Environment and Nature Books

Cicely Mary Barker's illustrations are botanically accuratedepictions of tree leaves, stems and flowers, but the crowningachievement is the fairy showcased in each. Each illustration is accompanied by a delightful poem that invites the reader to enjoy the beauty and wonder of nature.

This is a wonderful book for a child or anyone interested in botanical drawings or trees.

"...the text is very well written, easy to read and comprehend, interesting in its presentation, practically void of mathematical equations, and contains an excellent reference listing of over 500 publications...I highly recommend this book for anyone working in the water resource field who desires a better understanding of large river systems. All of us can learn from this book, and it will become a valuable addition to one's library, used frequently,and will not sit gathering dust."
- reviewed by Don Phelps, P.E.

This book is amazing, especially considering that the author was only a teenager when she wrote and illustrated it! Young children can enjoy it because of the beautiful illustrations and the story-like quality, while older children can also learn from the facts presented in the book about different creatures that fly. This book is an excellent completion of Ms. Pratt's environmetal alphabet book trilogy. The other two books she has written and illustrated ("A Walk in the Rainforest" and "A Swim Through the Sea") are also wonderful.

In Flying Foxes, Fruit And Blossom Bats Of Australia, two acknowledged authorities on Australia's bats, Leslie Hall and Greg Richards, effective collaborate to produce an informative, illustrated guide to Australia's thirteen species of Megachiroptera -- the "mega" bats. While these bats are nocturnal, they live in forests rather than caves, they navigate by sight rather than radar-like sound reflection (echolocation), and their long snouts and large ears and eyes give them a canine-like appearance and the resultant appellation of "flying foxes". Flying Foxes discusses such controversial matters as these creatures being kept as pets, the management of flying fox populations, and recent incidents of viral diseases being transmitted from the bats to humans. The informative, authoritative, comprehensive text is enhanced with line drawings by Louise Saunders and twenty-nine superbly presented color photographs (including many by acclaimed wildlife photographer, Theo Allofs). A highly recommended addition to exotic wildlife reference collections, Flying Foxes, Fruit And Blossom Bats Of Australia is also available in a trade paperback format (1575241765, $21.50).

Dr. Wittwer is the "godfather" of the greening of planet earth hypothesis, that is, increasing carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere are an environmental benefit because of their impact on plant life. His research review is an antidote to fear of catastrophic changes in climate brought on by humankind's CO2 emissions.

It is in vogue to refer to carbon dioxide as a pollutant because it is the inevitable consequence of carbon (fossil fuel, wood, peat) combustion. Dr. Wittwer correctly observes that it is the elixir of life on earth and a universally-free premium because of its stimulation of plant growth, its contribution to water-use efficiency in plants, and the way in which it helps plants resist a variety of environmental stresses. This aspect of the climate change debate has been for too long ignored, overlooked or denigrated.

Thoughtful readers will find the research reviewed by Dr. Wittwer to be extremely compelling. He anticipates his skeptics and makes an overwhelming case firmly rooted in empirical research carried on throughout the world.

Last Christmas I searched high and low for an introductory book for Children, to learn about environmental issues. Dispite the fact there are very few, P.K.Hallianan has beautifully written and had illistrated this book on not only loving our earth, but all living things. This book is so very special.

If you're looking for a detailed overview of how the forest ecosystem works, this is a great reference. Perry covers soil, nutrients, forest dynamics, etc. If you are new to the sciences, Perry does a good job of explaining key terms. This book is geared more towards science-minded people, but the material is broad enough for anyone interested in the forest.

This is a beautiful story about the rewards of and the necessity for conservation. The country described is so full of forest that it is said that a squirrel could leap from branch to branch from one coast to the other. But over time the forests are replaced by homes and buildings until there is only one forest left. Everyone has forgotten about it except for .... the children. They gather there and play throughtout the four seasons until one day a sign is posted that could change everything. This book is sweet and satisfying and may even inspire your child to "make a difference". The illustrations are lively and colorful and bring a feeling of magic to the story.

As a long time New Englander and traveler to the White Mountains, I found this book provided not only a tremendous historical background to the places I love to visit in and around Franconia Notch, but also a reason as to why the groups that were involved in acquiring the land for the WMNF wanted to protect it from future development.

In my younger days as an Eagle Scout, I hiked the Appalachian Trail through the Presidential Range, stayed at the Lake of the Clouds hut, walked the Flume and gazed upon the Old Man (may he rest in peace). Now, as a father, I take my kids back to those places and hope they get the same appreciation, as I once did, for the beauty, solitude and uniqueness of that spot on Earth.

Ms. Jarvis has done a great job of pulling together facts, stories (and pictures!) and weaving them together so you feel the emotional struggle the members of the SPNHF and NHFWC must have felt while in the midst of fighting to save Franconia Notch. One also gets a sense of amazement that, even back "then", citizens of New Hampshire and the rest of New England were into protecting forest and land.

For anyone wanting a new appreciation of the White Mountain National Forest, an understanding of why the Old Man of the Mountain is a symbol of New Hampshire, or simply requiring a historical perspective on Franconia Notch and the surrounding areas, this book delivers.

All you ever wanted to know about the Catalina Mountains and the people who braved them. Bowden has a way with words to capture your interests--even through the historical factual info. Aldo would be proud of him