We’ll gather every final Thursday of the month from 5:30-6:30pm at the fireplace (until it is warm enough to start having outdoor firepits and s’mores).

Readings are for both adults and another set for 3rd-6th grade (pre-teen readers). Then there will be a showcased picture book here in the Nature Center as well for our little friends who come and visit the animals during the day. This year our books all have a bit of magic in them. We figured life is a bit hard and we could all use a little escape. Plus the Nature Center is often described as a haven of magic so we thought we should read books that fit our gathering spot.

January: The Magicians: A Novel (Magicians Trilogy)

By: Lev Grossman

The New York Times bestselling novel about a young man

practicing magic in the real world, now an original series on SYFY.

“The Magicians is to Harry Potter as a shot of Irish whiskey is to a

glass of weak tea. . . Hogwarts was never like this.”

February: The Name of the Wind

By: Patrick Rothfuss

Discover #1 New York Times-bestselling Patrick Rothfuss’ epic

fantasy series, The Kingkiller Chronicle. “I just love the world of

Patrick Rothfuss.” —Lin-Manuel Miranda

March:The Queen of the Tearling: A Novel

By: Erika Johansen

Magic, adventure, mystery, and romance combine in this

epic debut in which a young princess must reclaim her dead

mother’s throne, learn to be a ruler—and defeat the Red Queen,

a powerful and malevolent sorceress determined to destroy her.

And Emma Watson is supposed to play the lead role when it

comes out on the big screen.

April: How to Be a Good Creature: A Memoir in Thirteen Animals

By: Sy Montgomery (Author), Rebecca Green (Illustrator)

National Book Award finalist Sy Montgomery reflects on the

personalities and quirks of 13 animals—her friends—who

have profoundly affected her in this stunning, poetic, and lifeaffirming

memoir featuring illustrations Understanding someone

who belongs to another species can be transformative.

May: The Girl Who Drank the Moon , Winner of the 2017

Newberry Medal

By: Kelly Barnhill

Every year, the people of the Protectorate leave a baby as an

offering to the witch who lives in the forest. They hope this

sacrifice will keep her from terrorizing their town. But the

witch in the Forest, Xan, is kind. She shares her home with a

wise Swamp Monster and a Perfectly Tiny Dragon.

June: St. Lucy’s Home for Girls Raised by Wolves (Vintage

Contemporaries)

By: Karen Russell

In these ten glittering stories, the award-winning, bestselling

author of Swamplandia! takes us to the ghostly and magical

swamps of the Florida Everglades. Here wolf-like girls are

reformed by nuns, a family makes their living wrestling

alligators in a theme park, and little girls sail away on crab

shells.

And I’ll see you the final Thursday of each month at 5:30 with some hot chocolate by the fireplace. This event is open to all members of the community and free of charge.