Nature's Best Hope (Young Readers' Edition)

I feel like the author, Doug Tallamy, is an old friend: I saw him speak twice this year as I was getting continuing education credit hours for my continuing Master Gardener’s certification — on January 14 at Ohio State University Tending Nature Webinar and then at the Master Gardeners of Spokane Cabin Fever Symposium Keynote on March 12. He inspired me to register my own garden acreage as a Homegrown National Park. And just as this ARC became available, his original book, “Nature’s Best Secret” was the monthly selection of the Ashton Gardens Secret Garden Book Club on August 26. I am so excited to tell the book club participants that this book would be available for younger readers, too!

Mr. Tallamy is a celebrated advocate of preserving everyday spaces for wildlife, cultivating native plants, practicing conservation and preventing the extinction of both endangered animals and plants. His basic approach is to start within your reach — in your backyard. Conservation shouldn’t be left to specialists — anyone, including young people can participate.

Compared with the original version (thanks to my book club), this version is perfect for those with just the beginning understanding of conservation efforts. The adaption by Sarah L. Thompson covers almost everything the adult version does, but with more relatable stories, simpler explanations and less references/scientific history. Most of the same photos are included. The Q and A section challenges kids to approach grownups to make the changes out of young people’s reach (since they are not the landowners) and gives them talking points for making small and significant changes.

5 stars! Doug Tallamy is an important contributor to preserving native plants and protecting local wildlife for all ages. This book will be a valuable addition to young readers and libraries. Thank you to Timber Press and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

Nature's Best Hope (Young Readers' Edition) is a fantastic book. Modeled after the icon Nature's Best Hope.
We need our young people engaged as much as we are to have them understand this is for them also not just for sustaining wildlife.

This simplified version of Nature's Best Hope covers all the important parts and leaves with ten things you can do.
Wonderful and highly recommend.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher Timber Press for the opportunity to read and reviews this much-needed book.

Nature’s Best Hope was a great book for young children to learn about our responsibility to take care of the earth! This would be a great book for people of all ages to learn!

I have never imagined to read a book about gardening world, but this one goes beyond that subject. It is indeed a way of help not only environment but our average day by day lifestyle, improve good humor, and precise contact with nature, which We all know is extremly important for a better health. And also, there are pictures of flowers and some of species named here as a hint for the reader to search and start to know better how to make the lessons learned here make reality to them. Besides, This cover is sooo gorgeous, which adds a little more praises to the creators of this title. Well Done, guys!

What an amazing book, not only for kids but adults as well! I love my garden and all of my pollinator friends. This book had a ton of data and interesting facts that I did not know before. I learned a lot of new information and I am excited to use some of this to make my yard an even better place for our ecosystem. I would encourage anyone to read this and hope that it has an impact on the way you view the world, your own piece of land and no matter how big or small you can help and it does make a difference. I will be passing this recommendation to friends! Thank you for writing this. #homegrownnationalpark #naturesbesthope #netgalley #wildlife #pollinators

Thank you, Timber Press, for the advance reading copy.

I love the cover so much!

And I do find the contents young reader friendly. However, I would suggest the contents have more colours with more illustrations/pictures as it would be less distracting for the target audience while reading this book.

Presentation wise, chapters are short, easy to read and follow. However, I was expecting to see some pictures or some form of art in each chapter.

The information given is good. You will enjoy this.

What a cute book! I think this book will be important for young children to read. I'll be sharing with my nephews as they get older so they can understand the importance of nature and how we can protect it.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a wonderful book. It has a lot of great information for budding environmentalists. This has been so helpful for my 8-year-old niece who is starting to ask question about how to help the environment.

I loved this book. In it, author Douglas Tallamy makes a compelling case for growing native plants and supporting nature in our own backyards (and front yards, and school yards, too). He explains how we got to where we are and explains how it isn’t sustainable. He outlines the history of conservation efforts and gives case studies of successful attempts to reintroduce nature. Tallamy leaves his readers feeling motivated and inspired to do their part. This would be a great book for a nature-loving teenager, parent, or teacher with access to a yard.

Nonfiction. I have been wanting to read Douglas Tallamy for awhile as I keep seeing his name everywhere-- gardening magazines, conservation booklists, etc. When I saw the young reader's edition of one of his books I seized the opportunity. Tallamy shares all about ecosystems, biodiversity, and why exactly we should care if there are fewer caterpillars or insects. He stresses food chains and connectivity, how we all need plants and insects. Despite tackling such a huge issue, he treats it as an issue that can be solved. We can plant native plants in our yard. We can mow less, make a smaller lawn, or add a small water feature. I love that he gives actionable steps and shows how one yard can make a difference. He cites multiple people and studies counting species in an area, showing how one yard with native plants might have over 100 kinds of birds there. An inspiring book, and this was a quick read for me that would be very palatable for an interested young reader.

This was a great adaptation for young readers of Douglas W. Tallamy's book, Nature's Best Hope. His call to action is inspiring, especially when he relates it to the idea that we can create an environmentally friendly habitat right in our own yard. The photos and instructional ideas he includes are easy enough to implement. He also encourages children to consult with their grown ups on the best options. However he also challenges that status quo of having the perfectly manicured lawn as a means of keeping up with the Joneses. There are so many important insects, birds, mammals, reptiles, etc. and if we take some small steps in our own backyard, we can help an entire ecosystem.

His words were really inspiring and I will be recommending this book during my forest school program.

Very well done young reader's edition of Nature's Best Hope. It contains enough explanation, engaging and relatable stories at the same time. The photos and illustrations are very lovely and cute. I think this book will inspire kids to really look outside and appreciate what's out there. Even though it is a young reader's edition, it is definitely great and entertaining for adults as well. The only thing I missed is what you can do if you/your parents don't own a yard. Loads of kids grow up in flat or apartment buildings with only a small balcony. It would be nice to give some tips on a balcony solution as well, like a bird house or small plants.

I am just simply in love with this book. I love nature and learning about environmental science but I must admit, it's not my main area of interest and I lack so many knowledge in the field. This book is going to set me straight on this long journey and I can't wait to learn more.

Thanks to Netgalley for this advanced reading copy.

A wonderful book that will help get our next generation involved in helping the Earth! Children and parents reading this book will learn not only why we need to help our environment but also how they can start by taking steps in their own front yard. The author gives recommendations that are simple enough to not feel overwhelming but will still have a lasting impact. This book will inspire everyone who reads it.