The County Library discussion

September's Reading Challenge is Natural History.

Read a book about animals like, Yellowstone Wildlife: Ecology and Natural History of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, or about the earth like, The Rockies: A Natural History, or about the scientists who study all these things like, A Curious Beginning.

As always, fiction, non-fiction, adult, teen and kid books all count! (Yes, that means you can read Jurassic Park.)

Hopefully you guys have finished the Summer Reading Challenge at the library and have picked up your Natural History Museum passes so you can go for free, if you need inspiration.

For this challenge, I'm going to kill 2 birds with one stone, pun intended. I have a project of reading the Newbery Medal winners and one on my "to read" list is Rabbit Hill by Robert Lawson,

Will #5 of the Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place count? It's called the uncharted sea and takes place in winter at Brighton, a seaside resort town during Victorian times. They just ice skated on a frozen pond and the Captain went swimming in the freezing ocean.

I'm going to read Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic and/or Feral Cities: Adventures with Animals in the Urban Jungle.
I had so much fun looking up books and making a list. The hard part was whittling it down.

I read Above the waterfall by Ron Rash

I'm planning on reading Esther the Wonder Pig, about a pig I follow on facebook.

I am reading the 6th Extinction by James Rollins- about nature, science, DNA, XNA, etc..
and also The Sound of A Wild Snail Eating, everything I didn't know I needed to know about snails.

Becky wrote: "I'm planning on reading Esther the Wonder Pig, about a pig I follow on facebook."

Becky, do you remember the name of that book you read for book club a year or so ago...it was nonfiction and I am pretty sure it was about an owl. I think I put it on my to read shelf but that shelf has gotten so long that a quick perusal isn't turning up the title for me. If you remember it, I think that is what I want to read. If you don't, no worries.

I just finished reading Winter Sky by Chris Stewart. It takes place in Poland and is a fantastic book.

It is Wesley the Owl: The Remarkable Love Story of an Owl and His Girl. Enjoy!

Jenny wrote: "Becky wrote: "I'm planning on reading Esther the Wonder Pig, about a pig I follow on facebook."

Becky, do you remember the name of that book you read for book club a year or so ago..."

I've ended up reading a different book to finish the challenge. The Masterharper of Pern by Anne McCaffrey has runnerbeasts (horses), herdbeast (cattle), and, of course, dragons.

JoAnn wrote: "Will #5 of the Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place count?..."

Yup! Those books sound fun. :D

Teresa wrote: "I had so much fun looking up books and making a list. The hard part was whittling it down. ..."

I'm glad that this one led to a ton of different book options.

Debbie wrote: "For this challenge, I'm going to kill 2 birds with one stone ..."

Good plan!

Tiffinie wrote: "I read Above the waterfall by Ron Rash"

Nice! I think you were our first finisher. Good job.

Becky wrote: "I'm planning on reading Esther the Wonder Pig, about a pig I follow on facebook."

Sounds cool.

Carolyn wrote: "I am reading the 6th Extinction by James Rollins- about nature, science, DNA, XNA, etc..
and also The Sound of A Wild Snail Eating, everything I didn't know I needed to know about snails."

Those both sound interesting.

Jennie wrote: "I just finished reading Winter Sky by Chris Stewart. It takes place in Poland and is a fantastic book."

Great!

Debbie wrote: "I've ended up reading a different book to finish the challenge. The Masterharper of Pern by Anne McCaffrey has runnerbeasts (horses), herdbeast (cattle), and, of course, dragons."

I'm so glad! The Pern books have a lot of small details about the dragons that really sets them apart.

I'm reading Menagerie, a Reader's Choice, which features mythical beings.

I have finished a second book that I had planned to finish in August. Well, best laid plans and all that.

I have finished Strawberry Girl by Lois Lenski, a Newbery winner. (So I still killed two birds with one stone as I planned!)

Strawberry Girl is about a girl living on a farm in Central Florida, about the same area of the Yearling. The story takes place at the turn of the century, the early 1900s. Birdie deals with all manner of farm critters, cows, mules, horses, hogs, chickens, dogs and cats. She also has experiences with the wildlife common there, rattlesnakes, raccoons, and buzzards.

Audrey wrote: "I'm reading Menagerie, a Reader's Choice, which features mythical beings."

That sounds fun

Debbie wrote: "I have finished a second book that I had planned to finish in August. Well, best laid plans and all that.

I have finished Strawberry Girl by Lois Lenski, a Newbery winner. (So I still..."

