Book Club
Join us for book club! Connect with others who share a passion for nature, and explore various topics surrounding ecosystems, conservation, our connection to nature, personal journeys, and more.
About Book Club
Launched in May of 2025, our book club was born with the goal of building a fun community of folks who are curious and passionate about nature. A new book is introduced each month, and we provide guided reading questions to help facilitate engaging and inspiring conversations. Join us the first Monday of every month as we explore enlightening and inspiring topics related to local ecosystems, our connection with nature, conservation, personal journeys, and more.
Join us for our next book club meeting - everyone is welcome!
We have chairs, but feel free to bring your own comfortable lawn chairs if you prefer. In the event of rain or intolerable heat, we have the option to move indoors into the viewing room at the Monarch Event Center.
Upcoming Book Club Meetings
September Meeting
Date: Monday, September 8, 2025
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Monarch Research Station (click for directions)
Book: Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teaching of Plants | Author: Robin Wall Kimmerer
Synopsis: As a botanist and professor of plant ecology, Robin Wall Kimmerer has spent a career learning how to ask questions of nature using the tools of science. As a Potawatomi woman, she learned from elders, family, and history, that the Potawatomi consider plants and animals to be our oldest teachers. In Braiding Sweetgrass, Kimmerer brings these two lenses of knowing together to reveal what it means to see humans as "the younger brothers of creation.” Once we begin to listen for the languages of other beings, we can begin to understand the innumerable life-giving gifts the world provides us and learn to offer our thanks, our care, and our own gifts in return.
Pages: 100
Previous Book Club Titles
August
Book: Bicycling With Butterflies | Author: Sara Dykman
Synopsis: In this adventurous memoir, Sara Dykman chronicles her incredible journey biking alongside monarch butterflies on their migration from Mexico to Canada and back. Her story highlights the interconnectedness of species and the importance of preserving natural habitats, inspiring readers to take action in their own communities.
Pages: 288
July
Book: The Man Who Planted Trees: A Story of Lost Groves, The Science of Trees, and a Plan to Save the Planet | Author: Jim Robbins
Synopsis: This non-fiction book delves into the science behind trees and their crucial role in our ecosystem. Jim Robbins explores the fascinating stories of people dedicated to saving trees and forests, offering a deeper understanding of the environmental challenges we face and the innovative solutions being implemented to protect our planet. There is so much we do not yet know about trees: how they die, how they communicate, the myriad crucial ways they filter water and air and otherwise support life on Earth. It became clear that as the planet changes, trees and forest are essential to assuring its survival.
Pages: 224
June
Book: The Man Who Planted Trees | Author: Jean Giono
Synopsis: Dive into this timeless short fiction story, originally published in 1953 as "L'homme qui plantait des arbres." This allegorical tale follows the life of Elzéard Bouffier, a shepherd who single-handedly reforests a desolate valley in Provence by planting acorns. His unwavering dedication to planting trees transforms the barren landscape into a lush, thriving forest, showcasing the power of individual action in environmental conservation. And if your reading time is scarce, the story was adapted into an Academy Award winning animated short film in 1988 and can be found on YouTube.
Pages: 48
May
Book: The Nature of Oaks | Author: Doug Tallamy
Synopsis: The Nature of Oaks reveals what is going on in oak trees month by month, highlighting the seasonal cycles of life, death, and renewal. From woodpeckers who collect and store hundreds of acorns for sustenance to the beauty of jewel caterpillars, Doug Tallamy illuminates and celebrates the wonders that occur right in our own backyards. He also shares practical advice about how to plant and care for an oak, along with information about the best oak species for your area. The Nature of Oaks will inspire you to treasure these trees and to act to nurture and protect them.
Pages: 200