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Prepare yourself to experience some ordinary birds that have been quite extraordinary in the life of Julie Zickefoose. Julie has an amazing connection with and ability to truly observe the lives and times of birds. An Ivory-billed Woodpecker, sparrows, a Mourning Dove, even starlings are among her muses. I absolutely love her voice, writing style, beautiful sketches and full page illustrations. Her encounters are not of an intellectual ornithologist, but of a curious naturalist, a student in the school of songbirds, a devotee of aviary wisdom. And she shares it all with us in twenty-five short, beautiful vignettes - perfect for a fifteen minute break or completely devouring with more time.

I can't think of a better way to recommend a cookbook than to say that I have cooked, and enjoyed, many of these recipes. Not only are they wonderful, this cookbook is also beautiful. It's full of delicious seasonal recipes that include tasty vegetable centered recipes and recipes that include wild game and foraged fruits.  Instructions are clear, ingredients are simple and I believe anyone is capable of any of these recipes. Henry even anticipates leftovers offering recipes to use with them and encourages nose to tail eating and sustainable fish choices.  I for one was a big fan of the Roasted Squash & Spinach Lasagna on page 81, and with all the winter squash available right now it’s a perfect for a chilly night.

Not only do I love birds, and therefore feathers, I possess an unquenchable curiosity. This curiosity was instantly sparked upon first look at the single feather that adorns the cover of Feathers. The book radiated a bit of intrigue--telling me that the contents could not be as simple as the cover. Although Thor Hanson easily makes complicated subjects like evolution and aerodynamics easy to understand, I found that feathers themselves are far from simple. Their beauty, perfect design, and role in our own lives is closely examined by Hanson and conveyed with an engaging and fluid writing style. Some single subject non-fiction books can become cumbersome, but not this one!

In college I studied consciousness and read pretty much all of Antonio Damasio's books. I was fascinated by him, and recommended him ever since to anyone interested in the scientific study of human consciousness. Self Comes to Mind is Damasio's newest book and I was so excited to start reading it. Just the first couple of pages had me hooked. His previous books have discussed the role of feelings on the process of consciousness and this book delves into his radical theories on their origins as well as a more evolutionary approach to studying the mind. I will warn that this is definitely not for the faint of heart (or should I say mind) as it uses many scientific terms and technical language. But, there is an appendix in the back for reference, so don't be scared!

You don't have to know all about Galaga and Devo in order to get this book, its a great stand alone science fiction quest. Then again if you are one of the many 'nerds' of our time that constantly quotes Star Trek and partakes in vintage video games night, this might be perfect for you. Ernest Cline takes us to the grim future of 2044 where everyone lives in virtual reality and, in an attempt to win a fortune, a rag tag team of avatars goes on a quest solving riddles constructed my a man obsessed with 1980's pop culture. John Scalzi calls it a 'nerdgasm' and for good reason!

John Green's novel is. . . Beautiful. The language and metaphor he uses are lovely, poignant, and speak to the true core of the reader. This might sound lame but - I laughed, I cried, I sat in awe as I read and re-read some of the most touching words I have laid my eyes on as of late. This book isn't really about cancer. It's about life and death, oblivion, infinity, and what it all means. Hazel, the 16 year old narrator, asks tough questions about her place in the universe. Cancer is merely the catalyst for her observations and ideas. And, if there is one book I'd pick out of the YA section for adults to read, it would be this one. If you're 16, 35, or 87, this book could change the way you look at life.

To all the parents, children, and young at heart folks out there - I urge you to take a look at this awesome picture book about some endangered animals in Africa. Follow tick bird and rhino as they investigate the mystery of crocodile's tears. They will meet many animals during their journey and so will you! The text is simple, engaging and perfect for reading aloud. Beard's line drawings combined with watercolor give fun, yet true to form amazing illustrations. The best part is in the back, where there are photos and facts about each animal encountered in the story. Plus, a portion of the profits from the book will be donated to the Shompole Community Trust, who help to ensure the habitat of many of the critically endangered animals met in this story.