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Nature has the power to inspire—on the trail and on the page. Whether you’re curled up on the couch or flipping pages under a shady tree, the right book can spark wonder, curiosity, and connection to the world around you. These staff-recommended reads are perfect companions for curious minds and nature lovers alike. To make it simple, we’ve sorted them by age group so you find the perfect read for everyone in your family.

For the Adult Learner:

From field guides and memoirs to lyrical prose, these books provide a solid foundation for building your understanding and appreciation of nature:

Nature & Science 

Wildlife & Insects 

• The Genius of Birds and What an Owl Knows by Jennifer Ackerman
  • These page-turners blend science and storytelling to reveal the surprising intelligence of birds—from clever corvids to mysterious owls.
• Mammal Tracks and Sign and Bird Tracks and Sign by Mark Elbroch
  • Perfect for curious hikers and budding naturalists, these detailed guides help you decode the stories animals leave behind.
• Coyote America: A Natural and Supernatural History by Dan Flore
  • This lively and thought-provoking history explores how the adaptable, misunderstood coyote became a symbol of the American wild.

From Assistant Director of Education Erin Kinnetz: “This read definitely changed the way I see coyotes. It made me look at them not as pests, but as resilient survivors that are an essential part of our ecosystem.”

• Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter by Ben Goldfarb
  • A fun and fascinating look at how beavers shape ecosystems—and how bringing them back could help restore wetlands, combat drought, and heal the land.
• Buzz: The Nature and Necessity of Bees by Thor Hanson
  • An engaging look at the world of bees, exploring their history, biology, and the essential role they play in our environment, all told with warmth, humor, and curiosity.

Plants

• The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben
  • Reveals the surprising ways trees communicate, cooperate, and care for one another—offering a new perspective on the secret life of the forest.
• Foraging Kentucky: An Introduction to the Edible Plants, Fungi, and Tree Crops of the Southeast by George Barnett
  • A practical and approachable guide to the edible plants, fungi, and tree crops of the Southeast—perfect for curious foragers and nature lovers looking to deepen their connection to the land. Written by a longtime friend of The Parklands!
• Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds and Shape Our Futures by Merlin Sheldrake
  • A deep dive into the strange, hidden world of fungi—and the fascinating ways they shape everything from forests to human health
• Tree Finder: A Manual for Identification of Trees by their Leaves by May Theilgaard Watts
  • An “oldie but goodie” introduction to using a dichotomous key for tree identification.

General Nature 

• Bringing Nature Home by Douglas W. Tallamy
  • An inspiring case for why native plants matter—and how gardeners and homeowners can help support local ecosystems right in their own backyards.
• Nature’s Best Hope also by Douglas W. Tallamy
  • A call-to-action for backyard conservation that shows how planting native species can create a network of wildlife-friendly spaces and empowers everyday people to help make a difference.

From Natural Areas Technician Rod Botkins: “Tallamy is an entomology professor, which can sound either really cool or really dull depending on your perspective. Tallamy’s gift, though, is tying it all together ecologically: If we want to save the birds, we have to save the bugs, and if we want to save the bugs, we have to save the plants, and if you want to save the plants, we have to protect or recreate their habitats. He’s not pontificating either. He explains how you can do it staring with your own backyard.”

• The Nature Fix by Florence Williams
  • This fascinating read dives into the science behind why being in nature makes us feel better—backing up what many of us already know from experience.
• Blue: In Search of Nature’s Rarest Color by Kai Kupferschmidt
  • A curious and captivating exploration of the science, history, and cultural meaning behind one of nature’s most elusive colors.
• Crossings: How Road Ecology is Shaping the Future of our Planet by Ben Goldfarb
  • A look at how roads transform landscapes, affect wildlife, and inspire innovative solutions to help animals and people coexist.

Memoir, Biography, & Nature Writing 

• Genius of Place: The Life of Frederick Law Olmsted by Justin Martin
  • The fascinating story of the life of Frederick Law Olmsted, the father of American landscape architecture, whose visionary approach to parks helped inspire the design and mission of The Parklands.
• The Unforeseen Wilderness by Wendell Berry
  • A poetic tribute to Kentucky’s Red River Gorge, blending stunning imagery with Berry’s reflections on the value of protecting wild places.
• The Practice of the Wild by Gary Snyder
  • A compelling collection of essays that explores our relationship with nature, wild places, and the rhythms of a more intentional life.
• Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
  • A heartfelt mix of science and Indigenous storytelling that reminds us how connected we are to the land—and how much we can learn by paying attention to it.
• A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold
  • A thoughtful, down-to-earth collection of essays that encourages readers to slow down, notice the natural world, and care for the land we call home.

From Natural Areas Technician Rod Botkins: “This sets the bar for the modern land ethic when we moved culturally from viewing nature purely as a commodity and something to conquer to something valuable in and of itself. Easy to call this a classic. I consider it foundational to our work.”

• World of Wonders by Aimee Nezhukumatathil
  • A vibrant collection of essays celebrating the beauty and diversity of the natural world, intertwined with personal stories of identity and joy.
• H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald
  • A powerful memoir that weaves grief, falconry, and the wildness of nature into a beautifully written story of healing and connection.

