Chelsea Steinauer-Scudder's beautiful book Mother, Creature, Kin brings to mind the essays of Barbara Kingsolver and Rebecca Solnit, and Diane Ackerman's A Natural History of the Senses. Steinauer-Scudder explores such topics as climate change, motherhood, seeking (and finding) one's center as well as one's place in the world. She asks her readers to consider their roles within the world, reminding us that the greatest gift we can do for future generations is to leave the world a better place than we found it. She acknowledges the challenges in this, admitting her own failings while striving to do better. Mother, Creature, Kin is a book that everyone should read. It is illuminating and thought-provoking, at times heartbreaking, but pulsing with life.

I picked up "Mother, Creature, Kin" by Chelsea Steinauer-Scudder because, as a mother of two, the beautiful title really caught my eye. But wow, this book surprised me in so many wonderful ways! It gave me a whole new perspective on what it means to mother.

The book explores how we can all give and receive motherly love, not just to and from people, but also in our interactions with nature. It shows that mothering can happen on so many different levels and in so many different ways. I loved how these essays made me realize that this feeling of connection and care is the foundation of so much goodness in the world.

Reading this book was truly eye-opening. It gave me a lot to think about and appreciate, and I will definitely be recommending it to many readers. If you're looking for a book that will change the way you think about mothering and connection, "Mother, Creature, Kin" is a must-read.

This is a beautifully written book of nature essays, moving and educational, tragic yet hopeful. Recommended.

I love this! I too look at the world in terms of mothering. I "mother" trees much older than myself. I mother bugs and flowers. I just go around trying to mother every living thing. So naturally I related to this.
To me all living things have souls.
Beautiful writing

Beautifully written thoughtful look at motherhood both in human form and in the plant world ,.This book is so well written so engaging I was engrossed by the authors thoughts,I will be recommending.#netgalley #broadleafbooks

4⭐️

[a copy of this book was provided to me by the published from netgalley. thank you!]

an interesting and insightful love letter to the natural world

Thank you NetGalley and Broadleaf Books for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Mother, Creature, Kin by Chelsea Steinauer-Scudder is incredible. As a student of both literature and conservation, I was intrigued when I first saw this book. Upon completion, I am impressed and moved by Steinauer-Scudder’s masterful prose.

This book, admittedly, set out to accomplish a lot and Steinauer-Scudder managed to accomplish it all. This book disentangles what it means to be a mother from gender roles and confines. To “mother” as a verb is to be conscious of the environment, something we are all capable of. It tackles conflicts between conservation and capital gain, our engagement (and disengagement) with our natural world, and more.

Steinauer-Scudder writes of great ecological tragedies and success. This is framed by the first three years of her daughter, Aspen’s, life. The childlike wonder and consideration for everything that Aspen holds frames the environmental complexities of our world. This framing leads to an, ultimately, hopeful view of our place in this great, ecological marvel we call home.

Steinauer-Scudder also leans upon fellow scholars, writers, ecologists, and mothers of all kinds to help her as she grapples with the problems of our changing planet.

Mother, Creature, Kin is a masterclass in tending to ecological issues while delivering exquisite prose. I think everyone should read this truly triumphant book by Chelsea Steinauer-Scudder.

As someone who works as a biologist for a living, this book immediately appealed to me after reading the summary. I don't have children but I do have a much younger cousin who I am extremely close to, and I am often worried about why kind of world she is going to grow up/be left in the future. The author really approched this book in such a thoughtful and deep way, it was really interesting to read. It felt both realistic about the future of our planet but also hopeful.

I enjoyed the way the author chose to divide the book into sections, it felt like a really good way to explore the topic of care, motherhood and how that relates to the environments around us. I was especially partial to the chapters dedicated to tidal marshes, as thats a habitat I work closely with.
I will definitely be recommending this book to my coworkers and friends once its released!