Looking for the Lights & the Music is the compelling true story of the adventures and mishaps of an American family struggling with the challenges and deprivations of the Great Depression, the upheavals of World War II, and the sadness of one family member's mental illness. With affection and humor, the author recounts the trials and exhilarating moments she and her brother, Volney Pohlman, experienced during their growing-up years. 

Among the colorful characters in this book is the author's uncle, Volney Phifer, a wild animal trapper and trainer who trained Leo, the MGM lion, and took him on world tour. Leo is just one of many animals featured in the book, including a baby lion named Trader Horn, a gentle zebra, a baby chimpanzee, and the monkey who terrorized a St. Louis neighborhood