An Animal Story with an Historical Twist

A Nest for Celeste, by Henry Cole, tells the story of a mouse looking for a home. Celeste, a very accomplished and self-sufficient mouse, is chased out of her snug mouse hole by two large gray rats. Now she has to find a new home and avoid the family cat. Visiting in this house outside of New Orleans are John James Audubon and his assistant, Joseph, who are observing and drawing the local birds. Add to this mix a hurricane and Celeste is having a difficult time. The story is based on an historical event where Audubon did stay at a New Orleans plantation while preparing his famous book on birds. What really makes the story come alive are the incredible pencil drawings that illustrate the book. Henry Cole has been an illustrator for many years before writing this book, his first.