As a homeschooling family, our love for literature has always been at the heart of our learning journey. Over the years, we've been deeply inspired by the stories of naturalists throughout history—individuals whose passion for the natural world led them to make remarkable contributions to science and conservation. Reading about these pioneers has not only enriched our knowledge but has also ignited a spark within us to appreciate and protect our planet. We believe that learning about these extraordinary figures is more important than ever, as it can inspire the next generation of young naturalists to advocate for our Earth.
Through our homeschooling adventures, we've hosted numerous book clubs, creating delightful activities that brought the stories to life. From crafting Mae Jemison peg dolls to making binoculars for Jane Goodall explorations, we've loved watching our children's imaginations soar as they connected with these iconic figures. These experiences have shown us that there is so much we can do to engage with a book beyond just reading the story. This passion and creativity inspired the creation of The Naturalist Book Club, designed to help other families discover the joy and wonder we've found in these stories.
WHAT IS THE NATURALIST BOOK CLUB?
Simply put, The Naturalist Book Club is designed for children ages 4 and up, offering guides filled with inspirational learning activities to enjoy throughout the year. Each Naturalist Book Club Series features six carefully chosen book titles (there are two series!) with corresponding projects to inspire young readers to dig deeper. Families may wish to explore one book a month, creating a year-round journey of discovery. The heart of the book club is to inspire young readers to fall even more in love with the amazing world we live in and to equip them with the skills to become budding naturalists themselves!WHAT BOOKS ARE PART OF IT?
There is no set order for how you participate in The Naturalist Book Club, but here are the incredible books that are part of it:
- Saving the Countryside: The Story of Beatrix Potter and Peter Rabbit by Linda Marshall
- Rachel Carson and Her Book That Changed the World by Laurie Lawlor
- She Heard the Birds: The Story of Florence Merriam Bailey by Andrea D'Aquino
- The Secret Garden of George Washington Carver by Gene Barretta
- Summer Birds: The Butterflies of Maria Merian by Margarita Engle
- Luna & Me: The True Story of a Girl Who Lived in a Tree to Save a Forest by Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw
- Joan Procter, Dragon Doctor: The Woman Who Loved Reptiles by Patricia Valdez
- Dinosaur Lady: The Daring Discoveries of Mary Anning, the First Paleontologist by Linda Skeers
- One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling Women of the Gambia by Miranda Paul
- Karl, Get Out of the Garden!: Carolus Linnaeus and the Naming of Everything by Anita Sanchez
- The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba
- Charles Darwin's Around-the-World Adventure by Jennifer Thermes
HOW TO CREATE A BOOK CLUB COMMUNITY
We encourage you to reach out to other homeschooling friends to see if they are interested in creating a book club community that meets once a month! A book club community can become such a joy as you plan activities together, feel inspired to go on field trips that may correlate with the book club theme, and build connections between both children and adults. This book club can be anything you imagine it to be! If you have difficulty finding people within your area to participate, we invite you to put out a call in our online community to find others interested! You may also wish to keep your book club within your own family.
RELEASE INFORMATION!
The Naturalist Book Club is releasing on Monday, August 12th! You will have the option of purchasing it digitally or as a hard copy (which will ship in approximately 2-3 weeks). We are excited to go on this adventure with you! Explore The Naturalist Book Club here and let the journey begin!