Nibbles and me – The Loving Adventures of a Chipmunk in 1940s Hollywood

Ever wondered what species Chip ’n’ Dale are, the two animated squirrels in the Walt Disney Cartoons?
These pudgy faced charmers are chipmunks, native to North America. And yes, they are cute as can be.

I’m reading the most delightful book – Nibbles and me. The book is written by a young Elizabeth Taylor and tells of the real life adventures of her pet chipmunk Nibbles. It s such charming read.

Nibbles and me, by Elizabeth Taylor.

Elizabeth Taylor found the chipmunk in the Washington state wilderness while filming the movie The Courage of Lassie.
The film, from 1946, was shot on location at Railroad Creek by Lake Chelan in Washington. During the filming Elizabeth Taylor was given a chipmunk by the film’s animal trainer. Already an enthusiastic pet owner, from there she was hooked. When a local lady told Elizabeth Taylor many chips didn’t survive the winters the young actress set out to save as many as she could.

Courage of Lassie. It was here in this Washington state wilderness, Elizabeth Taylor found her pet chipmunk Nibbles.

Nibbles and me is one of those books that you don’t want to end, because you just don’t want to part ways with the characters. Elizabeth Taylor, thirteen years old at the time, writes in such an immaculate, loving way. Very caring, very wise. Being a huge animal lover myself I’m not a fan of people having pets if I for one second suspect they don’t care for the animal in a mature and respectful way and it is such a delight to realize that Elizabeth Taylor was one of those really truly caring, truly gentle, animal lovers. Her love for animals shines through in every sentence of this delightful read.

Elizabeth Taylor eating breakfast with Nibbles.
Nibbles at home with teenage Elizabeth Taylor.
Nibbles and Elizabeth Taylor were inseparable for years to come.

The book Nibbles and me sprang from a school assignment. Each week at school, Elizabeth Taylor had to write an assignment with a free choice of topic. And since Nibbles was her favorite subject Elizabeth Taylor wrote every essay about him. Taylors teacher suggested to have it published as a children’s book. In the book, Elizabeth Taylor recounts finding Nibbles while shooting Courage of Lassie in Lake Chelan, his first bubble bath after he landed in the toilet, his time as a movie star, (his scene was eventually cut), his first train ride, his thrill of encountering the Christmas tree, his first meeting with studio head Louis B. Mayer and what Nibbles did as Elizabeth Taylor let him out in the wilderness.

Elizabeth Taylor and Nibbles.

The book also gives interesting insight into the everyday life of Elizabeth Taylor as a young actress in the 1940s: the routines on the movie set, the colleague movie stars at that time, and Elizabeth Taylor also describes the day WW2 ends, seen through her eyes.

Nibbles and me is beautifully illustrated by the young Elizabeth Taylor and was first published in 1946. I deeply and dearly recommend this book. You’re in for a treat.

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