Spring is here, skies are blue, birds all sing… well, you get the gist! Spring is the time when flowers bloom and animals emerge from their long winter’s slumber. Chicks hatch, bees set out in search of nectar, and bears awaken from their hibernation. So this season, after an especially cold winter, we are celebrating wildlife. The books on this list share a centralized theme of the outdoors, so they’ll get you in the spirit, even if the only animal you see all season is your cat. Enjoy!
'Where the Crawdads Sing,' by Delia Owens
The protagonist of this novel, Kya Clark, has a deep connection to the animals and plants that surround her in the marshland of coastal North Carolina. But Kya’s quiet life changes when an unsolved murder forces questions to surface in the small town of Barkley Cove. Full of romance and mystery, Owens’ debut novel has received glowing reviews for its loving and informed portrait of the natural world, in all its splendor.
'Zoo Nebraska: The Dismantling of an American Dream,' by Carson Vaughan
It started with a chimpanzee in the back of a pickup truck. It turned into Zoo Nebraska, a seven-acre zoo – and highly unlikely tourist attraction –in the tiny, 81-person town of Royal, Nebraska. But this true story of the American dream writ large, ultimately devolves into chaos and darkness, when vast mismanagement at the zoo leads to the escape of four chimpanzees — and the dangerous, harrowing, tragic search that follows.
'The Flower Recipe Book,' by Alethea Harampolis and Jill Rizzo
When it comes to the art of flower arranging, some people just have an eye for it. And some people have this book, by best friends and business partners Alethea Harampolis and Jill Rizzo of the chic Studio Choo. The arrangements are stunning, with an eye toward local, seasonal blooms and a wild aesthetic. But the book is suitable for beginners, teaching readers the basics, from how to choose a vase to how to remove thorns. This book will make you want to get out and get trimming, bringing the outside in… literally!
Mama's 'Last Hug: Animal Emotions and What They Tell Us about Ourselves,' by Frans de Waal
Frans de Waal’s previous book, “Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are?” explored, you guessed it, animal intelligence. Now, in his hotly-anticipated latest book, the Dutch primatologist turns his focus to animals’ rich emotional lives. The title refers to famed chimpanzee Mama, whose emotional farewell with biologist Jan van Hooff, before her death, became a viral sensation. This book explores the shocking depth of feeling shared by an array of animals: chimpanzees, zebrafish, and everything in between.
'Vegetables Illustrated: An Inspiring Guide with 700+ Kitchen-Tested Recipes,' by America’s Test Kitchen
Well, after you read that book about the emotional life of animals, good luck ever eating a burger again! But don’t worry — we’ve got you covered. Vegetables Illustrated is a celebration of vegetables from A to Z — or artichoke to zucchini. May you never force down a plate of steamed broccoli again.
