Cover Image: Earth Almanac

Earth Almanac

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Member Reviews

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read and review this book. This is a collection of short essays that talk about nature and go through the seasons. It was beautifully written and I enjoyed the essays overall.

"This beautifully crafted collection of short, seasonal essays combines in-depth information with evocative descriptions of nature’s marvels and mysteries. Williams explains the weather conditions that bring out the brightest reds in autumn leaves, how hungry wolf spiders catch their prey, and why American goldfinches wait until late July or August to build their nests. In the tradition of Thoreau, Carson, and Leopold, Ted Williams’s writing stands as a testament to the delicate balance of nature’s resilience and fragility, and inspires readers to experience the natural world for themselves and to become advocates for protecting and preserving the amazing diversity and activity found there."

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A beautifully written collection of short essays that take you on a journey through the natural world throughout the seasons. Thoughtfully laid out, a nature guide that reads like literary prose.

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From the publisher: "...This beautifully crafted collection of short, seasonal essays combines in-depth information with evocative descriptions of nature’s marvels and mysteries. Williams explains the weather conditions that bring out the brightest reds in autumn leaves, how hungry wolf spiders catch their prey, and why American goldfinches wait until late July or August to build their nests..."

A beautifully illustrated set of essays which contain bits of natural wisdom.

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This is a book for animal lovers, outdoor enthusiasts and people who just love to learn cool things!

Ted Williams, a longtime contributor to Audubon Magazine has put together essays, divided by season, which both informs and delights the reader.

It’s a beautiful book. This would make an excellent gift for outdoor/nature lovers!

Thank you to #StoreyPublishing and #NetGalley for this review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

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This book is beautifully collection of short,seasonal essays combined with in-depth information with expressive descriptions of nature’s marvels. Ted William's describes the weather conditions that bring out the brightest reds in autumn leaves, how the wolf spiders catch their prey, and why American goldfinches wait until late July or August to build their nests. Ted’s writing stands as a witness to the delicate balance of nature’s strength and delicate balance. He inspires readers to experience the natural world for themselves first hand and to become advocates for protecting and preserving the amazing diversity nature for future generations to follow .

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This is a really lovely celebration of the changing of the seasons. Ted Williams is a great storyteller with an appreciation for even the smallest details of nature. He incorporates history and folklore seamlessly with science, and also offers advice for instilling an appreciation and respect for nature in children. The illustrations by John Burgoyne are true to life while also fitting into the colors of the design.

This would be a great gift for a nature lover or someone whose bookshelf needs a little more magic.

Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

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Beautifully written and observed, "Earth Almanac" is a series of seasonal essays exploring the natural world through the lens of creatures such as goldfinches and wolf spiders, and exploring natural phenomena in plants. It's educational without being teach-y, and never lapses into textbook chat. It's more like going on a walk with an uncle who knows the countryside well - informative, informal, and an absolute treasure trove of detail.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher, who provided me with a free ARC copy of this book in exchange fro an honest review.

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Fantastic book!!! This is an information-packed book about nature as seen during the flow of the seasons through the eyes of someone who has a knack for appreciating detail and a curiosity about all he sees Fantastic book!!!

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Thank you to NetGalley, Storey Publishing, & Workman for the opportunity to read and review this book before it's publication date! This in no way affected my review, opinions are my own.

This was an absolutely beautiful book - I loved the essays, the illustrations, all of it. This might have even made me view winter more tolerably, which is a feat in and of itself!

This book would make a wonderful gift for the nature lover in your life, as well as a lovely addition to any book/nature lover's bookshelf.

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I loved this book filled with wonderful natural history tidbits! Small, digestible narratives of information that cover such a wide range of natural history moments. I appreciated how it was organized by seasons and offered glimpses into places and species that I wouldn't have known about otherwise.

A wonderful addition to any nature nut's library!

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I always thoroughly enjoy Ted Williams. Having his essays in an almanac form is a great way to start or finish the day.

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For more than 30 years author #Ted Williams has been one of the foremost nature writers in the United States. His new #'Earth Almanac is a year long immersion in the wild. The pictures are beautiful.To really enjoy this you need to buy the #REAL book.
Thank you,
#Netgalley, #Ted Williams and #Storey Publishing

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Thank you to NetGalley and Storey Publishing for kindly providing me with a digital copy of this book for review.
I’ll be honest, living in the U.K., I’m not going to be able to use this book in the way that it suggests- as a guide for when you step out into North American nature throughout the seasons. I’m just not going to be seeing the same things (although I have learned that the UK does have some wild Siberian Chipmunks, which I didn’t know were a thing here so there’s that!) However, for anyone that doesn’t live in North America- we can still certainly use this book as a wonderful educational tool. After all, there’s books about space and the planets on my shelves, and I’m not going there any time soon either!
The book walks through the seasons and discusses the flora and fauna that might be found in a particular place within that season. Winter is the season with which we begin and even though I don’t like being in winter, it is a season that fascinates me. I’ve discussed many a time my deep desire to be able to hibernate, and I’m most jealous of those animals that can! The adaptations that plants and animals are capable of going through to survive truly astounds me, and I never get tired of reading about it.
I can’t talk of this book and not mention the artwork. It is beautifully exquisite. Some images are simple pen and ink type drawings, while others are fully coloured and in quite a bit of detail. The cover brings to my mind images of Victorian curiosities, and that’s always going to make me want to pick up that book. A truly lovely thing to have and read and I would definitely recommend.

