True Nature

In the tradition of Anne Morrow Lindbergh's Gift from the Sea , writer-illustrator Barbara Bash brings a spiritual awareness to her surroundings as she caringly records encounters with animals and plants during solitary walks around the countryside of upstate New York. In this four-color book—designed to look like a one-of-a-kind hand-bound journal—she creates the look and feel of a spontaneously composed diary chronicling her experiences and reflections during a series of solitary retreats. Her handwritten notes and exquisite drawings capture wondrous moments in the natural a dragonfly's brief pause, a surprised deer in tall grass, woodchucks watching her from a distance, a raindrop making its way down a windowpane. Nature lovers, gardeners, and anyone who enjoys walking in the woods will recognize a kindred spirit and find hours of pleasure in these pages.