Nature a Day at a Time: An Uncommon Look at Common Wildlife

*Nature a Day at a Time* delivers just that, a brief glimpse into common plants and animals while revealing how often overlooked wildlife in our everyday lives actually have strong connections to who we are and how we live. Each page unfolds the days of the year with a short introduction and drawing that illuminates the earwig and the praying mantis, rove beetles and crab grass, bladderwort and giant swallowtail. Though this book may seem deceptively simple in its approach, it is actually a great way to start off your day as it will open up your eyes and your senses to the natural world that surrounds you - even if you live in a concrete jungle - which will lead you to your own daily discoveries of wildlife in your life. After 365 days of reading this book, you will find that you live in a whole new world. >>>>>>><<<<<<< <br /> <br />A Guide to my Book Rating System: <br /> <br />1 star = The wood pulp would have been better utilized as toilet paper. <br />2 stars = Don't bother, clean your bathroom instead. <br />3 stars = Wasn't a waste of time, but it was time wasted. <br />4 stars = Good book, but not life altering. <br />5 stars = This book changed my world in at least some small way.

Have yet to see a purple cow? How about a slithy trove? Despair no more. In this lovely book, Cathie Katz transforms the FAMILIAR into passing strange phenomena. Her secret? Attention to detail. Waving her "charming rod" of magnification over the common creatures of everyday life, she presents each one as a wish fit for the gods without sacrificing its connection to Earth and to us. Thanks to Cathie, we can now put away the shadows of childish imagination and embrace the sometimes frightening, always magical, fellow travelers of our own existence.

I will no longer walk by an insect, bird or plant without some new found knowledge and a willingness to share our surroundings. Kind of like living among people, there are some good traits and some irritaing traits but nevertheless we can exist in harmony. The illustrations are talent ladden enhanced by the whimisical little stick figure Larry. If you can read just a day at a time without longing to cancel all on the agenda you are ahead of me but for times when all we can squeeze in is one page our world will become brighter and more alive to us. So enjoy and let that spider make his web without that tidiness gene taking over.

Once again Cathie Katz has outdid herself. The author is not only a talented writer, but her illustrations are exquisite. As reading the book, you realize that nature is all around us and we are directly tied into the universe together. The illustrations, quotes and individual way that Cathie brings nature to us lifts our spirits and brings joy into each day. I look forward to each daily reading. I have ordered this book for friends and family and highly recommend you read this book. Not only will this book enrichen your life , but you will learn from this book daily and broaden your knowledge of the nature that surrounds us.

I love the detailed drawings on every page and the descriptions of all the familiar wildlife. The idea of seeing bugs, birds, and even plants from a different perspective has really opened my eyes to the nature around me. Also, I never connected my behaviors and instincts with my "animal nature" until I read this book. I'm now beginning to understand human nature from the viewpoint of genes and inheritance. This book makes undertsanding scientific matters so much easier...and so much fun. A page for every day of the year is a great treat, especially to read about soemthing that's right under my nose... I always wondered why antibiotics made my stomach feel "funny" -- Now I know it's the bacteria squirming around before they die. I'll never look at roses, squirrels, pussywillows, moles, fleas, song birds, bees, or butterflies again in the same way. I love the drawings and quotes by themselves, but to read all the unusual facts about the "commonest of the common" makes it really worth reading. Instead of reading it a day at a time, I had to read it all the way through!