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For more than 30 years Ted Williams has been hailed as one of the foremost nature writers in the United States, with articles and columns that appear in a wide range of national magazines--from Fly Rod & Reel to Audubon. His eloquent advocacy for a host of environmental and wildlife conservation issues have won him prestigious awards. From winter candy and spring quackers to summer’s scarlet farewell and autumn reveilles, noted nature writer Ted Williams invites readers along on a year-long immersion in the wild and fleeting moments of the natural world. This beautifully crafted collection of short, seasonal essays combines in-depth information with evocative descriptions of nature’s marvels and mysteries.

Earth Almanac is a collection of Williams's beautifully crafted seasonal observation columns that is sure to be prized by Ted Williams's fans and to attract a broad new readership. The text is complemented by the illustrations of John Burgoyne, himself the winner of more than 150 awards in the United States and Europe. Williams explains the weather conditions that bring out the brightest reds in autumn leaves, when to watch for the massive migration of northern flickers, how hungry wolf spiders catch their prey, and why American goldfinches wait until July or August to build a nest and start breeding.

With the eye of a naturalist, the curiosity of a journalist, and the heart of a poet, Williams beckons us to walk with him through the year, to peer with him into ponds and nests and up at the night sky, and to bear witness to nature's ephemeral moments and miracles. In the tradition of Thoreau, Carson, and Leopold, Ted Williams’s writing stands as a testament to the delicate balance of nature’s resilience and fragility, and inspires readers to experience the natural world for themselves and to become advocates for protecting and preserving the amazing diversity and activity found there.

This is a stunning book and an ode to the beauty and majesty of the natural world which is helpfully organised by season. Both poetic and informative and accompanied by the most exquisite illustrations, this is a must-read for those who appreciate mother nature. Many thanks to Storey for an ARC.

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Thank you to NetGalley, Ted Williams and Storey Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Earth Almanac is organized by the four seasons, beginning with winter, spring, summer then fall. Each season provides images and interesting facts and information about all manner of plants, birds and animals. The content is clearly well researched and explained in a lovely way.

Honestly, Earth Almanac is a beautiful gift to readers. From the cover and throughout, the images are appealing and the writing is masterful. This is a wonderful resource book to keep on your end table. As a homeschooling mom, this book will be a wonderful resource for our weekly nature walks and discussion on plants and birds. I would recommend this book to everyone.

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Have you spent a lot of time outdoors, watching birds fly by, squirrels run up and down tree branches or vines growing around pillars or weeds growing on untamed meadows? Have you marvelled at the natural world around you and sought peace and quiet away from the din of the everyday human lives? If yes, this is for you.
Earth Almanac is a sort of a nature guide in the form of a collection of small essays. Filled with beautiful illustrations, and coloured pages according to the four seasons it is divided into, the author takes us on a journey through the snow and forests and plains and deserts across the vast geographical landscapes, seascapes and skyscapes of North America.
I learnt strange facts about various birds and fish and flowers and berries, porcupines and vultures, rattlesnakes and crabs, beavers and moths and of course hundreds and hundreds of flora and fauna species. It is witty and easy to read. I wish I had a book like this when I was in school. It would have made biology and environmental studies so much more fun.
It took me a while to finish this book but, it was totally worth it. I would certainly advise buying the physical copy because the electronic form won't be as good.
This is an important book to have on your shelf or coffee table. In these current times of climate emergency, so much lives are lost everyday without our knowledge. It's time we look out see what is around us and what will continue to be, with or without the interference of humans.

Thank you Netgalley and Storey Publishing for the e-ARC.

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Observe and Learn about Nature’s Seasons

This is an information-packed book about nature as seen during the flow of the seasons through the eyes of someone who has a knack for appreciating detail and an inborn curiosity about all he sees. The author delivers both personal observations, making the seasons as he experienced them real, and researched facts about animals and plants. The book also has pointillist drawings of many of the flora and fauna described. I found it a fascinating read that made me more curious about what might be going on in my natural environment that I hadn't taken the time to notice.

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This forthcoming book condenses and gathers some of the natural history writing Ted Williams has done for Audubon over the years, joined with gorgeous illustrations by John Burgoyne (also known for his Cooks Illustrated covers.) The micro essays are organized by season. Now I feel more confident about my swamp adventures, since I can now identify an alligator nest!

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Earth Almanac is a fascinating and engaging glimpse into an environmentalist's observations recorded over the course of a year by Ted Williams. Due out 29th Sept 2020 from Storey Publishing, it's 256 pages and will be available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats.

The book is full of unadorned small vignettes full of observations about nature, wildlife, and plants. The author's recollections are grouped roughly by season: winter, spring, summer, and fall. The writing is gentle, accessible, self-reflective, and comforting. This would make a superlative read in odd moments sitting by a wood fire.

The text is enhanced by small monochrome illustrations of birds, flowers, insects, and other nature subjects. The book also includes an abbreviated resources and links lists along with an index.

Five stars. Recommended for smallholders, readers of natural history, nature lovers, and anyone who needs a quiet comfort read.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

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There’s a kind of poetry to each passage, as it pulls us through this moment in nature and illuminates the shadows.

Easily a perfect gift for the nature loving outdoorsy type in your life be they hippie or hunter.

Nature vignettes, moments across the year from winter to summer. The perfect sort of book for picking up and flipping through as there isn’t necessarily any chronology here (aside from seasons). Each passage is short, the longest being a few pages and reflections on everything from the mating habits of side patches lizards to desert jesters and more.

Less takes if adventure and more interesting tid bits that make you want to hop on Google and research deeper. Admittedly I had hoped to hear a bit about the journeys to these moments in nature but it was still a pleasant read; I didn’t know the bit about honeybees pooping. Full of facts to read aloud to the kiddos as well.

The illustrations are fantastic and remind me of the nature books I would flip through as a child.

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