Pole beans, our newest gardening venture, are creeping steadily up the fence. We monitor their climb daily.
The butterfly bush's baby blossoms promise an explosion of purple in just weeks. Marigolds stand sentry around the pepper plants, cucumbers, squash and scallions.
We are poised for a bountiful harvest with flowers and vegetables surrounding our backyard.
"The Practical Naturalist," foreword by Stephen Kress. Produced by the National Audubon Society and DK Publishing. All ages. 256 pages, $19.95.
This lovely pictorial guidebook makes viewing nature much more understandable for any age. Each section details what makes up various habitats through the landscape and the wildlife found there.
One of our most used, and most enjoyed, books was a similar publication by DK given to us years ago by my grandparents. We spent many afternoons identifying birds at our bird feeders using that book on backyard birds.
Taking a broader approach, "The Practical Naturalist" steers readers on how to observe and explore nature, even if the reader lives in a metropolitan area. As with any DK book, the vivid illustrations and clear writing make "The Practical Naturalist" a true pleasure not only to read, but to absorb.
"My Baby Blue Jays," by John Berendt. Ages 5 to 8. Viking, $16.99.
So it took me a second to process how I knew this author's name. Yes, this sweet chronicle of the birth and development of a New York blue jay was written by the author of "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil."
And yes, this one kept me just as enthralled (if for but a fraction of the time he kept me in Savannah). Berendt followed the building of a nest outside his New York home and watched as a young blue jay bravely learned to strike out on his own. Although the photographs may be amateur efforts, Berendt's fascination with his resident jays will strike a chord in anyone who champions their backyard friends. I must admit that I read about the baby jay's foray into the streets and sidewalks of New York with a nugget of worry in my heart.
Berendt has created a nice literary diorama of a commonplace but astonishing slice of life.
Reviewed by Hannah
"The Good Garden," by Katie Smith Milway. Ages 7 and up. Kids Can Press, $18.95.
Maria Luz lives in Honduras with her small, poor farmer family. They struggle to grow enough food to feed themselves.
When the drought and insects destroy their struggling harvest one year, Maria's father must leave town in search of work to make enough money for new seeds.
Meanwhile, a teacher named Don Pedro comes to town. He teaches the children, including Maria, how to make compost and plant marigolds to keep insects away from vegetables.
While Maria's father is out of town working, she follows Don Pedro's instructions, and the Luz family garden begins to produce plenty of food for them to eat.
Based on the true stories seen by organizations like Heifer International and World Vision, this touching tale of "going from hunger to having enough" reminds me of what I learned in my AP Human Geography class taught by Kathy Otterbourg.
"Butterflies," by Seymour Simon. Ages 5 to 9. HarperCollins, $17.99.
As flowers bloom, butterflies begin to appear. Learn about the many species and their stages of life in this book, which is full of fun facts and gorgeous photographs.
As the award-winning author of more than 250 books for young adults, Seymour Simon creates this book on everyone's favorite warm-weather insect as a must-have for every classroom. The close-up shots of the caterpillars and butterflies are enough to keep readers of any age interested in learning about these beautiful insects.
"The Big Wish," by Carolyn Conahan. Ages 4 to 8. Chronicle, $16.99.
What some people see as weeds, young children see as prolific flowers. Molly's yard is home to dandelions. They are everywhere, covering her yard from corner to corner.
Molly insists that the flowers are not weeds, but are wishes growing in her very own yard. She enlists everyone in town to submit their wishes in an attempt to set a world record on wishing. Molly's task is to choose the biggest wish for the record, a hard decision to make in this sweet book.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement