Book review
-
A Comprehensive DIY Guide to the Van Life
The van life concept dates back to 1910 when vehicles like the Packard truck were adapted for travel. (Wikipedia takes the concept back further, to horse drawn wagons, such as the covered Conestoga wagons that populated the early western frontier in the U.S.) Life on wheels (either full time or as a camping option) has had its aficionados and detractors for decades. More recently, the pandemic brought about lifestyle changes that accelerated the trend of people at least trying out a “digital nomad” lifestyle. The Van Conversion Bible: The Ultimate Guide to Converting a Campervan by Charlie Low and Dale Comley is a thorough DIY guide to creating and using…
-
New Children’s Book Explains How Some Fireflies Blink in Sync
A new picture book, Blink, Blink, Blink in Sync: Silent Fireworks by Sharon CassanoLochman is a sweet story of a young child’s first experience with fireflies. Told from the child’s point of view, she is excited for a special surprise, but worried she won’t be able to use her indoor voice while she is outside. The family sets off down a wooded trail with a group of people and the girl gets nervous as darkness falls. Then someone points out a flash of light, then another as thousands of fireflies light up the night like fireworks. The reader learns along with the narrator that these fireflies are special: they all…
-
Useful Guide Helps You Safely Forage for Mushrooms
How to Forage for Mushrooms without Dying, An Absolute Beginners Guide to Identifying 29 Wild, Edible Mushrooms, by Frank Hyman, is an engaging and informative guide to mushrooms. If you’ve ever come across a fungus on a hike and wondered, “Can I eat that?” this book is for you. Here, expert advice is presented in a friendly and easy-to-digest (no pun intended) manner. Most readers will learn everything they want to know about wild mushrooms: where to find them, how to identify them, how to handle and store them, and even how to prepare them. (Spoiler alert: don’t eat them raw – cook them well.) Mushroom lovers will enjoy discovering…
-
How to Become a Birder, Without Even Trying
Field Notes from an Unintentional Birder: A Memoir by Julia Zarankin is an honest, entertaining look at the author’s transformation into a bird lover while “auditioning” mid-life hobbies. She shares reflections of ten years of observing birds, yet rather than claiming expert-status, she declares herself a “lifelong beginning birder.” The book moves mostly chronologically, reflecting on her birding journey and her life. It provides an inside look at one of the most popular hobbies in America and the fervor that it brings out in dedicated birders. Many bird species are described in depth, others just enough to encourage the reader to do a quick search, to see exactly what that…
-
Lessons from Rachel Carson for a New Generation
Middle-schoolers and their families looking for engaging ways to learn about nature and ecology concepts will enjoy Rachel Carson and Ecology for Kids: Her Life and Ideas,with 21 Activities and Experiments. The book follows Rachel Carson’s life, from her childhood adventures growing up in the woods along the Allegheny River, through her environmental work for the United States government and her successful and sometimes controversial writing career during a time that the concept of a “woman scientist” was unthinkable. Credited by many to be the inspiration behind the modern-day environmental movement, Carson was a true ecologist, before ecology was widely recognized as its own discipline. Her work led to government…
-
Easy Ways to Nourish Environmental Consciousness in Kids
With so many environmental concerns today, it’s tough to say which is the most pressing. It can be overwhelming to think about how to make a difference or what issue to start with. Toss in the daily activities that come with a couple kids, and the task may seem impossible. In Growing Sustainable Together, Shannon Brescher Shea has presented a guidebook for parents. With a nice blend of education and parenting advice (plus a smattering of nature tips and plenty of resources), she provides a number of actionable tips and activities for families with children of all ages, addressing a number of environmental concerns. Each chapter addresses a separate area…
-
Get More Out of Your Swiss Army Knife
Victorinox Swiss Army Knife Camping & Outdoor Survival Guide: 101 Tips Tricks and Uses by Bryan Lynch is both history book and practical guide. Dating to 1891, the Swiss Army Knife is arguably the most recognizable pocket knife of all time. Whether purchased new or passed down through the family, many fans of the Swiss Army Knife have a tough time leaving home without it. While many people own one of these popular red knives, not all realize the versatility or the interesting history. Most are probably also unaware of how many varieties there are and how to use some of the many tools included on some models. This book…
-
With the Right Guidance, Bird Watching Can Be Contagious
I Love Birds! by Jennifer Ward is a charming, fun, and educational guide to the world of birds. This book provides information and suggestions for activities to help any parent (even those who know nothing more than a feathered creature is a bird) teach their child about birds and enjoy observing them. By suggesting that readers Observe, Take Note and Take Action, the author encourages kids and parents alike to use all their senses in bird watching as she suggests questions to ask and details to record. The book not only helps identify birds, it also suggests activities that will both spark conversations and inspire families to explore the hows…
-
The World Is Our Classroom
Part memoir, part guide for parents to insert more hands-on nature activities into their children’s lives, The World Is Our Classroom, How One Family Used Nature and Travel to Shape an Extraordinary Education, by Cindy Ross, is an entertaining and eye-opening look at how much children can learn through experience, given the right environment and circumstances. Ross’s narrative is interspersed with journal entries from her daughter Sierra and son Bryce. Each chapter concludes with a “Nuts and Bolts” section, a “How-to” that can help parents teach similar lessons in a way that is right for them. Avid backpackers, Cindy Ross and her husband Todd had hiked thousands of miles before…
-
The Honest Backpacker Makes Hiking Accessible for All Ages
The Honest Backpacker, A Practical Guide for the Rookie Adventurer over 50, by James and Nicole Klopovic is an encouraging guide to those with the desire, though maybe not the confidence, to get on the trail. Written for older adults, it covers important information that will benefit anyone preparing for a long hike, no matter one’s age. It breaks preparations down into manageable steps and provides guidance on each details: conditioning before a long hike, selecting and using equipment, planning/prepping/cooking /storing food, how to pack, and overall trip planning including contingency plans for when something goes awry. Written in a conversational tone, the book is engaging and highly practical. Checklists,…
