At Wild Wonder 2022, one of the breakout discussion topics was “What’s on your bookshelf?” Nature journalers shared the books that most inspired them.
I was the note-taker during that discussion, and I promised to share the list with everyone. So here it is! This list includes a fun variety of poetry, comics, and of course lots of natural history.
Here's the List:
Books by Marianne North, a female biologist and explorer from the 1800s
Seeing Trees: Discover the Extraordinary Secrets of Everyday Trees by Nancy Ross Hugo and Robert Llewellyn
The Haiku Handbook: How to Write, Share, and Teach Haiku by William J. Higginson
The Naturalists Notebook: An Observation Guide and 5-Year Calendar-Journal for Tracking Changes in the Natural World Around You by Bernd Heinrich and Nathaniel T. Wheelwright
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer
The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady by Edith Holden
The Colossus and Other Poems by Sylvia Plath
Suzie said: “Sylvia Plath is not usually known for her nature poetry. She has a different style from Mary Oliver. Very creative use of language.”
A Handmade Life: In Search of Simplicity by William Coperthwaite
Beloved Beasts: Fighting for Life in an Age of Extinction by Michelle Nijhuis
“Anything by Mary Oliver”
Feathers: The Evolution of a Natural Miracle by Thor Hanson
Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art by Scott McCloud
Polar Bear Cafe manga (Unfortunately, it’s only in Japanese, but apparently an English version of Volume 1 is supposed to come out in 2023!)
“Anything by Lynda Barry – she emphasized play in art and words.”
High Tide for Horseshoe Crabs and other books by Lisa Kahn Schnell (she was a participant in this conversation and it was exciting to hear her recommend her own books!)
The Zen of Seeing: Seeing/Drawing as Meditation by Frederick Frank
A Life in Hand: Creating the Illuminated Journal by Hannah Hinchman
Naturally Curious: A Photographic Field Guide and Month-by-Month Journey Through the Fields, Woods, and Marshes of New England by Mary Holland (the person who recommended this one is neighbors with the author!)
Animals in Translation by Temple Grandin
The Bird Way: A New Look at How Birds Talk, Work, Play, Parent, and Think by Jennifer Ackerman
Wild Green Things in the City: A Book of Weeds by Anne Ophelia Todd Dowden
Finally, Sidney recommended Storygraph as an anti-Amazon alternative to Goodreads.
~~~~~~~
📚 What books would you add to the list? Comment and let us know!
~~~~~~~