In conjunction with the Kiawah Island Conservancy, this category will feature books about the natural world–flora, fauna and the environment.
What It’s Like to be a Bird: From Flying to Nesting, Eating to Singing—What Birds are Doing, and Why Author: David Allen Sibley Reviewer: Cindy Perry If you’re a backyard birder or if you’re simply interested in learning more about the rich array of shorebirds, songbirds, vultures, waterbirds, or other interesting birds, consider David Allen Sibley’s artistic and research-driven book, What It’s Like to be
Water and the Complexity of Environmental Experience The Wonder of Water: Lived experience, policy and practice 247 pages Ingrid Leman Stefanovic, Editor In this slim volume, the editor has gathered twelve essays, framed by poems that explore the essential relationship we have with water. Contributors provide statistics, research data, analysis of current policies related to the containment and treatment of water and, perhaps most interestingly,
Vespers in Flight, by Helen MacDonald Carey Benham, Trustee, Kiawah Conservancy If you’re searching for a book to relish slowly and savor – like a piece of good chocolate – then read Vespers in Flight, by Helen MacDonald, a superb collection of forty-one essays which explore the author’s sense of awe, pathos, and wonder when encountering animals or exploring nature. MacDonald’s prose is poetry in
By Cindy Perry Are you looking for a holiday gift for a special child? As a former early childhood teacher, mother of three, and grandmother of two, I’ve become a collector of engaging children’s literature. Some books are on my favorite list because of the stunning artistic illustrations while others earned that recognition due to their captivating stories, interesting facts, or inspirational messages. However, one
The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate by Peter Wohlleben Submitted by Carey Benham As a devoted nature lover on Kiawah Island, I never imagined a book about trees could be so surprising, so wondrous and even magical. The author, Peter Wohlleben, spent over 20 years working for the forestry commission in Germany and now devotes his work to the study
Nature’s Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation that Starts in Your Yard by Doug Tallamy A book review by Cindy Perry Doug Tallamy’s Nature’s Best Hope is an easy to read book filled with practical advice, consistent with the Kiawah Conservancy’s mission to improve ecological health of Kiawah and its environs. Tallamy shares some historical information about how the United States transformed from its
Half-Earth: Our Planet’s Fight for Life by Edward O. Wilson Can humans overcome their hard-wired propensity for short-term planning and self-regard to take on a daring solution to save the world’s plant and animal species from the brink of extinction? In Half-Earth author Edwin O. Wilson, posits that humanity should commit to reserve one-half of the planet’s surface to nature to benefit the majority of
From the beginning, I have described my blog as a ‘work in progress’ so I’m pleased to announce a ‘progression’, which will involve a new category and a collaborative effort with the Kiawah Conservancy. The idea for this collaboration evolved after I wrote a book review for the latest issue of “Naturally Kiawah”, the Conservancy’s twice yearly publication. Perhaps, I thought, I could feature on
