"Winona Howe's The Penniman Menagerie takes place in a Dickensian world, and Charles Dickens would have enjoyed the characters, the lively dialogue, and the combination of heart and intellect that runs through Howe's writing. Her style is so limpid and the plotting so smooth that reading this book is almost like binge-watching a favorite miniseries. There is an element of magic in the connection between humans and animals in Howe's novels, revealing how we are all in fact part of the menagerie of creation."-John M. Ganim, professor emeritus, University of California, Riverside

"The story of the Penniman Menagerie-a defunct zoo on the outskirts of London soon to reopen-is carried out by way of a diverse group of characters who, through circumstance and adventure, ultimately become like family, one that cares deeply about the animals they amass and about each other. This charm of a story is magnificently rendered and an important reminder of what it means to be given a chance." -Brenda K. Massman, author of Yet, Here We Are

"In The Penniman Menagerie, Winona Howe has conjured a Dickensian world softened by a Beatrix Potter sensibility and brightened by a sprinkle of fabulism. This is a charming tale where the number of characters and animals continue to grow and deepen almost chapter by chapter, as all find solace and sanctuary at the menagerie." -Dean Cycon, best-selling author of Finding Home (Hungary, 1945) and Javatrekker: Dispatches from the World of Fair Trade Coffee

"Reading The Penniman Menagerie, I could well imagine myself reading with my book club as well as aloud to an enraptured audience of children. This engaging story has something for all ages. It's Downton Abbey meets The Swiss Family Robinson (complete with riding zebras across the countryside). Settle in and be prepared to spend the day reading; you won't want to put this one down." -Rita Mace Walston, author of Paper & Ink, Flesh and Blood