Author #169: Hughes helps the world in her book What Matters

What Matters is written by Alison Hughes and illustrated by Holly Hatam.  A young boy picks up an abandoned soda pop can and puts it in the recycling bin.  It's a small thing but "what matters" is the impact his action has on the surroundings.  He influences many things from an ant to two baby birds to some flowers to the ocean with many creatures and things in between.  This is one of the best books I've ever read about the impact of cleaning up our garbage on the environment.  I still can hardly believe we only have one copy of this book in our local library system.  I loved Holly Hatam's delicate illustrations.  See more of her work at her website: http://www.hollyhatam.com/

Author #123: Eating wild in your own backyard with Morgan

Liz Brown Morgan  includes detailed current pictures in this Falcon Guide entitled Foraging The Rocky Mountains published in 2013.   We have a few of these plants in our yard and have eaten leaves from some of them such as mallow (marshmallow plant with the little button cheese wheels which are delicious), lamb's quarter, and of course dandelion greens.

Author 75: Jean Craighead George: 50+ years of writing

Dear Rebecca, Winter Is Here was published in 1993 and still serves as a reminder of all the wonders of nature when winter is upon us. From hibernation to icy streams to warm fireplaces and snow angels, winter is a time to enjoy the blessings of warm homes for ourselves and some animals and to try to help those who may not be similarly blessed. If you have a warm place to go, count your blessings and think of how you may share (if possible!) through donations with those not as fortunate by means of warm clothing or helping with a community heating program or even just by saying a prayer for them.

Jean Craighead George has written over a 100 books on many nature topics as well as other subjects including theNewberry medal winner: Julie of the Wolves which she researched in Barrow, Alaska. Discover more about her works and her love of nature at her official website: http://www.jeancraigheadgeorge.com/