From our Founder 

Books recommended by Dan Jones, the Founder and Chairman of The Parklands:

Reading the Forested Landscape: A Natural History of New England by Tom Wessels

“One of the most simple, but profound, books I’ve ever read on the natural history of the eastern United States. Using beautiful woodcut prints and short chapters, Wessels teaches the reader, through a simple process, how to understand the ecological trajectory of any natural landscape. While his examples are from New England, they transfer easily to the Midwest, and frankly, any landscape once you know the major tree species in the area. I was so influenced by the book that I reached out to Wessels and invited him to Louisville in the early days of The Parklands, to help us design our education program.”

The Forest Unseen: A Year’s Watch in Nature by David George Haskell

“Just as Wessels teaches about change through decades at the landscape level, Haskell (a biology professor at The University of the South) takes the reader through a year’s natural change, using a small patch of ground in a Tennessee woodland. Each chapter stands on its own, almost as a short story, but combined they give an overview of topics ranging from plants and insects to birds and mammals. All described in beautiful prose!”

The Trees in My Forest by Bernd Heinrich

“If there exists a modern heir to Henry David Thoreau, my vote would be for Heinrich. For years, he has written volume after volume describing (and illustrating) life in the Maine woods, through every season and point of view: from how bees survive the winter, to the wisdom of ravens, one of the smartest of bird species. The Trees in My Forest is a short, readable introduction to the many aspects of the life of trees, and the ecology they both shape and create.”

The Nature of Oaks: The Rich Ecology of Our Most Essential Native Trees by Douglas W. Tallamy

“Another appropriate book for The Parklands, as oaks are one of the dominant species in the parks, as well as our region. Tallamy is most well-known for his writings on how to plant home gardens that support native ecology. His idea that you can rebuild the local ecology from the plants (and bugs that use them) up is foundational to The Parklands’ ‘100 Year Vision’ for the natural restoration of our landscapes. When you see our tree plantings, our meadow restorations, and our management of mature forests, these all stem from this basic idea of rebuilding the local ecology. I had the pleasure of touring Doug through The Parklands, and he was thrilled that we were applying his ideas on this much grander scale! The book itself is book about oaks, filled with a great deal of useful natural history knowledge!”

For the Family:

Curious Teens and Tweens 

Thoughtful reads for older kids and young teens who want to dig deeper into the natural world:

• The Outdoor Scientist by Temple Grandin
  • Encourages kids to get curious about the world around them with hands-on activities and discoveries from one of science’s most inspiring minds.
• How to Be a Good Creature by Sy Montgomery
  • A heartfelt reflection on the lessons we can learn from animals, told through the author’s lifelong relationships with creatures great and small.
• Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers Who Changed The World by Rachel Ignotofsky
  • Bright, bold, and inspiring—this illustrated book celebrates the groundbreaking achievements of women who changed the face of science.
• Fuzz: When Nature Breaks The Law by Mary Roach
  • Ever wonder what happens when wildlife crosses the line? This quirky, hilarious book investigates the messy intersection of animals and human rules.

From Assistant Director of Education Erin Kinnetz: “This is a great read for teens and adults! It’s a funny and fascinating exploration of where humans and nature collide.”

• Kingbird Highway: The Biggest Year in the Life of an Extreme Birder by Kenn Kaufman
  • A classic among birders, this is an autobiographical adventure of a 17-year-old in the 1970s hitchhiking around the country chasing birds. Kaufman has also compiled several field guides, many of which are for children!

Young Explorers 

Kid-friendly stories that celebrate curiosity, imagination, and the magic of the natural world recommended by our Olivia Hardin, our Programming Coordinator:

• When You Find the Right Rock by Mary Lyn Ray, Felicita Sala
  • A quiet, poetic celebration of childhood curiosity and the joy of finding treasures in the natural world.

From our Marketing & Design Manager Cassie Gahafer: “This story really captures how kids see the world in such a fun, curious way. Reading it with my best friend’s daughter was a blast—she couldn’t wait to go find her own perfect rock as soon as we finished reading!”

• Tidy by Emily Gravett
  • A hilarious and charming story about a well-meaning badger who learns the hard way that nature isn’t meant to be too neat.
• Water Is Water by Miranda Paul
  • A beautifully illustrated, lyrical look at the water cycle that turns everyday moments into something magical.
• Over and Under the Pond by Kate Messner
  • Take a peaceful paddle through pond life—this gentle story reveals the hidden ecosystems above and below the surface.
• The Hike by Alison Farrell
  • Three friends head into the woods for an adventure filled with curiosity, discovery, and a little bit of mischief—perfect for budding explorers.
• A Mouthful of Minnows by John Hare
  • A hungry turtle has a plan, but nature has a few surprises! A clever, wordless tale full of expressive illustrations and underwater fun.

Honorable Mentions: Monarch Butterflies by Ann Hobbie, In the Tall, Tall Grass by Denise Fleming, The Truth about Hawks by Maxwell Eaton III, and The Noisy Puddle by Linda Booth Sweeney.

Looking for another way to combine your love of reading and the outdoors?

Don’t miss our Summer StoryWalk®, featuring Jumper: A Day in the Life of a Backyard Jumping Spider by Jessica Lanan, on display along The Egg Lawn Signature Trail from August 22–24. As you stroll The Egg Lawn Signature Trail, you’ll follow along with Jumper’s tiny but action-packed day, learning fascinating facts about this small but mighty backyard resident. This interactive experience combines reading, walking, and nature exploration, and is totally free to enjoy! Learn more on our website.

We hope this reading list inspires you to step outside and enjoy everything nature—and The Parklands—has to offer. Explore biodiversity, share vibrant illustrations with your kids, and discover poetry in the landscape’s patterns. No matter where you start, you’re in for a wonderful adventure!