Recommended Reading

Animals

Animals in Translation, by Temple Grandin and Catherine Johnson (Harvest Books, 2006). This national bestseller explains a lot about how animals think. Shop at Amazon.com: Animals in Translation: Using the Mysteries of Autism to Decode Animal Behavior

Endangered: Wildlife on the Brink of Extinction, by George C. McGavin (Firefly Books, 2006). Visually appealing, interesting book on endangered species and how we can save them. Shop at Amazon.com: Endangered: Wildlife on the Brink of Extinction

Minding Animals, by Marc Bekoff (Oxford University Press, USA, 2002). Shop at Amazon.com: Minding Animals: Awareness, Emotions, and Heart

Winter World, by Bernd Heinrich (Harper Perennial, 2009). A fascinating glimpse into how wild animals of all kinds survive the harshness of winter. Shop at Amazon.com: Winter World: The Ingenuity of Animal Survival (P.S.)

Pleasurable Kingdom, by Jonathan Balcombe (Macmillan, 2006) Shop at Amazon.com: Pleasurable Kingdom: Animals and the Nature of Feeling Good

The Emotional Lives of Animals: A Leading Scientist Explores Animal Joy, Sorrow, and Empathy - and Why They Matter, by Marc Bekoff and Jane Goodall (Paperback - New World Library, 2008). Shop at Amazon.com: The Emotional Lives of Animals: A Leading Scientist Explores Animal Joy, Sorrow, and Empathy - and Why They Matter

Amphibians and reptiles

Field guide to reptiles and amphibians (East/Central regions), by Roger Conant, etal (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1998). Excellent guide. Shop at Amazon.com: Field Guide to Reptiles & Amphibians (East/Central edition)

Field guide to reptiles and amphibians of the West, by Robert C. Stebbins and Roger Tory Peterson (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2003). Excellent guide. Field Guide to Reptiles & Amphibians (Western edition)

Birds

A Shadow and a Song: The struggle to save endangered species, by Mark Jerome Walters (Chelsea Green Publishing, 2007). How the endangered species act failed the Dusky Seaside Sparrow. Shop at Amazon.com: A Shadow and A Song: The Struggle to Save Endangered Species (Chelsea Green Classics)

Projects for the Birder's Garden: Over 100 Easy Things That You can Make to Turn Your Yard and Garden into a Bird-Friendly Haven, edited by Fern Marshall Bradley and the Editors of Yankee Magazine (2004). Full of projects guaranteed to turn your yard into a paradise for birds and other wildlife. Shop at Amazon.com: Projects for the Birder's Garden: Over 100 Easy Things That You can Make to Turn Your Yard and Garden into a Bird-Friendly Haven

Butterflies

Butterflies of North America, by Jim P. Brock & Kenn Kaufman (Kaufman Focus Guides, 2003). Good field guide. Shop at Amazon.com: Butterflies of North America (Kaufman Focus Guides)

Butterflies Through Binoculars: The East, by Jeffrey Glassberg (1999). Good field guide. Shop at Amazon.com: Butterflies through Binoculars: The East; A Field Guide to the Butterflies of Eastern North America (Butterflies Through Binoculars Series)

Caterpillars of Eastern North America: A Guide to Identification and Natural History, by David Wagner (2005). Great guide, excellent photos. Shop for it at Amazon.com: Caterpillars of Eastern North America: A Guide to Identification and Natural History (Princeton Field Guides)

Plant life and gardening

Designing Your Gardens and Landscapes, by Janet Macunovich (Storey Publishing, 2000). Step-by-step help for beginners. Like a workbook, includes diagrams, suggestions, information, grids, space for notes. Shop at Amazon.com: Designing Your Gardens and Landscapes: 12 Simple Steps for Successful Planning

Noah's Garden: Restoring the Ecology of Our Own Backyards, by Sara B. Stein (1995). This excellent book will give you a whole new perspective on gardening with native plants. Shop at Amazon.com: Noah's Garden: Restoring the Ecology of Our Own Backyards

My Weeds: A Gardener's Botany, by Sara B. Stein and Lois Wallace (2000). A fascinating view of, yes, weeds. You''ll see them differently after reading this. Shop at Amazon.com: My Weeds: A Gardener's Botany

Squirrels

On the internet: Mistletoe: One year in the life of a Gray squirrel, by Jim Conrad.

Wildlife habitat

Living with Wildlife, by Marilyn and Ron Leys (Krause Publications, 2000). Useful information about creating a wildlife habitat. Shop at Amazon.com: Living With Wildlife