Elizabeth Preston—The Creatures' Guide to Caring: How Animal Parents Teach Us That Humans Were Born to Care

Advance copy: Backstories on books by NASW members

THE CREATURES' GUIDE TO CARING:
HOW ANIMAL PARENTS TEACH US
THAT HUMANS WERE BORN TO CARE
Elizabeth Preston
Viking, May 5, 2026
Hardcover: $30.00, eBook: $15.99, Audio Book: $22.00
Hardcover ISBN-13: 9780593657102
eBook ISBN-13: 9780593657119
Audiobook ISBN-13: 9798217281817

Preston reports:

We humans often hate to admit that we're animals. This was especially obvious to me as a parent and a journalist who writes about animal behavior and evolutionary biology. There was a whole universe of parenting books—but why did they approach child-raising as if our species invented it? What could we learn about ourselves as caretakers from the other animals who cared for their young before humans appeared and are still doing it today?

Portrait photo of Elizabeth Preston — Elizabeth Preston
Photo by Kristin Chalmers

My now-agent reached out to me at the end of 2020, after reading an article I'd written, to ask if I had any book ideas. She liked my idea about the evolution of caretaking, but I couldn't start work on a proposal because—ironically? fittingly?—I didn't have enough childcare. I'd had my second daughter right at the start of Covid.

In the fall of 2021, after my mom moved closer to my family and started helping out, I was able to start writing. It was slow going, and I did a lot in the early mornings before my family woke up. Finally, in January 2023, we sent out the proposal and sold the book.

I honestly loved the writing and reporting process. I did a little travel, aiming to include at least one scene in each chapter that I'd reported in-person. I created a detailed calendar for myself and broke the work into many small tasks, so that I could keep track of whether I was on pace to meet my deadline.

Later on, I got a grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, which I used to pay a fact-checker, a scientific advisor, and an illustrator who created beautiful artwork.

I wish I'd known beforehand that it's possible to enjoy writing a book. I had heard so much about how miserable it is that I was always waiting for the other shoe to drop. But, with the possible exception of a couple of weeks of fact-checking, it was all a pleasure. I hope I get to do it again.

Contact Info:

Elizabeth Preston
- Preston’s website: Elizabeth Preston
- Bluesky: Elizabeth Preston
- Instagram: by.elizabeth.preston
Book:
- Publisher: The Creatures' Guide to Caring: How Animal Parents Teach Us That Humans Were Born to Care
- Preston’s website: The Creatures' Guide to Caring: How Animal Parents Teach Us That Humans Were Born to Care
Publicist: Ivy Cheng, icheng@penguinrandomhouse.com
Agent: Sarah Levitt, slevitt@aevitascreative.com

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Banner image adapted from original photo by Elizabeth Preston.

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Advance Copy

The path from idea to book may take myriad routes. The Advance Copy column, started in 2000 by NASW volunteer book editor Lynne Lamberg, features NASW authors telling the stories behind their books. Authors are asked to report how they got their idea, honed it into a proposal, found an agent and a publisher, funded and conducted their research, and organized their writing process. They also are asked to share what they wish they’d known when they started or would do differently next time, and what advice they can offer aspiring authors. Lamberg edits the authors’ answers to produce the Advance Copy reports.

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