Weed Memorial & Hollander Branch Book Discussion via Zoom: West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge

West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge

Woodrow Wilson Nickel, age 105, feels his life ebbing away. But when he learns giraffes are going extinct, he finds himself recalling the unforgettable experience he cannot take to his grave.

It’s 1938. The Great Depression lingers. Hitler is threatening Europe, and Americans long for wonder. They find it in two giraffes who miraculously survive a hurricane while crossing the Atlantic. What follows is a road trip to deliver Southern California’s first giraffes to the San Diego Zoo. Inspired by true events, West with Giraffes explores what it means to be changed by the grace of animals, the kindness of strangers, the passing of time, and a story told before it’s too late.