FIELD NOTES BLOG

Five Nature Books You Should Know

Caroline Pacheco
March 18, 2026

If you’re a reader interested in learning more about nature, then you’ve probably browsed a few book lists looking for recommendations and quickly got overwhelmed by the sheer amount of nature books that exist. There are certainly some classics such as Silent Spring or Walden, but it can be hard to decipher what to read when selecting more current publications. At Severson Dells, our staff is full of voracious readers (seriously, three different people got books about octopi in the holiday gift exchange) and are happy to provide some recommendations!


These recommendations are more recent publications, within the last ten years, and have all been read and enjoyed by at least one member of the staff here at Severson. They vary in topic, but all share the common thread of getting people engaged in the nature around them.

What an Owl Knows by Jennifer Ackerman


With over 260 species of owls located around the world, these birds are often considered enigmatic and mysterious. Owls have been the inspiration for art and folklore through the centuries, and scientists are still just figuring out things like how owls communicate with one another, or why Snowy Owls go further North in the Winter. Ackerman sheds light on just some of the things owl experts have learned about these birds and how they are studied.

The Intersectional Environmentalist by Leah Thomas


Whether you are reading this with your book club or independently, this book is a great resource if you are looking for a starting point on how to become active in the environmental movement. Starting off with the history of the environmentalism and civil rights movement, then moving into how the environment impacts various communities, the book is interspersed with moments for self-reflection and discussion. The book itself is a short read at 136 pages, and the second half of the book is a tool kit for readers to learn more and to provide support within their community.

The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben, translation by Jane Billingshurst


Reading this book made  me want to run into the woods to see everything that Wohlleben describes, and I hope it gives you the same feeling. This book provides careful reflection of how humans understand trees, and how we expect trees to behave versus what trees actually need. Hidden Life is available as an audiobook, how I read it, a graphic novel, and has also inspired a documentary. No matter what kind of reader you are, this is a great pick.

The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer

 

Did you think I wasn’t going to mention thee Robin Wall Kimmerer? Of course I am! Best known for her work Braiding Sweetgrass, Kimmerer expands on the idea of how people interact with their ecosystems by looking at the serviceberry. In the book, she discusses how trading goods and services directly without money can expand our relationships. Written in her usual lyricism and accompanied by gorgeous illustrations, this book is a short yet impactful read. 

Beaverland by Leila Philip


If you’re in the mood for a deep dive into a particular topic, this is the book. Philip goes through not only the environmental impact of beavers, but also the cultural impact they have, reaching as far back as the Middle Ages. The book utilizes four years of interviews where Philip integrates herself into various communities that are all connected to the beaver, as well as extensive historical research on human interactions with the rodent.



These books aren't ranked or listed in a particular order, but all are great jumping off points for different topics under the broad umbrella of nature. If you’re interested in any of these books, check to see if they’re available at Rockford Public Library or Rockford's local book shop, Maze Books! 


Happy Reading!

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