|
 |
|
A Wild Neighborhood John Henricksson |
|
|
John Henricksson's neighbors stop by to chat or to have a bite to eat or just to sit and watch. But in his Wild Neighborhood the visitors are the black bear, gray jay, timber wolf, owl, white-tailed deer, raven, and the moose. A Wild Neighborhood is a collection of elegantly written essays about these creatures. From kitchen-table gossip about the black bear's recent attempts to raid the bird feeder, to the retelling of Native American myths about the mischievous raven, Henricksson shows a love and understanding of the residents with whom he shares the narrow wedge of the Superior National Forest in northeastern Minnesota. Henricksson writes of the personal relationships that develop while living in the woods. He tells of the joy of helping a deer survive a tough winter and the mystery of animals he calls "ghosts"species that are extinct or near extinct but still have a fleeting presence in the area. Award-winning artist Betsy Bowen, author of Antler, Bear, Canoe: A Northwoods Alphabet Year, beautifully depicts the denizens of the forest. Her twenty-four woodcuts reflect, often humorously, Henricksson's respect for and love of northwoods creatures. This personal account of a vibrant community in the woods will appeal to readers of all ages and make a beautiful gift for everyone who has admired the creatures of his or her own wild neighborhood. "Complemented by Betsy Bowen's classic woodcuts, Henricksson's conversational prose weaves legend, natural history, observation, and anecdote into rich portraits of his north woods neighbors. A delightful stroll through a fascinating and friendly neighborhood." —Minnesota Conservation Volunteer "Henricksoon is an excellent writer, and he draws on science, myth, personal experience, and regional lore to give his prose a storytelling quality." —Bloomsbury Review "This is a book that will rest easy on the cabin bookshelf, in the backpack, or on the night stand. It is friendly and accessible, as a book about neighbors ought to be-as inviting as a good conversation over a cup of coffee. The text, along with Betsy Bowen's evocative woodcuts, reminds us of the simple truth that we are a part of a genuine community-composed of birds and bears, mice and moose, and all manner of wild things. A nice neighborhood, indeed." —Doug Wood, author of Old Turtle, Fawn Island, Paddle Whispers John Henricksson is a writer and editor who divides his time between his home in Mahtomedi, Minnesota, and his Gunflint Lake cabin. He is editor of North Writers: A Strong Woods Collection (1991) and North Writers II: Our Place in the Woods (1997), and author of Rachel Carson: The Environmental Movement. Betsy Bowen is an award-winning illustrator who lives in Grand Marais, Minnesota. She is author and illustrator of Antler, Bear, Canoe: A Northwoods Alphabet Year (1991), Tracks in the Wild (1993), and Gathering: A Northwoods Counting Book (1995). She is the illustrator of Great Wolf and the Good Woodsman and Borealis. 192 pages | 5 x 7 | 1997 |
||
$14.95 Paper