Compiled by an ardent bibliophile, this weekly report includes The Magnificent Chicken: Portraits of the Fairest Fowl; Texas Mushrooms: A Field Guide & Darwin: A Graphic Biography, all of which have been recently published in North America and the UK
Books to the ceiling,
Books to the sky,
My pile of books is a mile high.
How I love them! How I need them!
I'll have a long beard by the time I read them.
~ Arnold Lobel [1933-1987] author of many popular children's books.
Compiled by Ian "Birdbooker" Paulsen, the Birdbooker Report is a weekly report that has been published online for years, listing the wide variety of nature, natural history, ecology, animal behaviour, science and history books that have been newly released or republished in North America and in the UK. The books listed here were received by Ian during the previous week, courtesy of various publishing houses.
*New and Recent Titles:*
· Staples, Tamara. The Magnificent Chicken: Portraits of the Fairest Fowl. 2013. Chronicle Books. Hardbound: 131 pages. Price: $24.95 U.S. [Guardian bookshop; Amazon UK/kindle UK; Amazon US/kindle US].
SUMMARY: With backyard chicken keeping and urban farming at an all-time high, the proudest of purebred poultry take center stage once again in this fully revised and expanded edition of the classic The Fairest Fowl, now retitled The Magnificent Chicken. Updated in hardcover with even more chickens and an enlarged resource section, this celebration of the wonder, peculiarity, and magnificence of championship chickens showcases more than 40 astonishing breeds in glamorous photos -- many brand new -- and informative text, while an introduction by Ira Glass explores the finer points of poultry shows and chicken portraiture.
IAN'S RECOMMENDATION: Chicken fans will enjoy this book.
· Metzler, Susan et al.. Texas Mushrooms: A Field Guide. 1992 (reprinted 2013). University of Texas Press. Paperback: 350 pages. Price: $39.95 U.S. [Amazon UK; Amazon US].
SUMMARY: Hundreds of species of mushrooms flourish in Texas, from the desert and semiarid regions of West Texas to the moist and acid soils of East Texas, where species that can also be found in South America live alongside those that might be spotted in Malaysia and Europe. Texas Mushrooms was the first -- and is still the only -- guide to all of the state's mushrooms.
This colorful, easy-to-follow book (now back in print with a new cover and preface) will surprise and delight uninitiated nature enthusiasts while also supplying the experienced mushroom hunter with expert identification information. Excellent color photographs and precise descriptions of over 200 species will enable the mushroom hunter -- even the amateur -- to make quick, careful, easy distinctions between the edible varieties and the potentially toxic ones. In addition, kitchen-tested recipes are included, along with charts giving spore sizes and a list of recommended further reading.
In Texas, mushroom hunting can be a year-round, state-wide activity, and with this enticing field guide, collecting, identifying, and preparing wild mushrooms will become an activity the entire family can enjoy while appreciating the beauty of Texas from a new and fascinating angle.
IAN'S RECOMMENDATION: Texas mushroomers will want this book.
· Byrne, Eugene and Simon Gurr. Darwin: A Graphic Biography. 2013. Smithsonain Books. Paperback: 100 pages. Price: $9.95 U.S. [Amazon UK; Amazon US].
SUMMARY: Darwin: A Graphic Biography is an inspiring expedition into the physical and intellectual adventures of Charles Darwin. Presenting Darwin's life in a smart and entertaining graphic novel, Darwin: A Graphic Biography attempts to not only educate the reader about Darwin but also the scientific world of the 1800s. The graphic medium is ideal for recreating a very specific time frame, succeeding in placing the reader right next to a young Darwin on a "beetling" expedition. With specimens in both hands, and eager to get another, Darwin ends up stuffing the third beetle into his mouth. Darwin's life presented in this form is an inspirational tale for kids of all ages. They'll be sure to identify with a curious young Darwin finding his way on youthful adventures in the fields near his house. The ups, downs, and near-misses of Darwin's youth are portrayed honestly and without foreshadowing of later fame. This is a key point for younger readers: that Darwin wasn't somehow predestined to greatness. He was curious, patient, and meticulous. He persevered -- a great lesson about what science is all about.
IAN'S RECOMMENDATION: For ages 12 and up.
.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
Ian "Birdbooker" Paulsen is an avid and well-known book collector, especially to the publishing world. Mr Paulsen collects newly-published books about nature, animals and birds, science, and history, and he also collects children's books on these topics. Mr Paulsen writes brief synopses about these books on his website, The Birdbooker Report.
.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
Follow Grrlscientist's work on facebook, Google +, LinkedIn, Pinterest and of course, on twitter: @GrrlScientist
email: grrlscientist@gmail.com
GrrlScientist
guardian.co.uk © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds Reported by guardian.co.uk 6 hours ago.
