The Beginning Naturalist: Weekly Encounters with the Natural World

This book is a collection of short essays on a variety of topics relating to Vermont nature. It is organized chronologically, so that the reader can follow the phenomena as they become prominent during the course of the year, from winter through late fall. Topics include winter birds, maple sap, dandelions, cattails, centipedes and millipedes, lichens, and many others. The book is illustrated with black-and-white drawings and includes an index. The book is geared towards readers who are just getting started with an interest in nature. Nevertheless, the essays are informative enough to provide some new facts for more experienced readers as well. The brevity of the articles can be frustrating at times, though--just as Lawrence has piqued our interest, she closes, and we must pursue the topic further on our own.