A ôperfect petö story from Justice Sandra Day OÆConnor. Sandra is growing up on a desert ranch surrounded by animals, but she wants one to have her very own pet. A tortoise isnÆt really friendly, a little rabbit is too fearful, and a young coyote howls to rejoin his pack. A bobcat almost fits the bill, but soon grows too big and fierce to be a housecat. SandraÆs parents let her learn for herself that these animals are best suited to the wild, though it is often hard to let them go. Finally, a smiley little stray dog finds Sandra. Sandra names the dog Susie, and the two become wonderful friends. As a child, former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day OÆConnor got to know a wide variety of the wild, indigenous animals that surrounded her desert ranch home. Finding Susie is a composite of her own and her siblingsÆ experiences. She currently lives in Arizona. Tom PohrtÆs illustrations have appeared on the cover of The New Yorker, as well as in many acclaimed picture books, including the bestselling Crow and Weasel, written by Barry Lopez. He lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan.