North America Books

This book is exceptional in so many ways. The writing is good, the photographs outstanding. Good research and intellectual honesty makes it a good source for history, ecology, and natural studies.

The approach to creating the book worked extraordinarily well but at its inception must have seemed very chancy. The author chosen to write this account of the Nature Conservancy's Tallgrass Prairie Preserve was unfamiliar with the Preserve and its surrounding area in Oklahoma. The advantage was objectivity but there are lots of hazards in such a choice. Annick Smith is from Montana's Rocky Mountains, separate from the Oklahoma grasslands in many ways. Her recognized writing skills, coupled with drawing on three years of research, getting a first-hand feel of the Preserve, and interviewing a broad cross-section of local people produced this fine addition to any library.

At first glance, the beauty and physical appearance tempts a person to call this a "coffee-table book." However, this is a book with depth. Although easy to read, it takes far longer to read than a person expects at first glance. There are several photos and illustrations per page. Harvey Payne, director of the Preserve, took the majority of current photos over the Preserve's relatively short existence. His skill with a camera is extraordinary and complements Smith's writing well. The photos are mostly well captioned, although the people responsible for writing the captions and laying out the format made a few errors - one of only two negative comments that you will find in this review.

Smith chose to organize her chapters by major subject and then present them in rough chronological order. It was the correct choice to provide smooth flow, and she avoided the trap of duplicating information from chapter to chapter.

After several tries at preserving something of the vanished tall grass prairies that covered much of the central United States, the dedication of the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve was in 1993. Mostly local issues kept it from being federally administered and The Nature Conservancy stepped in to keep the drive for protection from failing. The Preserve includes over 30,000 acres carved from one of the big Oklahoma cattle ranches. To think of the Preserve as being the same as the original tall grass prairies, is incorrect. It will never be. For one thing, we don't even know for sure what that was; what plants were there, how it changed in response to climate and chance events over centuries. This bit of Oklahoma is an infinitesimal part of the original and each acre of the original differed. Obviously, the historic prairie was unmanaged except for minor burning and other efforts by the Indian tribes. The Preserve is highly managed, albeit with a goal of creating something close to the original. The administration sets fires to represent the random burning which natural forces might have caused. Cattle are gradually being replaced with buffalo to recreate historic grazing patterns as much as possible. However, tourism is a significant source of gaining funds and public support. Oil drilling and pumping continues through agreements between the Preserve and the oil companies. Fencing is required not only at the perimeter, but also in the interior.

Annick Smith first gives the history of the Preserve, and then circles back to that at the end of the book. She begins with the character, plants and animals of the Preserve. At that point, she steps back and covers the Native American history of the area, including the dismal record of broken agreements and various Indian relocations. The Osage are the predominant Native Americans in the area today. Smith's narrative then goes through a progression of white incursions of buffalo hunters, settlers, cattle ranchers, and finally oil exploration. It is necessarily a summary history but still provides a lot of detail. There is a generous amount about people in this book; those who created the Preserve and run it, the past and present inhabitants of the area.

At this point, I must interject my second negative comment. In portraying the community surrounding the Preserve, Smith adequately covers the people of lower income, as well as the large cattlemen and oilmen. Although mentioning some of the people in the middle, she goes too quickly past those who operate businesses in the towns that support the preserve. There isn't any mention of mini-ranchers running a few head of stock while holding other jobs to make ends meet. The people who attend PTA meetings, lead 4-H clubs, and cooperate in soil conservation districts are part of the core element in such a community.

Now back to the positive. The final chapter is "The Politics of Preservation," and the book ends with a delightful Epilogue, a great resource list for further reading, and a helpful index.

Thanks to those who brought the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve into being, and I wish them the best of luck. Thanks to Annick Smith and Harvey Payne for a great book.

I fully enjoyed this book. In her discussion of the prairie preserve, Annick Smith delved into cowboys, cattle drives, Indians, The Trail of Tears, Oklahoma land runs, buffalo, cattle, oil, the Civil War, controlled fire, prairie grasses, outlaws: all the makings of 10,000 Western movies. The book is beautiful: oversized and full of color photos. I especially enjoyed it since I was born in Oklahoma, still live here, and have spent some time on the prairie. But for anyone who likes Western history, prairie photography and preservation, this is a spiritual journey into a new home of grasses and buffalo in Oklahoma.

....this is a book you must own. Harvey Payne is one of the greatest outdoor photographers you will ever find. If you have lived in Oklahoma or are at all interested in this area or ecosystem, you will find this book fascinating. There is so much beauty in our state that is overlooked, and this book brings it to life, along with engaging stories of the people who tamed this rough wilderness. This is a book that makes me proud to be an Okie while looking at it. If you have ever been entranced by the stoic, proud majesty of the bison who once ruled the prairie, and are now relegated to wildlife preserves, buy this book!

A contemporary child gets help from an old story in this bright picture book set in a small desert village on the Papago reservation in southern Arizona near the Mexican border. Marta Enos' day is ruined when the wind blows her papers out the window and the dogs chew her homework into trash; then she trips and breaks her glasses. Grandmother comforts Marta Enos, repairs the glasses, bakes her some warm tortillas, and tells her a traditional tale about how to deal with a problem. Sometimes it is good to be a tree and look all ways at once; sometimes it is best to be a rock or a fierce mountain lion; but Marta Enos chooses to be an eagle, who can fly high and see how small the problem is. Strongbow's watercolor paintings set the story in wide desert landscapes as the sun sets and the full moon rises, and warm portraits show the loving bond across generations. (summary by Heather Roselle)

I really enjoyed this as a book to read with my 4 1/2 year old daughter. It has a neat story line, wonderful word pictures, lovely illustrations and is suitable for 4 years and up. It encourages kids to think about different ways of solving the problems that arise in life.

The story follows a young girl who, in a hurry to join her Indian grandmother making tortilla's, upsets her homework and eventualy breaks her glasses. The girl is devestated by the turn of events. The grandmonther gently restores her, giving her options on how to solve the problem while gently repairing the glasses. Is this a time to "be like a tree in the desert, standing tall and looking all ways at once" .... "a time to stay still like stone and wait for the problem to pass" .... or a time to fly high like and eagle looking far down to the problem which now seems so small and laugh at it..... As her glassess are mended and the homework reworked the girl can decide that the best option is to look at the big picture. To put the day in perspective and fly high like the eagle. The other options can be considered, thought about and keep hidden away for another day when maybe they will be the most approprite solution for life's problems.

I love this book! So does my 4 1/2 year old stepson, and his Dad has gotten a lot out of it too. The idea of choosing how you are going to respond to a problem rather than just throw a tantrum is something we are teaching the children, and constantly learning for ourselves too. This book is warm and loving, an excellent quiet time read for people of all ages.

Gorgeous book. Almost like being there as we read. Enjoying it now and

will for years to come.

The wide double format spread of the pictures is awesome. I have had it open in the living room since we got it, open to a new picture everyday. Every picture has a frame around it, just like you would have if you had it on the wall.

BIG SKY captures some gorgeous panoramas, capturing natural landscapes and tinting to explore some of the lesser-known state parks and wilderness areas across the country. It's a personal celebration of the American West by a photographer who spent over twenty years searching for just the right sites and experiences: when one was found he'd take a series of panoramic shots and stitch them together on a computer, here produced in panoramic 27x9 inch spreads to properly capture the results. Art photography libraries as well as public libraries strong in visual travel representations will want this.

We purchased this for our 4 year old daughter and our whole family has learned a great deal about birds! The book is simple yet informative for the beginning bird enthusiast. The birdfeeder stays on the window well UNTIL squirrels try to climb in it. It is very difficult to keep squirrels out of this kind of feeder - they are tenacious and quite agile. Buy a copy of Outwitting Squirrels by Bill Adler if you want to contend with them. We have given this book and feeder as a birthday present to adults and children and everyone has loved it. Great price and quality.

I am in no way an expert birdwatcher, but this book and birdfeeder are so much fun to use. Like another reviewer, I was skeptical of birds actually coming to the feeder. In less than a week, they had not only found it, but were fighting to get inside it! The book is small, but well written and very informative for all ages, especially if you know very little about birdwatching. It makes the common birds you will see easy to identify. The feeder is great because it can be attached to a window pane, making up-close viewing possible from inside your house.
A great gift!

