphemistic word “blamed” is used once, but there is nothing that is really objectionable but much that is praiseworthy. Campbell obviously believed in God’s creation and uses Bible quotes throughout. He not only describes the habits, work, and play of the wild creatures but also cites their behavior as examples for human beings of right living. “Therefore, when we see revealed the natural friendship of animals, we say, ‘That is the way we have always thought it to be, that is the world God made!’… Friendship for everything and everyone just naturally follows when you live right for God!” These books are a wonderful way for children, especially those who are being homeschooled, and in fact the whole family to learn about and gain a better appreciation of God’s creations.
As Campbell wrote newspaper articles and gave lectures about these animals, people began asking, “How’s Inky?” So he decided to tell the story in a book. Eleven further volumes in this Living Forest Series of animal tales followed. I first heard about them in 2005 when the set was offered for sale in the Library and Educational Services catalogue. Therefore, when I saw this first volume at a homeschool conference, I decided to get it. The others are Too Much Salt and Pepper (1944); Eeny, Meeny, Miney, Mo, and Still-Mo (1945); A Tippy Canoe and Canada Too (1946); On Wings of Cheer (1948); Moose Country (1950); The Seven Secrets of Somewhere Lake (1952); Loony Coon (1954); Fiddlesticks and Freckles (1955); Beloved Rascals (1957); Sweet Sue's Adventures (1959); and Calamity Jane (1962).
The euphemistic word “blamed” is used once, but there is nothing that is really objectionable but much that is praiseworthy. Campbell obviously believed in God’s creation and uses Bible quotes throughout. He not only describes the habits, work, and play of the wild creatures but also cites their behavior as examples for human beings of right living. “Therefore, when we see revealed the natural friendship of animals, we say, ‘That is the way we have always thought it to be, that is the world God made!’… Friendship for everything and everyone just naturally follows when you live right for God!” These books are a wonderful way for children, especially those who are being homeschooled, and in fact the whole family to learn about and gain a better appreciation of God’s creations.
December 22, 2015
This is the 1st book of The Forest Life Series, It is really cute and a good book most of the time. I kind of get tired of the philosophizing that Inky does but it is a good book. That part would probably not bother me if I had not read the book so many times.
December 1, 2011
Loved, loved,loved the Living Forest Series by Sam Campbell when our sons were growing! It would so amazing if I am granted the opportunity to shares this book series with grandchildren.
August 2, 2022
Very very delightful book
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews