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Nature and Science February 2026 |
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Sitting with Dogs: Stories of Rescue Dogs Going from Lost to Loved
by Rocky Kanaka
Instant New York Times Bestseller Heartwarming stories of loss, rescue, and love from social media star and dog-rescue advocate Rocky Kanaka Rocky Kanaka is known the world over as a dog rescue advocate. His millions of fans follow along each week as Rocky visits shelters and finds dogs in need. He often finds the most hopeless cases--dogs that have been abandoned because they're sick or their owners can no longer care for them, or they've never had a home and have been living on the street--and helps them find their forever homes. Through patience, kindness, and love, Rocky helps dogs trust and love again, even if it's just for the short time Rocky visits with them in the shelter. Sitting with Dogs is a collection of stories about nine rescue dogs that each got off to a rough start but found their way into Rocky's arms. From the story of Flip, Rocky's first rescue and his inspiration for dedicating his life to saving lost and abandoned dogs, to Macy, who was so emaciated when she arrived at the shelter that no one thought she would survive, Rocky's stories will tug at your heart, bring a smile to your face, and maybe even inspire you to give a little of your own time to a dog in need. And you don't need to be a dog expert to make a difference. With a little love and patience, you can do exactly what Rocky does--change lives.
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Evergreen: The Trees That Shaped America
by Trent Preszler
A sweeping natural history of the humble trees that built nations, sparked wars, and became the world's most cherished holiday tradition. Every December, millions of people around the globe adorn their homes, offices, and town squares with lavishly decorated Christmas trees to celebrate the holiday season. Yet few pause to wonder: Where did this tradition come from? And in an age of climate upheaval and artificial replicas, will these beloved trees still be here for future generations? In Evergreen, Cornell University professor Trent Preszler weaves together a captivating story of humanity's deeply rooted relationship with evergreens, revealing how the trees shaped economies, launched cultural movements, and propelled America's rise to global prominence. With stunning historical range and lyrical insight, Preszler guides readers from the awe-inspiring evergreen cathedrals of the West to Christmas tree farms in the Midwest, sawmills in the South, the iconic Rockefeller Center spruce in the East, and beyond. Blending cinematic detail with compelling ecological and cultural history, Evergreen explores the hidden tensions between nature, commerce, and spirituality that have confounded humanity for millennia. At once timeless and urgently relevant, Evergreen delivers a stirring reflection on the quiet power of trees, challenging us to reconsider the delicate balance between our restless ambition and the living world that sustains us.
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The Web Beneath the Waves: The Fragile Cables That Connect Our World
by Samanth Subramanian
What if the Internet goes dark? We think of the Internet as wireless, weightless, ever-present-but its true foundation lies in the ocean's depths, where nearly 900,000 miles of fiber-optic cables quietly pulse with all the world's information. In The Web Beneath the Waves, the acclaimed journalist Samanth Subramanian travels from remote Pacific islands to secretive cable-laying operations to reveal the astonishing world of undersea infrastructure. He reveals the fate of Tonga after a volcanic eruption severs its only undersea link to the Internet, meets the men and women engaged in the fiendishly complex work of laying submarine cables, and scrutinizes the acts of grey zone warfare, in which ghost ships cut the cables of other countries. Subramanian charts the deep geopolitical tensions, corporate power grabs, environmental risks, and quiet heroics involved in maintaining the Internet's unseen circulatory system. With his signature clarity and curiosity, he brings to life the cables that stitch continents together--and exposes just how vulnerable our connected lives really are. This is narrative nonfiction at its most urgent and eye-opening: a book that asks what happens when the world goes offline, and who controls the switch.
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| The Breath of the Gods: The History and Future of the Wind by Simon WinchesterAuthor and journalist Simon Winchester presents a celebration of wind. Drawing fascinating references from science, engineering, and literature, Winchester is clearly enraptured by this natural force, evidenced by his vivid depictions of its role in civilization’s destruction (typhoons, tornadoes, wildfires) and salvation (wind-powered energy solutions). This is a captivating ode to elemental nature in the vein of Cynthia Barnett’s Rain: A Natural and Cultural History. |
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| The Feather Detective: Mystery, Mayhem, and the Magnificent Life of Roxie Laybourne by Chris SweeneyJournalist Chris Sweeney's richly detailed debut profiles pioneering forensic ornithologist and Smithsonian Institution taxidermist Roxie Laybourne (1910-2003), who utilized her avian expertise to solve murders, investigate poaching activities, and inspect bird-related plane crashes, the latter of which led to aircraft safety reforms. For fans of: The Feather Thief: Beauty, Obsession, and the Natural History Heist of the Century by Kirk Wallace Johnson. |
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| Turning to Birds: The Power and Beauty of Noticing by Lili TaylorAward-winning actor Lili Taylor first became a birdwatcher and nature advocate about 15 years ago during a break between film projects. She noticed how observing the sparrows and jays outside her house awakened her senses, especially her ability to listen, a skill she prizes in her acting work. Today she goes birding whenever she can, in the city and country, and will inspire her readers to rediscover the gift of noticing the world around them. For fans of: Amy Tan’s The Backyard Bird Chronicles. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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