Book Reviews

By Jenny deFouw Geuder
6/14/22
144 pages
$29.95
Adventure Publications

‘Drawn to Birds: A Naturalist’s Sketchbook’

I’m a fan of pretty books. Yes, the story is the draw, but give me a book with gorgeous pictures and passionate writing, and I will come back to it again and again — even if the topic is outside my usual, like birds. I never thought I’d be drawn to a book on birds. I’m a spaceship kind of girl, but I was utterly fascinated with this stunning and unique overview of the everyday kind of nature. 

Rich with details and insights into the avian world, this art book contains far more than beautiful, detailed watercolors. Notes on how to interact and observe wildlife, the value of understanding the world around you, and the extraordinary variety of avian life fill the pages alongside the skilled art that is sure to captivate the reader. 

This would be an excellent gift for anyone, young or old, with an interest in birds or wildlife. It even includes a journal section to record your own observations. Come for the art and stay for the infectious joy littered throughout the pages. ♦  

— Review by Julie Goodrich

By Ross Gay
6/14/22
256 pages
$27
Algonquin Books

‘Inciting Joy’

If there’s someone on your gift list in need of a pick-me-up, oh do I have the book for you. Ross Gay’s gorgeous poetry has become a beacon of hope in a gray world, and it shouldn’t be a surprise that his foray into essay writing meets with equal success. 

Filled with timely, effusive stories that call to the human in all of us, Gay takes the simple, universal connections we experience and has written the book we all need. After years of anger, depression and isolation, some of us need a breather. Writing about both the joyful and the bitter, Gay takes small stories and makes them profound, encouraging the reader to not just find the joy but create it.

I love that this book encourages finding joy not in ourselves, but in each other. It’s both that simple and that complicated. It will make an excellent gift, yes, but read it yourself first. We can all use a little joy. ♦ 

— Review by Julie Goodrich