Willodeen by Katherine Applegate

Illustrated by Charles Santoso 5 stars A new favorite from Katherine Applegate! I loved this story. A beautiful representation of how plants and animals coexist and form mutually beneficial relationships. It show demonstrates human intervention can unintendedly alter that balance with unintended consequences. A blend of eco-mystery and coming of age with a touch of…

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The Dog that Ate the World by Sandra Dieckmann

4 stars Another stunning picture book from Dieckmann. When a dog arrives in the peaceful valley and begins eating everything in sight, the other animals try to confront him. But when their efforts are in vain, they band together to create beauty in their own world. This fable-style story has a lovely emphasis on community…

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The Ultimate Guide to Sea Glass

Finding, Collecting, Identifying, and Using the Ocean’s Most Beautiful Stones by Mary Beth Beuke 3 stars A nice resource for those already interested in sea glass and beachcombing who understand the basics. Would recommend to those who have already started a sea glass collection and are looking to learn more about what to look for…

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Leaf by Sandra Dieckmann

4 stars A stunning picture book featuring a lost polar bear, some helpful crows, and the effects of climate change. When Leaf washes up on the shore of the wild wood, the other animals fear the large, strange, dangerous-looking creature. It isn’t until they talk to him that they learn the truth of his arrival….

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Pure Sea Glass: Discovering Nature’s Vanishing Gems

by Richard LaMotte Photography by Celia Pearson 4 stars A great resource for learning more about sea glass. Provides details about the origin, history, and prevalence of different colors and types of glass. Also provides details for identification of bottles, tableware, flat glass, marbles, insulators, and more. There is also a section that breaks down…

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Haven: A Small Cat’s Big Adventure

by Megan Wagner Lloyd 3 stars A sweet story of one cat’s determination to help the human she loves. Told through three different perspectives, Haven tells the tale of a housecat traversing the wild, making new friends, encountering new enemies, and facing the odds in an unknown world. Perfect for readers who enjoy animals, nature,…

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Primates

The Fearless Science of Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Biruté Galdikas by Jim Ottaviani, Illustrated by Maris Wicks 2 stars I really wanted to love this book. The illustrations are great, often working in details that aren’t touched on in the text. I love the focus on women in science and their extraordinary passion. However,…

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Mushrooming with Confidence

A Guide to Collective Edible and Tasty Mushrooms by Alexander Schwab 4 stars A helpful beginner’s guide to foraging and identifying mushrooms. Schwab provides information on how to confidently identify a mushroom based on specific characteristics. Because of this, Schwab does not give information on lookalikes, focusing on positively identifying the mushroom in front of…

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The Whale Who Swam Through Time: A 200-Year Journey in the Arctic

by Alex Boersma and Nick Pyenson Illustrated by Alex Boersma 5 stars A captivating journey that shows how one whale, and the world, can change over the course of 200 years. Boersma and Pyenson beautifully capture a portion of a bowhead whale’s life, from learning from her mother, avoiding whalers, and raising her own calves,…

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How to Forage for Mushrooms Without Dying

An Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Identifying 29 Wild, Edible Mushrooms by Frank Hyman 5 stars A fascinating read. Perfect for beginners. This is a book written for laypeople interested in mushroom foraging. Because of that, it focuses on the need-to-know information versus getting caught up too much in the science. This means there are some…

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