Nature

Bert, the bowerbird : the small bird with a big heart book cover

Bert, the bowerbird : the small bird with a big heart

Donaldson, Julia, author.

jE Donaldso
Kids, Picture Books, Animals, Nature

Bert the bowerbird is looking for love. He has made the most perfect bower, complete with a pretty purple flower, and he is hoping it will help him to meet the bird of his dreams.

Casey's picture

Bert is the cutest little bowerbird ever! -Casey

Prodigal summer book cover

Prodigal summer

Kingsolver, Barbara.

FICTION Kingsolver, Barbara
Literary Fiction, Nature

From her outpost in an isolated mountain cabin, Deanna Wolfe, a reclusive wildlife biologist, watches a den of coyotes that have recently migrated into the region. She is caught off-guard by a young hunter who invades her most private spaces and confounds her self-assured, solitary life. On a farm several miles down the mountain, Lusa Maluf Landowski, a bookish city girl turned farmer's wife, finds herself unexpectedly marooned in a strange place where she must declare or lose her attachment to the land that has become her own. And a few more miles down the road, a pair of elderly feuding neighbors tend their respective farms and wrangle about God, pesticides, and the possibilities of a future neither of them expected. Over the course of one humid summer, these characters find their connections to one another and to the flora and fauna with whom they share a place.

Madison C's picture

(Heading to the Mountains!) If your ideal summer vacation includes quiet, secluded mountains and a deep connection to nature, Barbara Kingsolver's novel is your go-to read. Expertly weaving together three compelling stories set in the Appalachian wilderness, "Prodigal Summer" will take you off the grid and into the wild beauty of the mountains. -Madison C

Birds of prey of the Midwest book cover

Birds of prey of the Midwest

Stan, Tekiela

598.90977 /Tekiela
Nonfiction, Animals, Nature

Learn to identify raptors, and make bird-watching even more enjoyable. With Stan Tekiela’s famous field guide, bird identification is simple and informative. This book features 34 species―including every species of raptor found in the Midwest. For ease of use, the guide is organized by group: hawks, eagles, falcons, kites, vultures, and owls. So when you see a bird of prey, you can determine its group by common visual characteristics. Then turn to the corresponding section to find out what it is! Book Features: Only Midwestern birds of prey: every raptor species found in the Midwest Organized for efficient use: species organized by group, then size from smallest to largest Fact-filled information: accessible for beginners but informative for more experienced birders Stunning photos: professional-quality sharpness and detail Stan’s Notes: naturalist information and interesting facts not found in other guides Quick-Compare section: sketches, silhouettes, and photos for side-by-side comparisons

Melody's picture

It is almost June and we are entering prime hiking and nature walk season. Whether it's a stroll along the paths at Terry Trueblood or a secluded trek through local preserves or parks, keep an ear out for the birdsongs that carry you along. And keep an eye out for birds of prey. This pocket-sized field guide will be your best friend when your smartphone signal is weak. I even wish I had something like this while at the dog park sometimes. Is that a Cooper's Hawk or a Merlin? With this book, I can find out. -Melody

The rise and fall of the dinosaurs : a new history of a lost world book cover

The rise and fall of the dinosaurs : a new history of a lost world

Brusatte, Stephen, author.

567.9 /Brusatte
Nonfiction, History, Nature, Science

A sweeping narrative scientific history that tells the epic story of the dinosaurs, examining their origins, their habitats, their extinction, and their living legacy.

Madison C's picture

For anyone who is still a child at heart and misses being asked what their favorite dinosaur is, "The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs" is the book for you! As someone who grew up wanting to be the next Dr. Alan Grant of paleontology, I can say with confidence that Steve Brusatte's book is the perfect fit for anyone fascinated by the wonders of paleontology and golden age of dinosaur discoveries. -Madison C

The underworld : journeys to the depths of the ocean book cover

The underworld : journeys to the depths of the ocean

Casey, Susan, 1962- author.

551.46 /Casey
Nonfiction, Nature, Science

For all of human history, the deep ocean has been a source of wonder and terror, an unknown realm that evoked a singular, compelling question: What's down there? Unable to answer this for centuries, people believed the deep was a sinister realm of fiendish creatures and deadly peril. Now, cutting-edge technologies allow scientists and explorers to dive miles beneath the surface, and we are beginning to understand this strange and exotic underworld: A place of soaring mountains, smoldering volcanoes, and valleys 7,000 feet deeper than Everest is high. For "The Underworld," Susan Casey traversed the globe, joining scientists and explorers on dives to the deepest places on the planet, interviewing the marine geologists, marine biologists, and oceanographers who are searching for knowledge in this vast unseen realm. Throughout this journey, she learned how vital the deep is to the future of the planet, and how urgent it is that we understand it in a time of increasing threats from climate change, industrial fishing, pollution, and the mining companies that are also exploring its depths.

