Nibbles and Me

by Elizabeth Taylor

In 1946, Elizabeth Taylor -- then fourteen and a major star at MGM -- published a book about her pet chipmunk, Nibbles. With wit, charm, and remarkable skill, she related the adventures and mishaps of her high-spirited friend. She and Nibbles were virtually inseparable during the shooting of National Velvet and other films; in fact the chipmunk almost got to appear in Courage of Lassie -- but he was so well behaved that he didn't look real, and his scene was cut! Recounted here are such stories as the happiest birthday of her life, when she was given King Charles, the horse who was called The Pi in National Velvet, because only Elizabeth could ride him.

Long out of print, this enchanting memoir is available once again with Miss Taylor's original illustrations (including previously unpublished drawings from her private collection), photos of Elizabeth Taylor and Nibbles on and off the set, and a new introduction by the legendary actress. Children will love the story of a girl and her pet; older readers will appreciate the insight into young Elizabeth Taylor's life that this book provides.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Animals, Biography

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1946

About the author

Dame Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor, DBE is a two-time Academy Award-winning English-American actress. Known for her acting skills and beauty, as well as her Hollywood lifestyle, including many marriages, she is considered one of the great actresses of Hollywood’s golden years, as well as a larger-than-life celebrity.

The American Film Institute named Taylor seventh among the Greatest Female Stars of All Time.

Taylor died on March 23, 2011, surrounded by her four children at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 79.

Reviews

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love chipmumks and had to get this book. It was cute and sweet and very interesting to read. It's interesting too to read about the life of a young actress from long ago. Love how she wrote about the adventures and her handwriting and drawings.

[Berna · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute story about a girl and her chipmunk

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute, innocent book and a great look-see into the life of Elizabeth Taylor, who was an adorable child. The story revolves around her pet Nibbles, a chipmunk. I was surprised at her talent in art and how wild she is for animals. Growing up during the time when she was becoming a big star, there not many news reports about her then. After reading "Nibbles and Me," and getting an insight into the closeness of her family, it appears she may have been pretty well protected and sheltered. This little masterpiece in her own words and with her art gives me more insight into who she really was during her early teen years. The book has been out of print for a long time, but was resurrected and republished in 2002. Ms. Taylor will turn 78 this February.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's books like this that make you realize how unfair life can be. Why is it that Elizabeth Taylor can be beautiful, a talented actress, a writer and an artist all by the age of thirteen? Alas.

The book is an interesting look into her life and her love for animals. I think she was either the most positive upbeat child in the world, or her mother edited out any negative sentiments whatsoever. It was certainly a different time then and it's interesting to get this glimpse into the early years of one of Hollywood's most iconic actresses.

[Amy Dale · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a precious gem of a book! I loved it! It's a beautiful look back at a gentler time along with a little look into a starlet's life behind the screen and her real life as an animal loving,nature loving girl growing up with a beloved tiny friend, Nibbles the chipmunk.

Elizabeth's writing and artwork are so good for a 13 yr old,I was moved to tears by her beautiful turn of phrase a couple of times and I felt everything she conveyed. I really felt in her a true kindred spirit,I wish I could have been friends with her! Her love and compassion for animals is so strong. She reminds me of Snow White. Her wisdom is beyond her years, beyond many people's that I've met,I really admired her mind.

Nibbles is Adorable and sounds to have been a troublesome but lovely little pet,he seems to have been quite happy living with her. He does nearly get lost several times and it's a bit worrying but they always find him. I loved hearing about all her other pets too.

This was just a really special little book,it touched my heart. Adults and children would love it. Beautiful photos in it too. I wish she had written more books on her animals!

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading the new biography of Elizabeth Taylor by Kate Anderson Brower in which she writes about Taylor's first book, Nibbles and Me, I wanted to read it. It's a sweet little book about her relationship with a chipmunk. She took Nibbles nearly everywhere she went. In fact, he was probably her best friend. She was a Hollywood commodity and had very little time for herself. So she was close to the animals in her life, especially Nibbles. The book also contains her original illustrations which are wonderful. This book might anger people today because we have much more consciousness about not keeping wild animals, but Nibbles did have a plush life. Elizabeth believes that she was doing the right thing by Nibbles because she offered him back to the wild but he chose to stay with her.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet book of the story of a very unusual pet. I was surprised that Elizabeth Taylor loved so many different animals as a young girl. Nibbles was quite a character.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve had this book for several years and I finally picked it up one afternoon when I was without electricity. I hate that it sounds like that that’s the only reason I would read it, but I was looking for something short and cute, and this was perfect for the moment. It’s a book written by a 13-year-old Elizabeth Taylor about her favorite pet, Nibbles the chipmunk. It’s such a sweetly written book and the illustrations, also drawn by the young Ms. Taylor, are adorable. I am keeping this book on my shelf, now moved the the ‘read’ shelf, and I would love to one day share this with my niece or nephew or my own children. While I wouldn’t personally have a chipmunk on a string as a pet, it’s easy to see how much she loved every single one of her pets and what they all meant to her as living creatures.

(I also posted this review on my blog Bookish Rachel.)

[Missmmking · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always, always wanted a pet chipmunk.
I got to play with them duirng summer trips to "The Lake" (tahoe) as a kid but never had the thrill of having one as a pet...I don't know if Liz has any pets now. I somehow doubt she has a chipmunk.

The animal theme in Love Streams by John Cassavetes comes to mind...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-z0OtA...

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

She wrote it when she was 13 - and it is really a dear book. Bea was entranced and re-enacted having a pet chipmunk with her squirrel stuffed animals for weeks.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elizabeth Taylor wrote this book as a child about her pet chipmunk. Charming.

[Rebekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really cute story for those who like nature and animals :)