Good job!

I read Sunny Side Up by Marion Roberts which includes a trip to some fantastic cave formations in Tasmania.

Britt, Book Habitue wrote: "I read Sunny Side Up by Marion Roberts which includes a trip to some fantastic cave formations in Tasmania."

Ooh, sounds fun.

I read Breaking Cat News, by Georgia Dunn. This is a comic I follow On Line and was excited when they announced they have a book. All cat lovers will love this book.

I read Esther the Wonder Pig. This is a very fun true story about a couple, Steve and Derek, and their pig, Esther. Steve and Derek are animal lovers and were quick to respond when a friend said she had a mini-pig she could no longer keep. This is how Esther came into their life and the book tells the subsequent story of how they discovered she isn't actually a mini-pig, how they house-trained her, and ultimately decided to change their entire lives for Esther, buy a farm and start an animal sanctuary. This book is very down to earth and funny, almost like hearing a story from a close friend. There are no preachy animal rights moments, in my opinion, though the author does explain his viewpoint and try to convince gently and with compassion. Esther has her own website, www.estherthewonderpig.com, but is more widely followed on facebook, which is how I found her and this fun story!

I recommend this if you love a good animal story. Some language.

The 2 books I listed in my previous post didn't hold my attention. I am reading and enjoying Chernobyl's Wild Kingdom: Life in the Dead Zone.

Linda wrote: "I read Breaking Cat News, by Georgia Dunn. This is a comic I follow On Line and was excited when they announced they have a book. All cat lovers will love this book."

Nice. I'll have to add it to my list. I love cats!

Becky wrote: "I read Esther the Wonder Pig. This is a very fun true story about a couple, Steve and Derek, and their pig, Esther. Steve and Derek are animal lovers and were quick to respond when ..."

Sounds fun!

Teresa wrote: "The 2 books I listed in my previous post didn't hold my attention. I am reading and enjoying Chernobyl's Wild Kingdom: Life in the Dead Zone."

That sounds interesting.

Carolyn wrote: "I am reading the 6th Extinction by James Rollins- about nature, science, DNA, XNA, etc..
and also The Sound of A Wild Snail Eating, everything I didn't know I needed to know about snails."

I guess I should update, I finished both books and enjoyed them both.

I read Wesley the Owl: The Remarkable Love Story of an Owl and His Girl and really loved it. It was fascinating.

Carolyn wrote: "Carolyn wrote: "I finished both books and enjoyed them both..."

I am so glad. :D

Jenny wrote: "I read Wesley the Owl: The Remarkable Love Story of an Owl and His Girl and really loved it. It was fascinating."

That books sounds good. It should really go on my list.

For some reason I thought that the theme for the month was animals, so I read several children's books. Several Llama Llama books, in honor of the author, and Pirates Perfect Pet.
Although I didn't get to Esther, the Wonder Pig in book form, I did read some blog posts on the website,
http://www.estherthewonderpig.com

Jackie wrote: "For some reason I thought that the theme for the month was animals ..."

Me too!

Debbie wrote: "Jackie wrote: "For some reason I thought that the theme for the month was animals ..."

Me too!"

Thank you, Debbie! I am hoping that the topic changed at some point, as I am pretty sure I wouldn't have read Llama books for the subject of Natural History. :P

Jackie wrote: "I am hoping that the topic changed at some point..." "

Well... I never changed the topic, it's always been natural history, and I mentioned that books, both fiction and non-fiction for any age category count. So, if you think your books count, they count.

Super sad about Anna Dewdney, but what a great way to honor an author by reading their books.

Okay, I thought the topic was animals too. A lot of you must be wondering why I read Esther the Wonder Pig for Natural History. Oh well, next month I'll try to read all the words of the description.

As I recall, wildlife was originally mentioned as part of natural history. I read "The Hoboken Chicken Emergency", which was hilarious!

I read A Night in the Dinosaur Graveyard to my granddaughter today. Does that count?

Jennie wrote: "I read A Night in the Dinosaur Graveyard to my granddaughter today. Does that count?"

Absolutely!

Alyson wrote: "As I recall, wildlife was originally mentioned as part of natural history. I read "The Hoboken Chicken Emergency", which was hilarious!"

Glad you had fun. :D

Tiffinie is our prize drawing winner for September’s reading challenge. She read Above the Waterfall by Ron Rash.

Congratulations Tiffinie!

Congratulations Tiffinie!

Wow! Thank you that's great!

Hooray Tiffinie!