I purchased this book just after my son was born. I saw it in a flyer I received in the mail and thought it would be a great educational experience for my son to see the birds right outside of our window. Not long after he turned 2, I installed it on our living room window. A few days went by and I was afraid the birds weren't going to visit it. Boy, was I wrong! They absolutely love it! It is not the only birdfeeder that I have, but it certainly is most popular. The smaller birds absolutely adore it. In bad weather, they hop right inside and eat and sit a spell. It has brought much joy to our family. My son thinks everyone sees birds up close and doesn't realize what a gift this is!

This is a very nicely done book. Includes some lovely photographs of gardens and close ups of birds. The information provided is the best part of this book, though. The book starts out by saying that all too often, homeowners hang a pretty painted birdhouse in their yard and sit back and wait for birds to move in. The book then goes on to explain ways to attract birds to your yard that are actually helpful to the health and wellbeing of the birds. The book provides the reader with an understanding of what birds want and need in a habitat.

Lists of recommended plantings, favorite foods by bird species, nest box dimenions by species, and other useful information are included.

I have found myself referring back to this book often as I try each year to make my yard a little more bird friendly - and I've had real success - the number of species that visit my yard have increased with each year.

Based on my own limited experience, I would assume that all gardeners end up being birdwatchers. When I would be out in our garden working, or just sitting in it and enjoying a cool evening, the songs of the birds always added to the experience, and they more and more attracted my attention.

In this wonderful book, the authors tell you everything you need to make your garden a bird-friendly environment, and as such a bird-magnet. Everything is covered herein, including what flowers to plant, what utilities to add (birdbaths, houses, feeders, etc.), and even notes on how to bird watch, and what birds you are likely to see. This is a great book, one that I highly recommend to all fellow gardeners!

Whether you enjoy gardening or not this is a must have, enjoyable book. Delightful photographs accompanied with informative descriptions regarding the plants that birds love. It also describes what function the plants provide for the birds as well as information on the habits of birds. I would joyfully recommend this book for everyone of all ages to enjoy.

If your just starting out in birding, this is a great place to begin. As it mentions in the introduction on the cd, while you look only one direction, you hear 360 degrees. I've noticed a lot more birds since I started learning their songs.

As someone who is interested in improving their birding skills, I found this an excellent guide. The authors begin by explaining some basic bird facts related to vocalizations. They proceed with the recordings, which are grouped into birds with similar songs (the authors refer to this as "pairing"). This improves the listners ability to correctly identify the song with the bird. The last portion of the auditory cassette places the birds into habitat groupings without the identification of the bird. This section can be used as a test of the listners abilities or to help familiarize the listner with where each bird can most probably be found. This in turn helps the reader correctly identify birds in the field by narrowing the possibilities. Finally, the tapes have an accompaning written guide. Each bird is listed with a black and white drawing, habitat type and a written description of the song/call. The authors also reference the page number to Petersons Field Guide of Western Birds and provide a space where the listner can write his/her comments. All in all, this is an excellent resource.

I've birded for a number of years but I wanted to be able to distinguish birds by their calls, especially the shy ones. This CD volme was the perfect introduction. Dick Walton's informal, almost folksy, comments made for enjoyable listening and learning. Sure there are only 91 species but one great sampling. Now that he has taught me "hooks" and "handles" I have graduated to using the Stokes CDs, but at least I can now differentiate closely related songs thanks to Mr. Walton.

If you are new to bird songs, please start with this volume. In contrast the Stokes volume presents the songs, but no commentary. It is up to you to find the hooks and handles and figure out how to memorize all the songs.

BTW, I disagree with Mr Walton on one bird. He says the California Quail is calling "Chicago, Chicago." In my field experience I am sure it is looking for "Atlanta, Atlanta."

Great CD, buy it!

Being a birder for years and going to Cape May, NJ for years, this book is great to have. It summarizes all about Cape May and will tell others what Cape May is about and what to look forward to.

A "must have" for anyone considering birding in the Cape May area!!! Clay and Pat Sutton are wonderful writers making this book not only a wealth of information but also very enjoyable to read!

Cape May is a peninsula, the southernmost point of New Jersey. It separates Delaware Bay from the Atlantic Ocean, and lies only fourteen miles north of Delaware. Consequently, millions of birds funnel through the area in the spring and fall of each year. There are a number of nature preserves and wildlife refuges nearby. The Cape May Bird Observatory is the center of birding activity in the area.

"If birds are an excellent judge of climate, Cape May has the finest climate in the United States, for it has the greatest variety of birds." Alexander Wilson was writing in 1812 before Texas, the current US record holder, joined the union. But the area is still one of the best places to watch birds in the United States.

