Philomena's Homecoming
The (mostly) true story of a New York prairie dog's search for a family
by
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Philomena had been cast out on a wild, grassy stretch of land, east of New York City, on a strip of beach called Fire Island.
There were hawks overhead, their wings casting long, dark, frightening shadows. There were foxes lurking in the brush. And there were loud, fast cars buzzing by a nearby road.
There were also hungry dogs and cats. They were unwanted pets like Philomena, who’d been dropped off and left behind by people who no longer loved them.
She was sad for them — but mostly, she was afraid of them and what they might do to her if they got hungry enough.
There was no one to protect her now.
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About the Book
Sometime in 2002, a young pet prairie dog was abandoned on a Long Island, N.Y., beach. This book is based on her story.
Here is what two authors have to say about "Philomena's Homecoming:"
"Philomena travels across the country and into my heart. Her tale involves big dangers along her way to family, love and home. This is a story that, by implication, describes wildlife rehabilitation without ever mentioning the phrase."
-- Chet Gottfried, wildlife photographer, author of "The Steel Eye."
"For those children spending hours on the Internet, alienated from reality yet yearning to connect, Caryn Eve Murray's poignant true tale of a little lost prairie dog who finds a loving new home will entice them, comfort them, and make them feel whole."
--Dr. Jud Newborn, Author, "Sophie Scholl and the White Rose," and member, Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.
About the Author
Caryn Eve Murray is a freelance writer and an assistant editor at Newsday (Long Island, N.Y.), where she was also a reporter and feature writer. She is a past winner of Women in Communications' Clarion Award. She is a New York State-licensed wildlife rehabilitator. Rod Eyer is a freelance artist and graphic designer at Newsday. His awards include Society of News Design, Associated Press and the Deadline Club of NYC. Philomena, a black-tailed prairie dog, spent her life with her real-life adopted siblings in the metropolitan New York area.