Fantastic Nature Stories (part 2)

This is the post of the missing library trips . . .

That is to say, I’m missing my library trips a LOT right now.

We’ve been able to continue reading with ebooks and audiobooks, but it’s not the same as bringing home a dozen or two shiny new books. Plus, I’m still adding books to my holds, and I probably won't see those books for another month at least!

I know the libraries will open again, though, and in anticipation of that day, I wanted to share some of the nature stories on my list right now. This is my version of a wish list, if you will.

Most of these are books I saw recommended by reviewers/book bloggers and promptly added to my library holds. I haven’t read them yet, but I’m looking forward to the day my library opens again, and I get to check them out!

• Bright in The Night, by Lena Sjöberg – This is an intriguing book! We think of the night as dark, and shadowy, but it’s full of things that shine, large and small, and this story explores some of those bright night-time objects.

• Bird Count, by Susan Edwards Richmond, illustrated by Stephanie Fizer Coleman – The story of a young girl and her mother participating in the Christmas Bird Count. It’s technically a winter story, but bird-watching should be a year-round activity!

• The Way Home for Wolf, by Rachel Bright, illustrated by Jim Field – A lone wolf cub looking to find his way home. I’ve had this book recommended by a two people now, so I’m definitely looking forward to reading it myself.

• Play Like an Animal! Why Critters Splash, Race, Twirl, and Chase, by Maria Gianferrari, illustrated by Mia Powell – This is a book I stumbled across while looking up a different story—the cover looks fantastic, and it sounds like a great action-word story!

• Seashore, by Donald M. Silver, illustrated by Patricia J. Wynne – I saw the One Small Square series recommended recently, and I love the concept! This book takes a tiny corner of a beach and examines all the different types of life living in that small patch of sand.

I’ve got almost thirty books waiting in my holds right now, but these are the ones I’m most excited about reading soon.

What books are you looking forward to reading these days?

Also . . .

If you want to combine these books with an activity, here's some suggestions to get you started!

• Go for a walk at dusk and see how many bright objects you can spot. Draw one of them using bright finger paints on a dark piece of paper (example of a light on dark painting).
• Measure out a small square patch of yard and make a list of everything you find in that section of the yard.
• Start a bird journal. Decide how long you want to keep the journal—whether a week or a month or just indefinitely—and then take some time every day to write down what birds you saw that day and what they were doing. If you want, you can include sketches to show each bird's size and color.
• Play "Simon Says, the Animal Version." Take turns picking an animal and acting out that animal's motions. 

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