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
October Meeting
Date: Monday, October 6, 2025
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: Monarch Research Station (click for directions)
Book: World of Wonders by Aimee Nezhukumatathil
Synopsis: As a child, Nezhukumatathil called many places home: the grounds of a Kansas mental institution, where her Filipina mother was a doctor; the open skies and tall mountains of Arizona, where she hiked with her Indian father; and the chillier climes of western New York and Ohio. But no matter where she was transplanted—no matter how awkward the fit or forbidding the landscape—she was able to turn to our world’s fierce and funny creatures for guidance. The axolotl teaches us to smile, even in the face of unkindness; the touch-me-not plant shows us how to shake off unwanted advances; the narwhal demonstrates how to survive in hostile environments. Even in the strange and the unlovely, Nezhukumatathil finds beauty and kinship. For it is this way with wonder: it requires that we are curious enough to look past the distractions in order to fully appreciate the world’s gifts.
Pages: 184
November Meeting
Date: Monday, November 3, 2025
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: Monarch Research Station (click for directions)
Book: Nature's Best Hope by Doug Tallamy
Synopsis: In this new book, Tallamy takes the next step and outlines his vision for a grassroots approach to conservation. Nature’s Best Hope shows how homeowners everywhere can turn their yards into conservation corridors that provide wildlife habitats. Because this approach relies on the initiatives of private individuals, it is immune from the whims of government policy. Even more important, it’s practical, effective, and easy—you will walk away with specific suggestions you can incorporate into your own yard. If you’re concerned about doing something good for the environment, Nature’s Best Hope is the blueprint you need. By acting now, you can help preserve our precious wildlife—and the planet—for future generations.
Pages: 256
December - No Book Club (rest, reflect, hibernate!)
January 2026 Meeting
Date: Monday, January 5, 2026
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: Monarch Research Station (click for directions)
Book: A Sugar Creek Chronicle: Observing Climate Change from a Midwestern Woodland by Cornelia Mutel (Iowa author!)
Synopsis: In this thoughtful and urgent book, ecologist Cornelia Mutel explores the science and personal impact of climate change through a dual narrative—one tracing a year in her Iowa woodland, the other reflecting on her life immersed in nature. Sparked by her work on a climate report in 2010, Mutel confronts the accelerating crisis with clarity and deep concern, blending scientific insight with intimate observations of the natural world. As weather records break and ecosystems shift, she shows how climate change is unraveling the web of life—not just in distant polar regions, but in our own backyards. Ultimately, Mutel offers practical advice for individuals and policy-makers, emphasizing that while the stakes are high, there is still time to act.
Pages: 240
Previous Book Club Titles
September
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
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