Welcome to the Nature Up Bookshelf

Nature brings joy. Reading brings adventure. Social justice brings equity.

The Nature Up Bookshelf is an area where you can find great book recommendations that focus on the intersection of environmental conservation and diversity, equity, inclusion, and access. The books on this “shelf” explore stories, themes, discussions, and authors that amplify the voices of Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and Asian people, people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and women scientists that challenge us to expand our view of the Great Outdoors.

The Bookshelf is a new approach to a beloved idea! In October 2020, Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance (formerly called Madison Audubon) launched the Nature Up Book Club, an online reading and discussion group that was free and open to all. As times change, so does our approach! So beginning January 2022, you can now find all the past book titles on this webpage, as well as a new book recommendation from our education director Carolyn Byers every other month. We won’t hold regular online discussions, but will give you great reasons to read the books found on this page. Happy reading!

Bookshelf Artwork by Green Sparrow Arts

 

July-August 2023 Featured Books

World of Wonders by Aimee Nezhukumatathil

About the book: “As a child, Aimee Nezhukumatathil called many places home: the grounds of a Kansas mental institution, where her Filipina mother was a doctor; the open skies and tall mountains of Arizona, where she hiked with her Indian father; and the chillier climes of western New York and Ohio. But no matter where she was transplanted—no matter how awkward the fit or forbidding the landscape—she was able to turn to our world’s fierce and funny creatures for guidance.” Read more on the book’s page.

Why Carolyn picked this book to feature: Aimee Nezhukumatathil perfectly describes her book as “love songs to the planet.” Each little vignette describes a small chunk of our earth—often just focusing on one interesting behavior of one species. They paint a beautiful picture: a riot of color, and love, and excitement, and awe at how amazing our world is. Most of the stories connect to Aimee’s childhood or formative years in some way, and we learn how nature has shaped her into the person she is today. My favorite part about this book was the number of times I said, “Ooh, I’ll have to look that up.” I love having a reason to dig deeper into an animal’s life history or biology!

Quote we love: “I wonder if it takes a zoo or aquarium for us to feel empathy toward a creature whose habitat is shrinking due to humans, toward a creature most of us have never seen or heard? [Cassowaries’] ‘boom’ vocalization registers at the lowest frequency of all known bird calls, below the limits of human hearing. But when they boom to each other in the densest forest, sanctuary keepers report that they can feel this rumble in their bones, even if they can’t hear it. We can’t hear cassowaries, but we can literally feel their presence, and with their arresting looks, they are one of those ancient birds with a sage look that seem to warn us they won’t always be around. . . .  

What if the cassowary’s famous boom is also nature’s way of asking us to take a different kind of notice of them? To not just appreciate and admire cassowaries for their striking looks and deadly feet, but to sense their presence on this earth? Suppose that boom shaking in our body can be a physical reminder that we are all connected—that if the cassowary population decreases, so does the proliferation of fruit trees, and with that, hundreds of animals and insects then become endangered. . . . 

We are all connected. Boom.”

Other Resources:

Reading selections from WORLD OF WONDERS by Aimee Nezhukumatathil.

 

For Young Readers: The Language of Seabirds by Will Taylor

About the book: “What would you do if you had one perfect chance to be yourself? Trapped on the Oregon coast with his unhappy, just-divorced father, 12-year-old Jeremy isn’t expecting much from his summer vacation. But everything changes when the boy of his dreams runs by, and Jeremy discovers it takes more than dreaming to reach out and say what’s in his heart.” Learn more on the book’s page.
Intended age: Middle grades

Why Carolyn picked this book to feature: This book is the perfect read for summer vacation! There’s a lot to love about it: the kids spend time exploring and running on the beach they’re staying at, first love blossoms, and the characters grow a lot over the two weeks the book covers. The thing that made me choose this book, though, was the way Jeremy and Evan use bird names as a secret code. Black-footed Albatross means “lonely”, Marbled Murrelets means “friends”, Heermann’s Gull means “annoying” (I know, I like gulls too—but everyone’s allowed their opinion!). What a great way to learn about the birds in a new place!

I can only remember coming across a few books with LGBTQIA+ characters when I was growing up. We know that representation matters—queer kids, transgender kids, and kids of color deserve the opportunity to see themselves in books and other media. And all kids need opportunities to read books that feature characters who are different from them so they can become good allies and kind people! I’m so glad this book exists.

Quote we love: “The Heermann’s Gull was floating just above the house, its wings holding a hard curve against the wind while one glittering eye fixed on Jeremy. He stood on the roof eyeing it back, a hand raised to block the sun, wondering how it would feel to be held up by the wind like that: calm, steady, trusting in its support.”

Other Resources:

 

Bookshelf Titles from past book club sessions or features