Books to the ceiling,
Books to the sky,
My pile of books is a mile high.
How I love them! How I need them!
I'll have a long beard by the time I read them.
~ Arnold Lobel [1933-1987] author of many popular children's books.
Compiled by Ian "Birdbooker" Paulsen, the Birdbooker Report is a weekly report that has been published online for years, listing the wide variety of nature, natural history, ecology, animal behaviour, science and history books that have been newly released or republished in North America and in the UK. The books listed here were received by Ian during the previous week, courtesy of various publishing houses.
*New and Recent Titles:*
· Staples, Tamara. The Magnificent Chicken: Portraits of the Fairest Fowl. 2013. Chronicle Books. Hardbound: 131 pages. Price: $24.95 U.S. [Guardian bookshop; Amazon UK/kindle UK; Amazon US/kindle US].
SUMMARY: With backyard chicken keeping and urban farming at an all-time high, the proudest of purebred poultry take center stage once again in this fully revised and expanded edition of the classic The Fairest Fowl, now retitled The Magnificent Chicken. Updated in hardcover with even more chickens and an enlarged resource section, this celebration of the wonder, peculiarity, and magnificence of championship chickens showcases more than 40 astonishing breeds in glamorous photos -- many brand new -- and informative text, while an introduction by Ira Glass explores the finer points of poultry shows and chicken portraiture.
IAN'S RECOMMENDATION: Chicken fans will enjoy this book.
· Metzler, Susan et al.. Texas Mushrooms: A Field Guide. 1992 (reprinted 2013). University of Texas Press. Paperback: 350 pages. Price: $39.95 U.S. [Amazon UK; Amazon US].
SUMMARY: Hundreds of species of mushrooms flourish in Texas, from the desert and semiarid regions of West Texas to the moist and acid soils of East Texas, where species that can also be found in South America live alongside those that might be spotted in Malaysia and Europe. Texas Mushrooms was the first -- and is still the only -- guide to all of the state's mushrooms.
This colorful, easy-to-follow book (now back in print with a new cover and preface) will surprise and delight uninitiated nature enthusiasts while also supplying the experienced mushroom hunter with expert identification information. Excellent color photographs and precise descriptions of over 200 species will enable the mushroom hunter -- even the amateur -- to make quick, careful, easy distinctions between the edible varieties and the potentially toxic ones. In addition, kitchen-tested recipes are included, along with charts giving spore sizes and a list of recommended further reading.
In Texas, mushroom hunting can be a year-round, state-wide activity, and with this enticing field guide, collecting, identifying, and preparing wild mushrooms will become an activity the entire family can enjoy while appreciating the beauty of Texas from a new and fascinating angle.
IAN'S RECOMMENDATION: Texas mushroomers will want this book.
· Byrne, Eugene and Simon Gurr. Darwin: A Graphic Biography. 2013. Smithsonain Books. Paperback: 100 pages. Price: $9.95 U.S. [Amazon UK; Amazon US].
SUMMARY: Darwin: A Graphic Biography is an inspiring expedition into the physical and intellectual adventures of Charles Darwin. Presenting Darwin's life in a smart and entertaining graphic novel, Darwin: A Graphic Biography attempts to not only educate the reader about Darwin but also the scientific world of the 1800s. The graphic medium is ideal for recreating a very specific time frame, succeeding in placing the reader right next to a young Darwin on a "beetling" expedition. With specimens in both hands, and eager to get another, Darwin ends up stuffing the third beetle into his mouth. Darwin's life presented in this form is an inspirational tale for kids of all ages. They'll be sure to identify with a curious young Darwin finding his way on youthful adventures in the fields near his house. The ups, downs, and near-misses of Darwin's youth are portrayed honestly and without foreshadowing of later fame. This is a key point for younger readers: that Darwin wasn't somehow predestined to greatness. He was curious, patient, and meticulous. He persevered -- a great lesson about what science is all about.
IAN'S RECOMMENDATION: For ages 12 and up.
.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
Ian "Birdbooker" Paulsen is an avid and well-known book collector, especially to the publishing world. Mr Paulsen collects newly-published books about nature, animals and birds, science, and history, and he also collects children's books on these topics. Mr Paulsen writes brief synopses about these books on his website, The Birdbooker Report.
.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
Follow Grrlscientist's work on facebook, Google +, LinkedIn, Pinterest and of course, on twitter: @GrrlScientist
email: grrlscientist@gmail.com
GrrlScientist
guardian.co.uk © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds Reported by guardian.co.uk 6 hours ago.