The climate also attracts thousands of people to the area. There is a wonderful array of attractions, beaches, restaurants, hotels and camping spots available to birders and to any companions who may not share their passions.

The authors have dozens of birding books and articles to their credit. As a quick perusal of the extracts on Amazon proves, they know the area intimately, and describe it in clear, helpful language. They profile 33 birding locations, and discuss the histories of popular birding sites. Some of the best passages deal with some of the great birders who enjoyed this area: Alexander Wilson to Roger Tory Peterson to Pete Dunne. They add delightful accounts of their own experiences; the sighting of a Yellow-nosed Albatross is especially good.

There is simply no better single volume resource covering the birds, history and geography of this area. If you go, take along this book, and stop in at the Cape May Bird Observatory to see what is going on. BirdCapeMay can give you a head start before you leave home.

Robert C. Ross, 2008

I think is such a wonderful book. I found it while I was at a nature conference, and it just seemed so relieving that there was something written about minority presence in the outdoors. Various people are profiled, all with different background and stories. I'm putting this book in my classroom as an inspiration to others.

Black and Brown Faces in America's Wild Places is an excellent book to share with young people. It lets young people see people of color participating in actitivies and careers in the great outdoors. These actitivies and careers are open for all to enjoy. I purchased several books to share with the young people in my life and have received very positive feedback. One young man was very proud to share his book with his class for Black History Month.

Keeping It Wild

Dudley Edmondson uses the personal comments and profiles of 20 black and brown Americans to make observations on the participation of minorities in outdoor pursuits. The "whiteness" of many of these activities is obvious. Without pointing fingers, the book makes clear the importance of drawing minority populations into activities such as birding, hiking, camping, etc. As the population of this country grows more diverse, as faces of color appear more often on city councils, county boards, and in legislative positions, an appreciation of the value of natural resources by these people will become important. As the saying goes, we protect what we understand and appreciate. Edmondson's book offers personal experiences and observations that make the point that the outdoors and its pleasures are for everyone. The book is illustrated with the author's excellent photographs. This is a book to be shared with anyone who enjoys outdoor activities.

I enjoyed this book and believe the author did an excellent job of presenting the topic. I would recommend this book as a good introduction.

Henry Mitchell writes and teaches history as a family portrait worthy of sharing not only with the family (African Americans) but with the neighbors (all Americans). In the first half of "Black Church Beginnings," Mitchell documents the interplay between African religion, African American Christianity, and European Christianity. This is fascinating material presented with insight and passion. He puts to rest the notion that slaves were simply passive recipients of their masters' religion, teaching instead that the spiritual impact went both ways.

The second half of the book contains a detailed and helpful historical outline of important dates with brief comments about some key figures.

Reviewer: Robert W. Kellemen, Ph.D., is the author of "Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction," and of "Soul Physicians," and "Spiritual Friends."

Henry H. Mitchell is a retired professor of history and black church studies: his Black Church Beginnings: The Long-Hidden Realities Of The First Years fills a gap in history in considering the struggles of African Americans to establish churches within the boundaries of slavery in the American colonies. The black church phenomenon began in the mid-1700s and its history is followed in a coverage which ends in the 19th century. Successes and failures alike are profiled in this strongly recommended and highly valued contribution to Black Studies, American History, and Christian Religious Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

This book is a breath of fresh air for anyone looking to succeed in life. E. LeMay offers no excuses for being born to an impoverished family. He shows how a little education and a lot of hard work can help anyone of any shape, size, disability, handicap or color succeed. E. LeMay refused to be stereotyped and shows how he succeeded because of his merits, not the color of his skin. E. LeMay is an inspiration to his peers and a positive role model for our next generation.

You may not like what Mr. Lathan says and you may not like how he says it but if you want to succeed in corporate America you should get this book and study it. Mr. Lathan tells the truth that black men and black women need to hear about working, setting goals, and making it. I've purchased several copies and gave one to every teenager in my family.

I enjoyed the ideas put forth to help his son deal with life. I took a lot of courage to put thoughts out there like these. I would like to think this book has helped me think about changing the way I look at people of all colors. It has put me on guard as to how I treat others and the attitude I portray. I will have my kids read it and then make sure they understand it. It will be a book I will pass onto my family and friends whenever possible.