Josie Hanneman, Bookshelf

People celebrate Earth Day in all sorts of ways, from going for a hike to volunteering to planting a tree. This year you can add library programs to your month as we explore gardening, including water-wise gardening in the High Desert and other environmentally-friendly methods. Check out the online calendar for more details.

If reading about nature and the environment is your preference, here are some amazing children’s books, hot off the presses.

”Brave Baby Hummingbird” by Sy Montgomery and illustrated by Tiffany Bozic (ages 4-8)

Two baby hummingbirds are orphaned and raised by a human. Upon being set free into the wild they migrate to Mexico and return back to their homes. Along the way we see beautiful imagery of native flowers in California and Mexico.

If you’d like to help hummingbirds thrive, plant flowers like honeysuckle, penstemon, and columbine.

”Climbing the Volcano: A Journey in Haiku” by Curtis Manley and illustrated by Jennifer K. Mann (ages 4-8)

A young family climbs South Sister, as told through haiku. The depiction is lovely, and anyone who has been there will recognize the mountain, Moraine Lake, and more. Endnotes include information about hiking, first aid, flora and fauna of Central Oregon, and the geology of the Cascades.

If you’d like to go for a hike, check out the library’s Hiking Kit. If you’d like to hike South Sister, remember that you need a Wilderness Permit. These can be obtained through the Forest Service for a small fee, or free through the library’s Discovery Pass program.

”Is This a House for Hermit Crab?” by Megan McDonald and illustrated by Katherine Tillotson (ages 3-6)

A small hermit crab has outgrown his shell and needs to find a new home. Will a piece of driftwood work? Or how about an old tin can? As he searches he sees many of his seashore neighbors, plus some of the garbage left by humans.

Would you like to help clean up beaches, or your neighborhood? You can do that with your family, or help out a group like SOLVE.

”Mnoomin maan’gowing; The Gift of Mnoomin” by Brittany Luby, illustrated by Mangeshig Pawis-Stekley and translated by Mary Ann Corbiere (ages 5-10)

The story of mnoomin, or wild rice, its place in the ecosystem, and how Ojibwe/Anishinaabe continue to harvest and plant it to this day. This book is beautifully illustrated, showing mnoomin’s value to both the wild animals, and the humans who support it. Do you know what traditional foods are important to our Central Oregon tribes? You can see a traditional fish drying rack and more with the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Cultural and Heritage Curriculum Crate.

”A Walk in the Woods” by Nikki Grimes and illustrated by Jerry Pinkney and Brian Pinkney (ages 4-8)

A young boy, sad at the loss of his father, follows a map to a secret treasure left to him by his dad. The map takes the boy through his family’s land to a hidden box full of remembrances and poems. Poignantly, Jerry Pinkney passed away before this book was completed, and his son, Brian Pinkney stepped in to finished illustrations.

Maybe you’d like to try to find a treasure in the woods; geocaching is a fun way to do that. Check out one of our books on the topic to help you get started.