by Sy Montgomery (The Curious Naturalist)
This is one of the supplemental reading books for nature suggested by the Mater Amabilis™ beta plan for Level 5 (first two years of high school). It's a series of essays that (I think) originally appeared in a regular newspaper column, organized around the seasons of the year. Written by a New England author, they focus mainly on the wildlife of that area like porcupines, beavers, turkeys, and mushrooms.
Each essay is full of delightful comments and information on the natural world. There were plenty of humorous descriptions which will appeal to a high school reader. The subject matter and tone of the essays are inviting, encouraging to someone who will be heading out into the world for nature study every now and then.
The essays are fairly short and, while enjoyable and well-written, will not be difficult to understand, making the book a good complement to more focused study of the natural world.
Be aware there are a few descriptions of reproduction that might require explanations if the reader doesn't know the general facts of life.
I purchased this book used and received nothing for this post. Any links to Amazon are affiliate links.