Madison C's picture

As scientists continue to study the vast reaches of space's "final frontier," only five percent of Earth's oceans have been explored. From total darkness, extreme cold, and crushing pressures, discovering the fathomless parts of Earth's watery depths is not for the faint of heart. In "The Underworld," Susan Casey takes readers on a first-hand exploration of our planet's deepest, darkest seas, where Earth's greatest mysteries have yet to be discovered. -Madison C

We leap together book cover

We leap together

Christopher Silas Neal

jE Neal
Kids, Picture Books, Nonfiction, Animals, Nature

"An awe-inspiring nonfiction picture book, perfect for animal lovers, that reveals how a mama whale and a mama person care for their young in remarkably similar ways, from the illustrator of Over and Under the Snow. A little boy and his mother set off on a day trip, meanwhile, a mama whale and her calf swim towards the bay. On the way, both sing, blow bubbles, get lost--and found! Through it all, mama always stays close. The human pair board a sightseeing boat, and as the whales reach the harbor, they all converge in one spectacular scene! With lyrical text and absolutely magnificent art, here's a book that celebrates our connection to animals, and to each other"--

Casey's picture

Beautiful illustrations and minimal text make for perfect storytime sharing! Curious readers will find backmatter that sheds more light on the comparison Neal draws between humans and whales. -Casey

Thank you, everything book cover

Thank you, everything

author Icinori (Publishing studio)

jE Icinori
Picture Books, Nature

"What starts as a series of "thank yous" addressed to common objects that inhabit our daily lives gradually builds into a fantastic journey across landscapes, seasons, and inner discoveries."--

Victoria's picture

If art washes away the dust of everyday life, consider your life squeaky clean after reading this one. This is one of the best wordless picture books I've read in a long time. The premise is simple: gratitude for the simplest of things. But the gratitude evolves into being thankful for so much more. There is no text, and the illustrations are divine. You'll have to covet and pore over the pages at least two or three times before returning. Stunning! -Victoria

Otter carries on book cover

Otter carries on

Maya Tatsukawa

jE Tatsukaw
Kids, Picture Books, Animals, Nature, Philosophy, Self Help

"Otter loves floating and collecting pretty, heavy rocks all by themself. When a storm comes, Otter has so many rocks that they can't swim home -- and soon, they're lost at sea. But when a few rocks accidentally slip away, Otter feels -- lighter. And with the help of a new friend, Otter realizes that maybe they don't need to carry everything alone." --

Casey's picture

Otters, friendship, and adventures at sea! Maya Tatsukawa's latest picture book, Otter Carries On, is gorgeous and a nice conversation starter about letting things go. -Casey

Papilio book cover

Papilio

jE Clanton
Humor, Kids, Picture Books, Animals, Nature, Science

"Told in three parts, Papilio transforms from caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly"--

Casey's picture

There's a new very hungry caterpillar in town, Papilio! This collaborative picture book has just enough information for young entomologists to gobble up and features a sweet story about finding your wings. Papilio is one big treat! -Casey

Smithsonian handbook of interesting bird nests and eggs book cover

Smithsonian handbook of interesting bird nests and eggs

Douglas G. D. Russell

598.1564 /Russell
Nonfiction, Animals, Nature

This book reveals how a simple bird's nest or egg can tell extraordinary stories about the birds behind them, help reconstruct a habitat’s flora and fauna, and offer potential answers to important evolutionary and ecological questions. From the Cape Penduline Tit nest that includes a false chamber to trick predators to the unique patterning of a Great Auk egg allowing parents to always recognize and care for their own egg, this insightful handbook peers into the brilliance and architectural skills of birds. Smithsonian Handbook of Interesting Bird Nests and Eggs is an essential read for birdwatchers and nature lovers.

Melody's picture

Natural history is so fascinating! The extent of my bird-nest knowledge ends at my backyard, where we sometimes find house finch nests in our hanging ferns. This book has hundreds of historic nests collected from all over the world. The back cover reads, "Birds are some of nature's most innovative architects." I never knew I needed to know about birds' nests until eyeing this book on the shelf. What a fun discovery! The only drawback is that this book doesn't include illustrations of the bird species that build these nests. But have a web browser handy and that drawback is easily remedied. Two talons up. -Melody