Ocean State Libraries

"Living at the border between life and non-life, fungi use diverse cocktails of potent enzymes and acids to disassemble some of the most stubborn substances on the planet, turning rock into soil and wood into compost, allowing plants to grow. Fungi not only help create soil, they send out networks of tubes that enmesh roots and link plants together in the "Wood Wide Web." Fungi also drive many long-standing human fascinations: from yeasts that cause...

When a young girl moves from the country to a small town, she feels lonely and out of place. But soon she meets an elderly woman next door, who shares her love of nature and art. As the seasons change, can the girl navigate the failing health of her new friend? Acclaimed author and artist Julie Flett's textured images of birds, flowers, art, and landscapes bring vibrancy and warmth to this powerful story, which highlights the fulfillment of intergenerational...

"Poems addressed to the earth itself explore scientific concepts including plate tectonics, water cycles, and the creation of tides"--

In this astonishingly assured, exquisitely crafted debut collection, Anthony Doerr takes readers from the African coast to the suburbs of Ohio, from sideshow pageantry to harsh wilderness survival, charting a vast and varied emotional landscape. Like the best storytellers, Doerr explores the human condition in all its manifestations: metamorphosis, grief, fractured relationships, and slowly mending hearts. Most dazzling is Doerr's gift for conjuring...

A beautiful and fascinating portrait of the world's most extreme wildlife, from the sexiest beast to the smelliest plant. The world's most devious plant, the largest flock of birds, the biggest drug user, the most dangerous love-life...here is a mind-blowing guide to the weirdest and most remarkable wildlife on our planet. Lavishly illustrated, this is a beautiful book to own as well as an unputdownable read. The entries are quirky yet informative,...

"In a study of the nature versus nurture debate, one of the world's foremost experts on language and the mind explores the modern self-denial of our basic human natures." --

"Do you love to be by the coast, walks along the beach, fishing in the sea, or hiking through the cliffs? Collecting shells, trinkets, and other items along the beach is one of the greatest ways to remember the fun you had. This coastal-themed craft book includes a variety of projects for anyone who wants to turn their collections into beautiful keepsakes. Costello's easy to follow step-by-step instructions, tips, and examples will help you produce...

A young girl rushes outside when the air is crisp and the sky turns gray to observe all of the changes that autumn brings.

All the creatures of the earth learn that though the world looks different to each of us, we are all part of the same earth.

In the spring of 2013 the cicadas in the Northeastern United States will yet again emerge from their seventeen-year cycle-the longest gestation period of any animal. Those who experience this great sonic invasion compare their sense of wonder to the arrival of a comet or a solar eclipse. This unending rhythmic cycle is just one unique example of how the pulse and noise of insects has taught humans the meaning of rhythm, from the whirr of a cricket's...