Passionate Slugs & Hollywood Frogs: An Uncommon Field Guide to Northwest Backyards

What a charming guide to backyard creatures of the northwest. The enjoyment I got from reading this book was like a conversation with a witty friend who just happens to know all about the critters and plants in my yard! I found it to be informative, humorous, and very down to earth. I would have appreciated a few more illustrations, but on the whole, I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to know more about the creatures and habitat in his/her northwest backyard.

Mosquitos, grey squirrels, juncos -- most of us take these ordinary neighbors for granted and find our interest is piqued by more esoteric wildlife. The charm of this book is that it takes the creatures that we recognize already and can expect to see in our own yards, in parks, or hovering above a busy interstate and reveals the unique habits and foibles of each. Other essays shed light on the natural (and unnatural) history of common northwest plants including scotch broom, lawns, and the dreaded blackberry, and even go on to bring our attention to the skies. Each essay can be read independently, or the whole can be devoured at one sitting. By focussing on the mundane, Patricia Lichen and her talented illustrator Linda Feitner increase our appreciation of the richness of our environment.

I enjoyed "Passionate Slugs & Hollywood Frogs" because the writing style made it fun to learn about the skunks, juncos, mice, etc., who live in and around our yard. The information was easy to understand and entertaining. It is the kind of book that I can read myself and share with my grandchildren. I really enjoyed it.

Pat Lichen weaves fascinating scientific information with humor, personal experience, and heartfelt tenderness for the natural world. Linda Feltner's drawings gently accentuate the essays. I'd recommend these books as enjoyable reading and good reference for any household in the Pacific Northwest.

Wow. I especially liked the info about the chickadee and how the author described feeding them by hand. The info about the opossum made me laugh out loud. This is a must-have book for nature lovers in WA & OR.